MARSHALL, ILL. —
Even the librarian got a little noisy as a musical spoon player served up heaping helpings of laughter.
Jim Cruise, also known as “The Spoon Man,” had the Marshall Public Library’s meeting room Thursday full for an interactive comedy featuring musical spoons. Decked out in a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts and fedora, the professional spoon player ran through a musical score ranging from Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” to “Rock You Like a Hurricane” by the Scorpions.
Library director Nancy Claypool laughed aloud along with the audience, which spanned toddlers to grandparents. Cruise has visited the library before, she said.
“I knew he would be popular because they loved him the last time,” she said. “But I never expected this many people.”
About 95 visitors packed the room like a drawer full of silverware as Cruise slapped the spoons across his hands and legs, rattling out rhythm to jazz and rock alike.
“When I was 9 years old, I wanted a drum set, and my mom and dad wouldn’t buy me one,” Cruise said, explaining that his grandfather taught him to play the spoons.
He quickly got hooked. Listening to the radio, he’d play along, dreaming of one day being the first “rock ’n’ roll spoon player,” he added.
Thirty years later, Cruise has been playing as a professional for more than two decades. The married father of five proudly said he pays the mortgage now doing what he enjoys. The key to achieving that, he told the kids, is to avoid drugs, get an education and listen to parents.
“If you can do those three things, you can do anything you want,” he said.
Cruise maintains a website, www.spoonman.biz, and sells his book, “Spoon Boy,” which chronicles his youthful mischief with musical silverware.
After the show, Cruise said the Marshall audience was a great group, and he particularly enjoyed seeing the number of parents and grandparents in attendance. Today’s shows, he said, begin in Quincy, Ill.
“This time of year, it’s almost every day. This is my third show today,” the Jenison, Mich., resident said while signing autographs.
Daniel Savage, 13, said the show was a good time.
“I liked the music,” he said, naming the Glenn Miller tune as his favorite. “I like the old songs.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Top Story 3
Related Videos
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Clackity clack: The spoonman finishes up his presentation at the Marshall Public Library by playing spoons, forks, butter knives and cake servers.
Discussion
VIDEO: Cutlery never sounded so good, or got so many laughs
- Top Story 3
-
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
AAA: 31.2M drivers to take Memorial Day road trip
It's going to be another busy Memorial Day weekend on the nation's highways. From Thursday through Monday, 31.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more to a beach, campground or other getaway, according to car lobbying group AAA.
-
UK PM: Brutal London attack appears to be terror
LONDON — A brutal attack in broad daylight near a military barracks in London left one man dead and two suspects hospitalized Wednesday after a shootout with police. British Prime Minister David Cameron said the attack appeared to be terror related.
-
VIDEO: Orlando shootout tied to Boston bomb suspect
The FBI says it was involved in a fatal shooting near Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. CBS News senior correspondent John Miller reports that the victim was a friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older brother suspected in the Boston Marathon bombing.
-
10 Things to Know for Wednesday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Afternoon Update: Fire chief says search almost complete in Oklahoma
The storm killed at least 24 people, including at least nine children.
-
UPDATE: 5 killed, 6 injured in I-70 van crash in Illinois
ST. LOUIS — A van carrying church members returning from a California gathering careened off of a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times today, killing five people and sending six others to hospitals, authorities said.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Update: Oklahoma, other tornado-hit states brace for more
SHAWNEE, Okla. — When Lindsay Carter heard on the radio that a violent storm was approaching her rural Oklahoma neighborhood, she gathered her belongings and fled. When she returned, there was little left.
-
Taylor Swift wins 8 trophies at Billboard Awards
LAS VEGAS — Another day, another domination for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards.
-
10 Things to Know for Monday
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday, May 20:
-
Longtime weatherman Jesse Walker relates well to people of Wabash Valley
While in middle and high school, Jesse Walker developed a strong interest in the weather. He thought about a career at the National Weather Service or at a storm prediction center, but the idea of becoming a television meteorologist never entered his mind.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
A battle of secret tactics
The embarrassing arrest of a suspected CIA officer in Moscow is the latest reminder that, even after the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia are engaged in an espionage battle with secret tactics, spying devices and training that sometimes isn't enough to avoid being caught.
-
UPDATE: Fire damages buildings in downtown Greencastle
GREENCASTLE, Ind. — Fire badly damaged several buildings today near the courthouse square in Greencastle, with flames shooting through the roofs as firefighters from several communities were called in to the central Indiana city to help.
-
‘A Song for Indiana’ to raise money for Dresser sculpture
Art Spaces will present “A Song for Indiana – The Paul Dresser Project” at 5:30 p.m. on June 6 at the Holiday Inn of Terre Haute.
-
MARK BENNETT: Local summer music series idea remains a good one
One-of-a-kind ideas happen rarely.
As the biblical adage goes, there is nothing new under the sun. We humans succeed occasionally, inventing electricity, automobiles, telephones and the Internet. Invariably, though, someone else insists, “Hey, my grandpa thought of that years before Edison.” -
Rapper Drake leads BET Awards with 12 nominations
NEW YORK — He started from the bottom, but now he’s on top at the BET Awards: Drake has 12 nominations. BET announced the nominees Tuesday. Rappers Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz are up for eight awards each.
-
Popular psychologist Joyce Brothers dead at 85
Joyce Brothers, the pop psychologist who pioneered the television advice show in the 1950s and enjoyed a long and prolific career as a syndicated columnist, author, and television and film personality, has died. She was 85.
-
More than just a mother, now she's your 'friend'
Josh Knoller, a young professional in New York City, spent years refusing his mother's "Friend Request" on Facebook before, eventually, "caving in."
-
Terre Haute’s Judson Hill band to unveil new album
The four-member group hopes its new album, “Beauty in Goodbye,” catches ears in the recording industry. They’ll unveil the 10-song CD in their hometown of Terre Haute this weekend, and play it live in March at Nashville’s iconic 12th & Porter club.
-
VIDEO: Mural unveiling today at Children's Museum
The public unveiling of the mural "Flightful Fantasy: We Can Fly, We Can Fly!" is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today, Oct. 5, on the third floor of the Terre Haute Children's Museum at Eighth Street and Wabash Avenue.
-
Motorcycle ride to celebrate Mellencamp’s birthday, support charities
Harley-Davidson Motorcycle rides in southern Indiana have plans to host a Hurts So Good charity ride as a tribute to Seymour native John Mellencamp in honor of his 61st birthday on Sunday, Oct. 7.
-
J.K. Rowling’s debut novel for adults worth a read
“The Casual Vacancy” (Little, Brown and Company), by J.K. Rowling.
So look, here’s the thing: This. Is. Not. A. Children’s. Book. If you’re looking for what made Harry Potter magical — Wizards! Spells! Flying Broomsticks! — you’re not going to find it. -
SLIDESHOW: This year's 15 hottest toys
Is it too early to start your holiday shopping? Not according to Toys R Us, which just released its "Hot Toy List" for 2012. Check out the top 15 toys that made the list. Find all 50 at toysrus.com/hottoys.
-
Silly Safaris brings live show to Children’s Museum
Do you want to get really close to some amazing animals? Would you like to touch some of your favorites? Then join the Terre Haute Children’s Museum at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, for a live animal show with Silly Safaris.
-
VIDEO: Mark Bennett: Hoosier trio dodges ditches on way to Terre Haute Blues Fest
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band has a critically acclaimed new album and video, and will perform Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Blues at the Crossroads Festival in downtown Terre Haute.
-
VIDEO: Outdoor Indiana magazine features Shades State Park, namesake of Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Outdoor Indiana magazine’s September-October issue features Shades State Park, located near Waveland in Parke, Montgomery and Fountain counties. Once known as The Shades of Death before it became a state park, it’s the most primitive state park in Indiana.
-
Art of the camera phone: Best photo apps
There are hundreds of apps out there for the iPhone photographer — some great, others less so. But just as with coffee, it's all a matter of taste. The fun thing is, it's only your own taste that matters.
- More Top Story 3 Headlines
-
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Today in History May 22
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
