Some Mummers won't strut this year
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
By: Elizabeth Fiedler
efiedler@whyy.org
The Mummers will make their annual strut down Broad Street this year. The New Year's tradition was less than a sure thing — after the city pulled money it once dished out, because of budget problems. The Mummers – with the help of some local politicians – successfully scrambled to come up with about $150,000.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The show will go on, but economic struggles have forced some clubs to shut down.
Mummers Museum Executive Director Palma Lucas says at least three have closed since last year.
Lucas: 38 Liberty Clown is not hitting the street at all. They tried desperately to comeback this year but they just can't make it. I know there's one fancy brigade that has not been able to make it at all. The Strutters have ceased to exist. The Pennsport String Band: they have completely folded. There was no way they could maintain the costuming end it and come up with money for the city services – they completely folded.
Lucas says this year she and her husband paid for three costumes that cost about $3,000 a piece, including one for another Mummer she says can't afford it himself.