Willie Banger

[cruznRN]

On our Glory cruise a few weeks ago an audience member chosen to participate in a game during the welcome aboard show. His name was Willie Banger. The audience roared at the name and he was quite entertaining. We later heard that a previous cruise had the same charactor. Has anyone elase met Willie Banger?

Lesley

Hi Lesley,

I also had a Willie Banger on the Triumph in 2003. The director of that cruise was John Heald.

[ibecruzen2]

hi,we had a willie banger on the triumph and on the victory, john heald was the cd. leaving again on victory 01-09-05

[Dorothy]

Yes Lesley, Willie was on our Glory cruise 9/11. Apparently he just follows John Heald around the ocean....

dorothy

I remember Willie Banger also. As I recall, he's a very old man from Georgia who appears to be out of it and his pants fall down exposing funny boxer shorts, during a skit. A big part of the hilarity is it's supposed to be spontaneous. This is beginning to smell like a setup or an audience plant. Of course, I guess that's okay, if indeed that is the case, but it could be viewed as a little dishonest, if the audience isn't let in on the situation after the act. I've seen several shows like that in Vegas, but they always have the audience pawn take a bow after the skit, thereby acknowledging his planned participation.

FUNNY, I just got off the carnival glory this morning. Willy Banger was an older guy from New Jersey.

[Dorothy]

It's show business WhiteKnight. Can't see how that's "dishonest" - just part of the show.

Not to mention I can't actually believe someone falls for this. It is all too obvious he's a plant from the get go.

"Willie" is a real passenger, I suspect, just in on the action. Maybe John gives him a shipboard credit to participate!

dorothy

Well, I never claimed that I wasn't gullible! I did take it as a real cruiser from the audience and I bet I wasn't the only one.

I just got off the carnival Glory Oct. 9 and there was a Willie Banger there he worked for a funeral home. Do u think this was a set up?

[turkeyman]

I reckon that's part of the act. On the Conquest they had the "Not so Newlywed" game. We went on our first cruise and the man of the elderly couple, (been married 50 yrs), was a retired minister. It made the CD real embarassed and was real funny. On our second cruise, we went to the same show again. The older gentleman this time was, (guess what?), a retired minister. As Dorthy stated, "That's showbusiness,"

[topazz11]

When we had John Heald on the Victory in 2002, he used the name Dick Wooden. Apparently he uses that name for his shows on every cruise on the Victory. It is all part of the game.

[Kim1319]

Willie was on my cruise in the first week of April of 2003. I could tell it was just part of the act. And it was hilarious stuff! I'm hoping he'll be on the Sensation next month!

Just got off the Glory on 10/9 and Willie Banger was on the cruise w/ his wife Annette. John Heald was the CD. With a name like that we knew it had to be a set up.

[duct_tape_pro]

our willies wifes name was annette to

[hunkalove]

I think you mean Anita.
We had Willie and Anita Banger on our recent Glory cruise.

Willie Banger was on my cruise on the Carnival Triumph 10/25/03. If I remember correctly, he was from South Carolina and celebrating his 82nd birthday, and his 61st wedding anniversery.

Yes, John Heald was the CD.

TomS

[cruznRN]

My suspicion was right! We met Willie a few times in the casino after the show and he kept the name! He swore it was his name. I guess he had a blast with his alias! I know we enjoyed him!

Lesley

[shellyld6]

Well John heald sounds like a blast I wonder if hell by our CD on the Pride in Jan 05. How can I find out is there a way? Thanks Shelly

[a1djgirl]

My husband and I went on the Glory Oct 9 with John Heald, also...
We remember an older couple being introduced during a skit as, Dick Little & his wife, Anita Little.

here's another john heald favorite to go along with dick wooden and willie banger.
let's see if any other cruisemates can remember golden rod from the mid nineties.

id say john needs some new jokes.. ive been on 3 cruises with him as the CD and he does the SAME EXACT things. It was hilarious the first time but it got extrememly old.