What? And Give Up Show Business? – Act III Scene 7
Chapter: What? And Give Up Show Business?
Location: Pirate Volcano Base
CUT TO
EXT – Day, Mark is dressed in a sailor costume holding a can of spinach while a large bearded man ties a skinny damsel to the railroad tracks in the background.
MARK
I’ve always been a fan of, what I call, the “Popeye” moment in storytelling. That’s the moment when you think everything is hopeless for the hero, then they pull out the “can of spinach” and you know everything is going to be okay. Consider this that moment. Cue “Stars and Stripes Forever” to begin playing…
Discussion (7) ¬
Ironically, in some contexts, Stars and Stripes Forever means the exact opposite of “everything is going to be okay”:
“In show business, particularly theater and the circus, this piece is called “the Disaster March”. It is traditional code signaling a life-threatening emergency. This helps theater personnel to handle events and organize the audience’s exit without panic. Circus bands never play it under any other circumstances. One memorable example of its use was at the Hartford Circus Fire in July 1944.”
– Wikipedia
Incidentally, I just learned this myself a couple of months ago.
I wasn’t aware of that. I’ve always just associated that with Popeye. Thanks for sharing.
I have always referred to this as the Hulk Hogan moment.
When he was inevitably beaten to a pulp and seconds from defeat and his arm would reach to the sky, start shaking/pumping and he’d drag himself to his feet and inevitably then defeat whoever he was fighting.
That works too.