Captain Jack's Pirate Hats

Ello Maties! This is the little known tale of how Captain Jack was refused entrance to Disneyland. That's Right our beloved Captain Jack was actually denied entry to Disneyland and escorted off of Disney property. How can this be? Well here's the tale. It was early spring of 2004 and Pirates of The Caribbean: Curse of The Black Pearl had come out the previous Summer , August 2003. I had seen the Movie at it's premier and like many of you had struck a chord with Johnny's Captain Jack Sparrow. I had found my alter ego. I had made my first Captain Jack Costume in October to win a local Halloween Costume Contest, which I did, and also met my future wife that night ( though that is another story, or blog). You'll remember that the DVD distribution for the first movie wasn't until December, so I of course had to keep going back to the movie theater to see POTC1 again and again, in order to get the costume down. I had CA Boots make my boots, but otherwise I made everything else. There were no official licensed prop replicas, I had to make my own compass, and most costumers had not quite yet realized this niche market, the shirt, pants, vest and frock coat and hat all had to be made. Pictures of my costume had started spreading and word of my Version of Captain Jack's Hat on the internet and I started to get requests to sell them. I had started my hat business as an off shoot of the costume making process, because I could not find the Movie's hat maker ( latter found out that Penny Rose had the Captain's hats made in Italy) anyway, I researched hat making in the colonial period and found that they were primarily made of felt, (wool, rabbit, beaver or a combination of those fibers) and that they were not typically made of leather... Well no need to give you a history lesson on hat making.. Long story short I made my own hat. As I was getting requests for them I started selling them on ebay and then started a web site (www.captjackspiratehats.com) with 10 different styles of hats, including two styles that I had never seen before and then had copy righted. So spring came and I decided to go to Disneyland with the great idea to go into the theme park dressed as The Good Captain Jack and get my picture taken with lots of people so that I could post them on my web site and to drum up business. I drove straight down from Oregon, stopping only in San Francisco for one day to Windsurf on The Bay, and to visit a costume supply store that I was familiar (with from living in SF for 14 years) and arrived the night before. I suspected that my real weapons would be a problem and so I had bought an replica flintlock pistol and sword and some paints and went to work that night in my motel room, aging and making them both look better than the shiny plastic toys that they started out as. The morning arrived and I woke up and got dressed and made up and drove the three blocks to Disneyland and entered the parking area. I was the first car in the lot and had to wait 2 hours for opening. I must also explain at this point that my car had a giant skull and crossbones plastered on both sides compliments of Naish Windsurfing (my sponsor) and the security guards at parking lot were looking it up and down. Finally a hour before opening I got out and approached the two security officers, that I needed to pass it get on the tram to go to the main gate. They said "where do you think your going Captain Jack?" To which I replied in my best Captain Jack imitation "I believe, I'm going home..."( no not a line from the movie, I know). One of them said " Wait a minute, I don't think so." I was prepared for this and said " It's about my weapons. I assure you they aren't real and can do no harm to anyone.." I showed them that the sword was actually just a hilt glued to the scabbard and the pistol was in fact a plastic toy. " Very nice, they look real." He said. "But that is not what I'm referring to. I don't think we can let you past this point". At which point a white Disney Security SUV arrived and a tall woman got out. As she approached she said "WOW" That is the Best Jack Sparrow Costume I've seen yet". I smiled, pressed my palms together as Jack would and said nodded my thanks. She then continued " I'm in charge of security here and I just can't let you in. I would if it was up to me.... but we have rules". Other park attendees started to arrive and they were all like "look it's Captain Jack, Can we get a Picture?" this happened 4 or 5 times during the half hour that I spent with them in the Parking lot and She was very apologetic and told me that it was for my own safety. I was likely to get mobbed and too many people would want pictures with me. I told them that was exactly what I wanted. She explained that since I was not a Disney Employee there was no way they could vouch for me...in other words, I had not passed their lengthy employment process and background check, maybe I was a whack job and who knows, might actually have some ulterior motive for being dressed up as Captain Jack...anyway she was nice enough to tell me " You can go over to Disney Downtown, It's a couple blocks away, straight down this road. It's an open area shopping center and you can hang out there and take all the pictures you want. I'm really sorry about the Park, But that should at least help out a little". I said a semi disappointed thanks, but headed over to Disney Downtown. I found parking there people were starting to arriving in small groups. A couple, a family of three, a small group of 8 student, another family... and they all came up to me immediately. I spent about another 30 minutes shaking hands, taking pictures with people and signing autographs as "Captain Jack Sparrow as more and more people arrived and Captain Jack was getting surrounded. It was great. I was getting the pictures that I wanted. Then 4 golf carts came speeding up and two security personel got out of each and surrounded the area. One man in a suit and earphone looking very secret service-ish ( want to be) came up with another man and got right up in Captain Jack's space, saying " What are you doing here?" " I thought I might go for a walk today.." I said. "Who are you and why are you dressed like that?" " What this? These are my weekend clothes... my other's are being cleaned, as it were". I said and it was lost on him, as he obviously had no sense of humor and certainly took life too seriously. "You can NOT be here" He said. " Actually I can. I was told by security at Disneyland that I could spend all day here." He puffed up to his whole 6'+, 200+ lbs, face red, veins bulging and said " I am the head of Security for ALL Disney Enterprises in Anaheim, and I am TELLING You that YOU WILL LEAVE IMMEDIATELY, or I will have you escorted off our property!" As he said this rather loudly, the crowd was looking very uneasy. Some people leaving quickly, some gaulking open mouthed in disbelief that their Beloved Captain Jack was being threatened. The Security worked their way through the crowd and now I had 6 large men closing in one me. I looked through them all, made a Jack gesture to the crowd and said " It seams I have overstayed my welcome. Captain Jack Sparrow has to go now" ... and I turned and did a flailing arm jack run that would have done Johnny proud. I must admit that I found it absolutely ironic that Disney later sent out a Casting call for Jack Impersonators to audition for positions in all the Parks. This of course went along with updating the ride and merchandizing the hell out of POTC2: Dead Man's Chest. Disney execs clearly realizing the missed opportunity with the first movie and not wanting to repeat it. It is a strange adventure, my friends. After my Disney experience; I was the First Captain Jack in The USA to do the Pirates of The Caribbean Interactive (www.potcinteractive.com), I flew down and auditioned with thousands of other people to be an extra for POTC2 and 3, made Pirate hats for Penny Rose and for POTC2/3 and a number of Disney execs, as well as for Disney World, I attended the FAO Schwarz/Zizzle Pirates of the Caribbean Look A Like Contest (yet another grand story for another time), Have played Captain Jack at The Portland Pirate Festival, for the Make a Wish Foundation, and for the Opening of POTC2 and 3, and for PyrateCon 2006. While my costume has come a long way since the first one back in 2003 (thanks Kate at Silhouettes/Top Notch Costumes/Perfect Pirate), I'll be the first to admit that there are those impersonators who either look more like Johnny ( hey Ron) or have the mannerisms and voice down more than I would ever care too (Brandon). I do have to say that I was one of the first, definitely the shortest (I'm 5' 4" which prompted the Zizzle judges to call me Mini-Jack), and beyond question the best looking one to get kick out of both Disneyland and Disney Downtown in the same morning. epilog: I left Disney Downtown and went over to check out Johnny's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and ended up spending the day standing outside the Chinese Theater with the other Costume Character Actors, having my picture taken with tourists and fans and receiving grattuities. I made enough to pay for my trip and buy a new pair of Harley boots across the street. All in all, it was a Great Adventure!