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At what were supposed to be spontaneous moments in the show
launched in the 1970s that celebrated offbeat and sometimes
awful acts, Count Basie's upbeat "Jumpin’ at the Woodside" would
blast out and host Chuck Barris would bellow out "Gene Gene the
Dancing Machine," setting the stage for Patton.
The stage hand, usually wearing a green windbreaker, painter's
hat and bell bottom pants, would dance his way on to stage, show
off his moves and ignore a volley of items thrown his way
ranging from clothing to rubber fish.
Barris, the show's B-List celebrity judges and the audience
would usually join along in dance.
Patton appeared briefly in the 2002 movie about Barris directed
by George Clooney called "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind."
Patton lost both of his legs to diabetes. He died on March 9,
according to a death notice issued by his family.
A funeral is planned for March 21 in Pasadena, California.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Alison Williams)
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