Arnie Baker - Mad Emcee

Drury Row Theater Host, Carny Barker & Charlatan

Crooked Mile Valley    Drury Theater      Arnie Baker - Mad Emcee

From the Desk of Louise McCallister Lightkeeper Lending Library Established 1877, Renovated 1906
For the Record Dearest Bibliophile:

I spent the afternoon with one of the strangest men I’ve met since I started recording this brief biography. There is little about this man that isn’t odd or entertaining. No wonder he finagle in his way into managing the once renowned Drury Family Theater.
The theater is near to South Soffit, but customers come from throughout the Fairelands. Now that Crooked Mile patrons can travel by train and return on a midnight special ride dedicated to theater goers and gamblers, Arnie’s group of friends only grew larger.
It wasn’t always the case. He grew up in Seasway, the son of a dancer and turpel fisherwoman. Arnie says his mother made her living standing in the village center singing ballads while washing shirts, singing opera while polishing shoes, and singing bed time songs to children while rocking them to sleep. Their parents paid her while they took a mosey to the tavern. While she worked, his father played shell games for money in the streets. The Periphery often arrested him, but a night in jail meant a meal and leftovers for the family.
By the time he was 10, Arnie knew enough about past times he could work with his mother three nights a week, and his father four nights a week. His other 7 siblings stayed home until Arnie and his parents brought home what they could scrounge. Usually, fish and bread.
Arnie’s luck finally changed when he turned 17 and went to work in the Garamund Stables. Lester Drury kept two of his fine cart horses at the stable. Arnie worked hard to impress him with this grooming and caretaking skills. When he showed Lester how he played a shell game while singing and dancing, Lester hired him to work at the theater. With each passing day at the theater, he became more adept at expanding his Card room, securing captivating acts, and swindling his spectators.

— Louise McCallister

Arnie Baker & Louise McCallister

Mad Emcee Study by ROD w/Midjourney

Mad Emcee Entertainment

Drury Row Theater Emcee by ROD w/Midjourney