On TV, J.P. Patches resided at the city dump. But in real life, the man behind the greasepaint, Chris Wedes, has long lived in Edmonds. So it was fitting that a Snohomish County artist, Kevin Pettelle of Sultan, was chosen to sculpt the statue that will immortalize a Puget Sound icon for generations to come.
Pettelle’s wonderful work, “Late for the Interurban,” was unveiled Sunday before more than 1,000 cheering fans at its permanent home just east of Seattle’s Fremont Bridge. It depicts J.P. and his faithful sidekick Gertrude in a comic scene — they’re running, arms interlocked, in opposite directions — that captures why so many 40-, 50- and even 60-somethings who grew up here still consider themselves “Patches Pals”: These guys were funny.
From 1958 until 1981, J.P. was part of the morning routine for tens of thousands of youngsters on KIRO TV. For the 27 years since the show was canceled, he and Gertrude (brought to life in housecoat and falsetto by Bob Newman, who also played more than a dozen other roles on the ad-libbed show) have made a second career of plying their schtick at fairs, festivals, parties and promotional events, letting their adoring, graying fan base relive happy memories and share them with their own kids (and grandkids!).
If there was a serious side to these clowns, it was their devotion to serious causes, and that’s reflected in the statue, too. Passersby will be able to tuck donations to Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center into a slot. On Sunday, Children’s was handed a first check for $78,000 — the difference between donations for the statue and its final cost.
The vision, work and contributions of countless Patches Pals have created a lasting tribute, one that’s worthy of the gift J.P. and Gertrude have given them for most of their lives — the gift of laughter.
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