Ron Crowley mentioned that Ronn Lucas took a sabbatical to study drama. Do you recall how recent this was? I have seen his act a few times, but never knew him to do other than great comedy. It sounds like I should plan on seeing him again.
Some of you may remember him on The Smother's Brothers show. I'll never forget how he used a banana like a telephone. You could not only hear the phone voice on the other end, but she (the voice) would turn and call to someone in the next room who would call back and it sounded so good! Amazing talent!
Now there are two reasons to go to Las Vegas. Ronn Lucas and Terry Fador.
My first book was about the famous Irish settlement up the road at Downeyville. So I have the birthright and the artistic rights to use the phrase, " as the story goes.." Tony, perhaps it was in Las Vagueness or something I read. As the story goes..Ronn had turned Europe on its heads(being the favourite entertainer of Liz and the Kids is a bit of a coup-what?)Then I was told he packed it in went to work with an acting guru in , I believe, northern California. Now as an ex-newsman..we never let the truth get in the way of a good story. And as Forrest said,that's all I have to say about that.I've talked to him and he's a fan of the whacked-out Canadian humour.In any case, I support Ronn and appreciate the pressures he experiences from competitors.I just hope we'll see him again at Vent Haven. You know, Tony last night I was down here in doo-doo because I hadn't tightened properly the top of the cranberry juice bottle. "Look at what you've made me go and do!" I just went back a few pages on the forum and read your stuff We both know these things are not as big a deal when you've taught ..yet I am impressed. Tony, there;'s a book in all these hints. Write it..self-publish it(I know all the good ways to reduce costs) and book a hotel room at Vent Haven. Perhaps Steve will let you man the Axtell booth..great way to flog 80 to 100 books a day.
Thanks for the idea about a book. One thing I like about the Axtell forum is that we can essentially keep a file of ideas with easy access. I have asked Steve about repping him at Vent Haven in the past, but he tries his hardest to be there himself. He is always cornered at conventions and can answer a lot of questions that no rep can answer. Next year will be even moreso with the new Hands-Free puppets coming out. However, if he were to give me a hands-free when it first comes out, I'm sure I could learn enough to be a good rep this summer!
Ronn, in fact, was astounded that the Lucas family here in Emily Township is one of the founding pioneer families around here. Tony, Lucas' basics of the dragon and Billy(hustling a woman in the audience) are so good. Yet I believe Ronn shines when he just takes off. I watched as he decided to take off his sock, used three elastic bands and did a whole routine with a Mexican character. How about the--I think I'm going to die laughing when he walks on stage with a basketball. He is there to teach this keener-sucky ball how to yodel. Yet he is interrupted constantly by a cruel-mouthed microphone who is especially extraordinarly aggressive to audience members who have been imbibing(in Vegas!)yes a drunk..did come up to the bottom of the stage..totally ignored Lucas and the basketball and cussed out the mike and the stand while Ronn valiantly tries to continue to try to teach the prim basketball how to yodel, while the mike is calling out the poor sot and challenging him to a fist fight. Total, flippin' madness, AND this is in a huge theatre ball room with huge screens on both sides which broadcast Lucas' face in total detail..and there is NOT lip tremble! At Vent Haven I watched the retired master and the superstar up and comer but I believe Lucas is still the man. Ron
Ronn is a superstar indeed and a great guy. He's welcomed Terry Fator to Vegas as a friend. I've been talking to Ronn about some possible product releases. Stay tuned.
I had the distinct pleasure in attending Ronn's show last October. He is Now at the Luxor daily <well, 5 days a week). At that time he had only been back on stage about 6 weeks and the croud was small, (100/150). I joined him onstage for the "human dummy "routine. Being such a fan, i knew most of his routines and was making sure i was playing the role as the dummy to the hilt!, well,... I guess i went a bit tooo far as i ended up cracking him up and got him laughing so much that he had to stop, telling the audience: "I can't do this when i'm laughing this hard"
I did settle down and let him finish, and when the dust settled, we were together on stage about 25/30 minutes of his show.
After the show, I had a chance to talk with him one on one and share some of what I have been doing and how his work has inspired me. He gave me a dvd of his Disney special and a stuffed "scorch" figure that now graces my desk. He is truly a great talent and a wonderful human being.
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