Some performers stay in character

By Leticia Gonzales, Special to The Free Press
The Free Press

Fri, May 16 2008

— Have you ever thought it would be easier to wear a mask that would disguise your true self?
Or maybe you have dreamed about living your life through an exciting new persona.
A few people in southern Minnesota have had these dreams and also made them happen. From The Singing Cowgirl — the name she is known as more than her birth name, Lisa Murphy — to Miss Lollipop the Clown (Jo Ellen Genelin), some performers get so into their roles, part of their true selves become these characters.
It happened to stunt man Doug “9-Toes” Marble. And it’s pretty well known that Bryce Stenzel plays a mean Abe Lincoln. Then there was Miz Peach (Dez Goettlicher), an Old West re-enactor who recently skipped town to recreate a four-block section of Guthrie, Okla., circa 1889 near Gutherie.
As one would imagine, they’ve all got great stories to tell.
Here are three of them.
Living on the edge
For more than 30 years, Marble has been known as Doug “9-Toes” Marble or simply, “9-Toes.”
“It was from a motorcycle accident, and I lost my big toe, so I got called 9-Toes,” Marble explained.
Marble, who will soon turn 50, is well known for the 12 years he spent as a professional stunt man.
“I had seen a man at an air fest in Mankato go through a fire wall, and what I saw him do, I knew it could be improved,” Marble said. “I did what he had done and fixed it.”
Marble has since set five world records in his career as a stunt man, which includes driving through a 104-foot tunnel of fire, a stunt that could have cost him more than a toe.
“That was a deal where the record was 90 feet,” he said. “All of the people who did the 100 feet got killed doing it.”
Marble said the name “9-Toes” stuck throughout his career.
“It’s kind of a trade name,” he said. “I’ve been on TV several times and someone says 9-Toes and they know who they are talking about.”
Even his friends and family refer to him as “9-Toes” or “Toes.”
“If someone said Doug Marble, they would say, ‘who’s that?’” he said.
Marble has since retired from his motorcycle stunt days and owns the Windmill Bar and Lounge in Mapleton, although he comes back to the public eye on occasions for special events. He has plans in June to blow himself up in a box of dynamite, as well as in a car.
Clowning around
Genelin of Le Sueur also lives her life as a performer, but luckily it isn’t quite as dangerous. For the past eight years, she has been known as Miss Lollipop the Clown.
“I have been silly my whole life,” Genelin said. “I just decided to add a costume and a big red nose to match.”
Genelin decided to become an official clown in costume after seeing one at her grandson’s preschool party.
“With my background in entertainment, I felt this was a good job for me,” she said. “This was my calling.”
Her life took a big turn when she went to a clown school to learn the tricks of the trade.
“Learning to twist animal balloons, face-painting and magic — wow, how much more fun can you have?” Genelin said.
And although she has only lived in Le Sueur for two years, she is widely known in the area.
“The children and adults in Le Sueur call me Lollipop in costume or out,” she said.
Being a clown definitely has its advantages, Genelin said.
“I guess I can be as silly as I want and do dumb things, and the out of town parties don’t know who I really am.”
Home, home on the range
Lisa Murphy has a persona all her own. For more than 25 years she has been playing the guitar as “The Singing Cowgirl.”
Murphy, who lives in the Rapidan area, said she began her singing career because of John Denver.
“He’s my idol,” she said. “I learned how to play when I was 11 and said if he can play this thing, so can I.”
From there, she started to sing in high school and moved on to private parties. Her stage name, The Singing Cowgirl, followed shortly after.
“I was just thinking about it one day and I thought, ‘I like to sing, and I am a cowgirl,’” she said.
When she performs, Murphy wears clothing that is normal for her everyday wear, which includes boots, hats and western shirts, but having a name to follow brings more meaning to the attire.
“It’s much more exciting being The Singing Cowgirl,” said Murphy. “It’s my niche in life.”

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