ComedyView
By Felicia Aleman
Hello, hello, hello. It seems like just yesterday I was putting off my May column, and now here I am waiting until the last minute for my June column…it does not take much sunny sky to distract me…
We all know it’s time for Graffiti Summer. Because of that, I was going to find trivia from 1962, the year “American Graffiti” took place. I was then distracted by The 1962 Tanzanian Laughing Epidemic. A school-girl spontaneously and without provocation began laughing. It spread among the students–school closed–girls went across the country back to their homes, further spreading the illness. The illness affected 1,000’s of people and lasted 18 months. The epidemic was rumored to have caused the closure of Tanzania’s only comedy club: The Devil Thing is From Tasmania, We’re Tanzania, It’s Totally Different.
Another fascinating item from 1962. In December 1962 Lenny Bruce was arrested on obscenity charges for using a vulgar Yiddish term in his performance. Now, that word is in the title of a movie, but I digress…Police was trying to shut the club down as well so they checked the ID of everyone in the place hoping to catch underage drinkers. Instead, they caught another comic who’d change comedy: George Carlin. When Carlin was asked to show his ID he told the officers he didn’t believe in government ID and was arrested. Wonder what they chatted about? I hope they exchanged dirty words.
I’m not trying to be controversial with this next part, but I’ve seen a lot of arguments on this topic and I just hope any conversation stays civil. 1962 was when the first Hawaiian style was sold in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Yes, pizza with PINEAPPLE! Love it or hate it, it was the best thing Canada has shared with us before cheap prescription drugs.
Oh wow. Some shows are coming up. Hope to see you around!
Cheroot, Modesto, First/Third Tuesday
Blades and Bottles, Modesto, Second/Fourth Thursday
Finnegan’s, Stockton, every Wednesday 9 open mic
Game Room, Sonora, June 7, 9 p.m. $5 PG-14 before 10
Brave Bull, Modesto, June 8, 9:30 $3, explicit content
Fired Up Grill, Ceres June 20 at 8, no cover, open mic/showcase
Strings, Manteca, June 22 8:30 Ronn Vigh/Mean Dave
Outpost Saloon, Waterford, June 26, 8:30
Famigilia Bistro, Modesto, June 27, Kris Tinkle/Saul Trujillo
And even more shows
June 22: Strings Manteca 8:30 with Ronn Vigh and Mean Dave
Every Wednesday: Finnegan’s Stockton open mic at 9
First/Third Tuesday: Cheroot, Modesto
Second/Fourth Tuesday, Blades and Bottles
June 27: Comedy at the Bistro, Famigilia Bistro, Modesto
June 8: Brave Bull Adult Comedy Night (explicit) $3 9:30
June 7: Goldrush Comedy Show at the Game Room, Sonora, $5, 9, PG-14 before 10
June 26: Comedy at the Outpost Saloon, Waterford 8:30 no cover
June 12: Gurrrlll Fest II (all ladies lineup) at Tommy-T’s Pleasanton 7:30, $10 (features 209 comics)
June 20: Fired Up Grill, Ceres, 8 Comedy Open Mic Contest & Showcase
