Memories of Georgia Engel and The Musical Tent in Clio

Flint Expatriate Kevin King remembers the Musical Tent in Clio, where many Flintoids got to work with successful actors:

I was in many productions there (as a child actor) back in 1966. It was the most memorable summer of my life.

We would work in the "rehearsal hall" all day long and on "dark days" would work into the evening too. I remember always having to put on Off because the mosquitoes were so bad.

When we did "The King and I," they ran out of makeup that they used to make us look darker, so they melted chocolate bars from the concession stand and mixed it with something and smeared it all over us (as we were using full body makeup). We all went on stage smelling like a chocolate factory.

I remember working with Georgia Engel that year. She was only 18 years old at the time. (Later she was on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.)

I'm still in the entertainment industry. I'm a business manager in Hollywood for celebrity clients. Have been gone from Flint for over 30 years.

I grew up in the Civic Park area and took my kids back there a few years ago to visit. Boy - was that depressing. Most of the block I grew up on on Chevrolet Ave is really in bad shape and many houses have actually disappeared altogether.

But it's great to have the memories. Thanks for your work in keeping this site going!