G. William Oakley Now Appearing in an Unlimited Engagement in The Great Beyond
I started to write Bill Oakley now appearing in Heaven but upon reflection knew that Bill would consider that audience too limiting. He wanted everyone entertained, not just the chosen few in Heaven.(Besides the ones in Heaven might not order drinks or laugh hard enough at the really good bits)
I came to Denver the spring before my 21st Birthday. I was young, and being from Albuquerque I thought Denver was the big City. I took a job at the Opera House as a banquet server because I was not old enough to serve in the Lounge yet. My first memories of Bill were of a larger than life, funny, scary, driven and frankly crazy at times character. I did not know if he liked me or hated me for most of my first few months there. Working in the Opera House was truly "the best of times and the worst of times" I would feel the entire range of emotions from pure happiness to despair and every other emotion in between and that was all before the Guests arrived for the "Real" show. I must have liked the roller coaster because I accepted the Job as Dining Room Manager.
I think it was another famous George "George Bernard Shaw" who said the director was little g "god". In Bill Oakleys' universe you were rarely allowed 7 days to create anything and the one day of rest was rehearsal for the other 6. I treasure each and every moment of that time. Peoples frailties, flaws, and short comings are far too easy to point out, while the real genius and hidden talents sometimes slip by unnoticed and under appreciated. Bill had more than his share of everything more talent, more personality, more flaws and yet most everyone who met him or worked for him remembers him vividly. I think Bill would not care as much if you loved him, or if you hated him, but if you would never forget Him. I quickly learned that in Bill's Universe the only unforgivable sin was to not be yourself. Putting on the public show was what we were all about, but in private and behind the scenes the personalities and cast of characters were far more entertaining and interesting. It took pure Genius to assemble the Bizarre yet loveable cast of misfits that was the Opera House.
I believe my second year at the Opera House I was made Operations Manager I have no idea what that job title was but if Bill said I could do the Job I was willing. I began to watch how everything fit together by Bill adding bits,props and people to the Recipe (much like him teaching me how to make Shrimp Etouffe with no list of ingredients or amounts it cam out delicious but I have no idea how it got there). Bill ran his business and created his shows with all of his own ingredients his talent for knowing what is funny, his temper, ( like it or not those temper outbursts supplied the fire that reduced the show recipe to fast, funny and efficient) and his amazing ability to recognize and nurture talent coupled with his inexhaustible hunger for knowledge and trivia kept the show current and fresh.
To begin my third mixed and absurd metaphor ( I am using them because Bill appreciated my bizarre sense of humor and I think he might enjoy my stretching to create and link them). Our Ring or Family Circle which like Frodo Baggin's ring was made of the purest Gold but forged in the "Fires of Hell" it was perfectly imperfect.The "ring" had just the right amounts of talent,drive,ego,determination,fire and shine. It was also designed with a significant amount of flaws to keep the Drama alive and the internal show interesting. You can not have a good show without a backstage Drama. The years have past and many of us have went on to other triumphs, other success, and even other Dreams all together. I hope that whomever reads this will take a moment to consider that none of us would be the people we are today without Bill Oakley and our time together at The Opera House. Bill created his own universe His universe nurtured, molded and strengthened all of us into the people we are today. Later our Family seemed to Divide into two separate rings and many of my Opera House Family began to reduce "Our Precious Family Ring" to Us and Them. Whom you were depended on where you were sitting at the time. This has been a painful separation of our family and in my humble assessment a very unnecessary one. Bill created his Universe. (As any good Director does) Bill's Universe created The Opera House. Bill's Opera House provided the Forge, Fire and Mold that "Cast" (pun intended) our Family Ring. (See Bill I finally got all the metaphors linked although the recipe one in the middle needs some work before its ready to go) That Ring was Bill's gift to us all. I can only speak for myself I will treasure and keep that Ring close to my heart. I will never allow it to be tarnished or redesigned into something else it was and is Perfect just the way he created it. My feelings for Bill and Rayda and the Family they so unselfishly gave me is like that Ring infinite, precious and an unending circle of feelings and memories. "History becomes, Myth and myth becomes Legend' Bill always knew he would become a legend. He just assumed it would be for "Knowing what is Funny" not for "jewelry design." “Bill If I work Hard and Touch half as many lives as you did I hope you will hire me again for the "Great Beyond Show" because I never want to miss a Laugh. I also fully expect to be given notes on how I could have made this bit work better. I look forward to them.”
Rayda I have watched admired and loved you always. I am so in awe of the strength, stamina and grace you have always shown. I am thankful for Bill and all that he created but also know without any doubt that there would be no Opera House without Bill Oakley but there would have been no Bill Oakley without Rayda. Thank you so much for helping create and protect that Family Ring. The Ring that Bill and Rayda gave us is safe and in New wonderful hands as we try and pass on the love, talent, work ethic, and fun to others, Our Family Ring will continue to grow.
Bill Oakley Thank you so much for the Laugher, the tears, the frustrations, the tantrums, the stress, the drama, the fun, the directing, and the teaching. It was a great Show! I would gladly see it all over again except this kid you hired all those years ago now has Grandchildren and I am determined to give them as great a show as you gave all of us. "Break a Leg" as you take "The Bill Oakley Show" on indefinite tour of the Great Beyond. If your reviews up there are half of what they were down here you will run forever . (like CATS only your show is Good!)
take with you my laughs, my love, and my respect
Kory Lock
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