John Wilkes Booth's Escape Route

[Jim Page]

Laurie and Thomas, one year, when I couldn't attend an annual trip to the Nashville Guitar Show, my musician buddies made a "Flat Jim" and had him photographed with every barmaid and guitar picker they could get to do it. Flat Jim graced the stage of the old Ryman Auditorium, where Hank Williams and Elvis played the Grand Ol' Opry (Elvis, just starting out at the time, was told that night not to quit his truck-driving job by Roy Acuff). Flat Jim sat on top of a left-handed Gibson Flying V once owned by Jimi Hendrix and he stood next to Stevie Ray Vaughan's #1 Strat. I was so jealous of Flat Jim.

My favorite photo was the one of Flat Jim held by Rick Derringer, of "Hang On, Sloopy" and "Rock and Roll, Hootchie Koo" fame.

And Thomas probably hasn't heard either of those great old songs!

--Jim