In honor of one of the greatest scary movies ever made, I’m posting a picture of my late, late cousin, Chumley, who worked as a shark wrangler and trainer on the iconic 1975 movie, Jaws. He was always hamming it up with the cast and crew and thought he had trained the white shark to join in the fun. This picture was taken a few seconds after he informed Quint and the Chief that they would need a bigger boat and more weaponry. Sadly, the only item recovered was a sneaker, which was sent to his widow.
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Notes From The Cactus Patch 
Watched that movie again last night. Still scary. I’ve been avoiding beaches for fifty years since I saw it the first time.
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Hmmm … I seem to recall a visit many years ago to Universal Studios in California and the Jaws experience there. Guessing maybe Chumley “trained” animatronic sharks, Phil. 😉
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It’s never a good idea to become chummy with a great white. Just sayin’.
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Spielberg was having fits because the shark, Bruce, wouldn’t bite on command. I guess he wouldn’t NOT bite on command, either.
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“You’re gonna need a bigger boat” is one of the most chilling movie lines ever. Chumley had his work cut out for him. 🙂
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Momo and I watched the original movie last night, and yep, one of the best lines in the film. It wasn’t in the script. The Chief spoke it off the cuff, and Spielberg left it in. I saw the movie in Corpus Christi on opening weekend, and then had to surf in a contest the next day in Port Aransas. Everyone who saw the film was a bit skeptical about sitting out in the ocean on a surfboard.
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Understandable-win a contest or get eaten by a shark? 😱
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Touching tribute to Chumley (fitting name). What a way to go! Good old Chum liked to have fun but he just wasn’t very bright, was he?
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No, Mam. Stars in his eyes were his demise. Momo and me watched the original Jaws this evening. Still one of the best films ever made.
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There weren’t too many other movies that had such an impact on so many people. All it took were two notes to set the nerves on edge. Classic movie and song.
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Hear the music, or the notes, and you know someone’s getting chomped. I came close once while surfing, but that’s a story for another day.
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You tease! 🦈
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What a film that was! Even the music alone gives me the chills.
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I love this movie…I watch it at least twice a year. It’s not just a horror…it’s a great movie. I guess Chumley went doing what he loved!
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He did, Max. Sort of an antacid for sharks. We also watch this movie once a year. One of the best ever made.
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Do you like the movie Duel? I always thought Jaws was Duel in the water…but better. It’s hard to beat Jaws.
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I’ve never thought to compare them, but yes, it could go that way. Movies nowadays are nothing like they were in the 70s. Now everything is AI and FX and the actors are part of a blue or green screen. Me and Momo attempted to watch Jaws 2, and oh man, was it a waste of time. Some films should never get a sequel.
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I got the dishonor of seeing Jaws 3 at the theater…it makes 2 look like Citizen Kane…Phil it was bad bad…in 3D no less!
My favorite movie decade are the 70s hands down.
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We tried to watch Jaws 2 later that evening and it was horrible, so no way I was going to watch 3.
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Oh, now I remember why I never saw the original in the movie house. Working two full time jobs didn’t leave a lot of time for entertainment. Hear some talk of this film like I shouldn’t have missed it. But hey! I have it to look forward to. Before I get carried away, It’s probably best I see it on wide screen, huh? Like for the full effect? You know, up close & personal like Chumley?
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Momo and me watched it on our TV at home, and that’s good enough. It still has an impact all these years later. Chumley wasn’t the brightest of the family.
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