The fine announcer Randy West sent me a piece he wrote. I rarely use other folks' writing on this blog but I'm going to make an exception in this case. Randy attended the funeral of Gene Gene the Dancing Machine, the gent I wrote about in this post. Here's what Randy has to say…
This weekend family, friends and church congregants said farewell to Gene "Dancing Machine" Patton Sr. His legacy goes far beyond The Gong Show. Gene holds a place of history as the very first African-American member of IATSE Local 33!
Gene was a constant source of joy and light at NBC Burbank for everyone who worked there during his lifetime career with the peacock, which the family says goes back to The Andy Williams Show. Gene and Floyd Jackson, the shoeshine man of 50 years, are the unforgettable mascots of NBC.
Gene was raised by his mother and grandmother who were both cooks at UC Berkeley. Gene was 22 when he moved to L.A., and he also worked in civil service, primarily as a janitor. Nighttimes, while cleaning Muir High School in Pasadena, he would eavesdrop on a night class in theatrical stagecraft. The teacher of the class recalls that with his growing curiosity for the field, Gene actually put down the broom, took a seat in the class and, over the weeks, began to raise his hand and participate! He eventually registered for that and other courses.
When the all white, father-son lock on the stagehands union in L.A. came under fire, Local 33 called that school's teacher and asked if he knew of any qualified African-Americans with the skills and temperament to break the color barrier. Gene was the obvious choice. During his long reign at NBC he did every stagehand job, and worked virtually every show that originated from the Burbank facility. I would often see Gene; he was there every day, on one one show or another. He was universally liked for his sparkling personality and endearing manner. A real ray of joy and sunshine.
Gene was proud to have worked the Carson and the Leno Tonight Show, pretty much throughout its decades in L.A. But it was a day backstage at The Gong Show seconds after Chuck Barris asked him, "Big man, can you dance?" that audiences first met Gene. And he danced into TV fans' hearts. Although he started to be recognized by audience members, Gene remained supremely humble. His large brood of kids, grandkids and great-grandkids learned that what you do is not who you are.
There are many entertaining anecdotes about Gene's life and career, but his generous personality is his greatest success, and the smiles he engendered are his greatest legacy. Ironically for the "dancing machine," in his final years, both of his legs needed to be amputated; his medical condition ultimately left him blind. Gene was two weeks short of his 83rd birthday.
We lost one of the wonderful traditions and bigger-than-life personalities that have made the TV business such a hoot!