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About Us » History & Archives » 2007: Steel Pier » Meet the Characters of Steel Pier » Marathon Host & Floor Judge
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Marathon Host & Floor Judge
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Marathon Host: Mick Hamilton
Floor Judge: Howard "Mr." Walker
About Mick
I’m Mick Hamilton. I was born in 1891, to Scottish immigrant parents. My folks had been Vaudeville performers with a Scottish bagpipe act. Me and my sister, Peegeen, lived the life of gypsies, never having a home, living out of suitcases. But we did met plenty of interesting characters along the way. I grew up quick learning that lots of flash, and a bit of smoke and mirrors can take you places fast. I also grew up to be a stop at nothing survivor, a fighter - thanks to my father’s fondness for the bottle and his quickness with a back of the hand to the head. Once my family's vaudeville act folded I was lucky enough to stay on at a theatre in Atlantic City as an announcer. Crowds loved me and I quickly moved up to doing radio spots. That’s when I met Rita Racine and shortly thereafter we both met “Lindy’s Lovebird.” With the rise in popularity of the Dance Marathon I was quick to jump on the band wagon, or should I say “bandstand” and I now have worked my way up to being one of the most popular dance marathon announcers/promotors in the country.
About Mr. Walker
I’m an only child. Born November 5th 1878. My parents John and Ellen Walker raised me in the town of Jersey City, NJ. My father was a bricklayer, my mother, a seamstress. My mother stayed at home sewing odd jobs while I went to public school. In June of 1896 I enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Wright in Spokane, WA. My paraphrased military history includes: Military Academy (1897); infantry school of arms and regimental service (1905-07); commanded 3a Battalion, 22a Infantry, in France (1919); instructor at West Point (1920-25); company officer course, infantry school (1926). I met my wife Lily while on leave in Boston in the spring of 1904. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. Three fellow service men and I were drinking at the bar – in walks Lily and, boom. I knew. That was even before I knew she could sing. Lily sings like a lark, a songbird in the morning dew, an Angel here on earth. You know there are certain people in the world you just connect with. They radiate joy. That’s my Lily. We were married in her hometown of Boston, MA the following summer. It was a big affair, for she comes from a large family. We have two girls, Rose and Violet and one granddaughter Lily. Named for her grandmother – blessed with a face of an Angel. We have lived in 9 different states, and have traveled all over the world in my 22 years in the service. It was a hard road. We didn’t want to travel around the world anymore. So, I retired. The pension is not what I’d like it to be, but I’ll take it. I enrolled in Columbia, paid for by the U.S. Government, to pursue a second career as a certified public accountant. But never finished due to the depression. I hooked up with Mick in the summer of 1932. We were connected through a mutual war buddy and I remembered him from the radio. He was a slickster. A punk. A successful guy who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He’s got a wife he talks down to – she deserves better. Rita’s her name. A pretty girl, with a knockout look and beautiful voice. Just like my Lily. Mick needed a floor manager for the Dance Marathons and I had experience ordering people around from my days in the service, so I gave I a go. I used my position in the Marathon to get Lily a job as one of Mick’s Picks. She can still sing, even after all these years. Unfortunately we still travel, but it’s nice to be on the dance floor with her.
The roles of Mick Hamilton and Mr. Walker will be played by Roy Wise and Joseph Mayernik.
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