The Peabody 5:00 pm Duck Walk
Orlando, FL. Another Picnik resize
10/17/06
We stopped at The Peabody to check out the ducks. There they were in the fountain where you could sit and gawk at them for the price of a drink. The paper napkin that came with your drink explained:
"The Legend of the Ducks
How did the tradition of the
Ducks in The Peabody fountain begin?
Back in the 1930’s Frank Schutt, General Manager
of The Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwick, returned
from a weekend hunting trip to Arkansas. The men
had a little too much Tennessee sippin’ whiskey and
thought it would be funny to place some of their
live decoy ducks (it was legal then for hunters to use
live decoys) in the beautiful Peabody fountain.
Three small English call ducks were selected as
“guinea pigs,” and the reaction was nothing short
of enthusiastic. Thus began a Peabody tradition
which was to become internationally famous."
The Peabody's web site further explains:
"The ducks are housed in the 'Duck Palace' on the hotel roof. Every day at 11 a.m., they are led by the Duckmaster down the elevator to the Italian travertine marble fountain in the Peabody Grand Lobby. A red carpet is unrolled and the ducks march through crowds of admiring spectators to the tune of John Philip Sousa's King Cotton March. The ceremony is reversed at 5 p.m., when the ducks retire for the evening to their palace on the roof of the hotel.
The Peabody's famed ambassadors are five Mallard ducks – one drake with his white collar and green head, and four hens with less colorful plumage. The ducks are raised by a local farmer and a friend of the hotel. Each team lives in the hotel for only three months before being retired from their Peabody duties and returned to the farm to live out the remainder of their days as wild ducks."
A female domestic servant carefully cleaned up the duck mess on the fountain, making sure none of it touched any part of her as she did so. She didn’t seem that enthusiastic about The Legend of the Ducks. I kept wondering what would happen if the Avian Flu ever paid a visit to Orlando.
29 Responses
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On 15 June 2008 Amelia (amy) Quicke gave props:
great story
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On 15 June 2008 Cyril Bays gave props:
Yes, great story and excellent shot! :)
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On 15 June 2008 Laura Boston-thek gave props:
I have heard of this...it is just an excellent idea and photo!
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On 15 June 2008 Beth Donovan said:
I love the story! I have a couple of ducks, and it's kinda hard to herd them around, so I'm really impressed that they get these ducks to behave!
Oh, and I like the picture quite a bit, also! -
On 15 June 2008 Simon Le gave props:
Awesome shot & great story John! You rock!!!
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On 15 June 2008 catharine amato gave props:
love the photo and the story
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On 15 June 2008 Photography Seven said:
lol
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On 15 June 2008 Nelson Campbell gave props:
how utterly civilized and utterly funny! i love it!
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On 15 June 2008 Ronnie Ginnever gave props:
this such a funny image, I love the expression of the dude watching the birds....
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On 15 June 2008 Merlin Peck gave props:
You got the best shot, John. Love it.
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On 15 June 2008 elfriede fulda gave props:
I enjoyed that, good shot too....
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On 15 June 2008 Anna gave props:
Right on Im jealous you got to shoot this... great shot and i love the guys expression!
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On 15 June 2008 J Mac gave props:
How very cool!! Great story and photo!
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On 15 June 2008 Linda Merz gave props:
Very funny!
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On 15 June 2008 Gail Fleming said:
This one really made me smile.
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On 16 June 2008 David Fullman gave props:
Great story
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On 16 June 2008 Lindsay gave props:
this made me smile. sweet story and photo. :)
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On 16 June 2008 Alicia Lee said:
love this photo
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On 16 June 2008 Eric Abernethy said:
I was wondering who did the cleaning.
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On 16 June 2008 *hector* Ortiz gave props:
thanks for the info... i have never been there...
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On 17 June 2008 Mike Edwards said:
Nice.
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On 17 June 2008 Loree McComb said:
A wonderful once in a lifetime capture
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On 17 June 2008 Eric Finster gave props:
Great capture
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On 17 June 2008 *Peggy.Sue* Harrington said:
cool shot .. there is a hotel here in San Diego that has a turtle pond and duck pond in its lobby .. very cool John
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On 18 June 2008 Marie Wilson gave props:
Isn't the Peabody in Memphis?
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On 19 June 2008 Portia Söderberg gave props:
cute and funny! cool info too!
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On 21 June 2008 Vidyavati Chandan gave props:
lol!
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On 23 June 2008 Jessica Hollenback gave props:
This is great, love the expression on the bell boys face.
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On 26 June 2008 Sherry Davis Johnson gave props:
Loved the story and the pic.
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