Belgians In Heaven, Really?! 

This past week I received an email with photos from Jacob of Madison, Wisconsin who told me he recently discovered my blogs, Union Suit Fan and Union Suit Fans in the Limelight.  Jacob mentioned he's 25 years old and has been wearing union suits himself since the age of 10. 

In his correspondence, he inquired if I would be interested in a musical he had attended, popular near his hometown. It featured two brothers who were farmers. One of whom, particularly, was partial to red union suits. So much so, he always wore one under his overalls.  

Jacob sent me a couple scenes from the American Folklore Theatre in Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin. The Book and Lyrics are by Lee Becker and Frederick Heide; Music by Frederick Heide and James Kaplan. The setting is of Southern Door County's Belgian community.  

The two brothers in this popular show, Roger and Leo, are Wisconsin farmers who can not get along with each other. Their personalities being so different, they bicker, complain and downright dislike one another. The show also features a couple of angels, a talking chicken, St. Peter and a couple of other folks. I was able to find more photos from this musical which has had a long run at the American Folklore theater.

In short the brothers end up in heaven, hence the title of this show. No surprise there. One of the brothers is reduced to just his union suit underwear up in heaven. By the conclusion of Belgians in Heaven, the boys relationship has been mended and they acturally see value in each other. 

  

 

 

It's not long before Leo loses his overalls! 

 

And bewildered, realizes he ends up in Heaven wearing only his union suit underwear, boots and a hat! 
 

 

 

  

 

  Thanks to the production company, theatre, 

cast and crew of Belgians in Heaven!

 The Emperor's New Clothes?! 

Proud of the New Clothes his Tailors had made for him.

 

Embarrased to be caught out in public in only his union suit

Fuming, he returns to the palace humiliated

Seems Prince John gets caught out and about in his kingdom frequently without clothes, stripped to his royal union suit underwear!

 

This young Emperor is suprised he had been duped wnding up in his underwear with no clothes on. He soon realized he was actually wearing nothing but a red union suit in this School Production:

What's a leader to do but to give in!

 A special salute and thanks to Disney Studios for a fun, entertaining subject and the other contributors who appear in film and on stage in their long johns. 

Out early in the morning in their red flannel long underwear, just for what or for whom are these kids waiting??!! 

Well, for daddy who's wearing only his union suit to finish up in the one holer outhouse, of course!  Whew, that was a wait!

 

Thanks to Lazy One Union Suit Company for very timely ads to add to my OutHouse Series!

Union Suits for All Ages!

And Thanks to Clyde, Union Suit Fan, of Howell, Mich for sending these union suit ad photos!

Outhouse Oliver

Shortly after I posted the last two "Outhouse" movies, Ray of Quincy, Mass emailed me:  

"Poor Ole Ollie got cornered with his pants down out in the outhouse. I Guess a guy just can't take a, well you know, in peace without being interrupted. LOL. Good thing he was ready with that rifle as he struggled to pull up his pants!! ....Ray"

Ray: Several union suit fans emailed me this amusing photo. But you were the first to include a good-natured narrative for us. I can't help wondering though, why did he wonder out to use the privy in just his socks, white no less, not bothering to pull on boots. Yuk!  

Thanks, Ray. Like this cowpoke and me, keep 'em buttoned! ...Chris

A Good Guess!

In response to my last posting, Movie Trivia, my Canadian pal, Peter K, participated by guessing that the red union suited actor at the outhouse was Randolph Scott in the 1962 film "Ride the High Country." Good call but not the actor and movie I posted. The movie was actually Mail Order Bride with Buddy Ebsen as the man who made an early morning visit to the "two seater."

Peter's entry is another good western from MGM, the production company that has featured by far more actors in their union suits than any other film producing enterprise in Hollywood. Following are some scenes of two cowboys from the late 1800's.

Scott out and about in a jacket over his long handle underwear, returns from a late evening visit to the privy. Joel McCrea looks out over the ranch where they are guests for the night. He too wears a jacket over this union suit.

 

After discussion, the men head farther back into the barn and get undressed, 

down to their underwear to settle in for the night.

After serious discussion, they finally bed down, anticipating a good night's rest: 

 

 

Off come their boots and hats, pulling up blankets:

Good Night! 

 

Thanks to MGM and the cast and crew
of "Ride the High Country."