He was a talent and , for sure, your image of him growing old and successful is accurate. I enjoy the reflection on a life that touched yours, albeit briefly. I have a few of those in my life, too, and never forget them. Thank you.
A great story with a heartbreaking ending . As I was reading about his rising career I wondered why I hadn’t heard of him and there was only one video of his standup routine. Thanks for the tribute, Jim.
What a beautiful tribute to Gary. I feel that I knew him so well that I am grieving his loss this morning. I was struck by your wondering what he would have made of different aspects of today’s world. I have often thought this about friends who have passed. The world missed Gary’s take on the current insanity. We could use it. Wonderful writing.
One summer when we were in elementary school, my parents took us kids for a week’s summer vacation at either Grand Lake Lodge in Colchester or Banner Lodge in Moodus – Connecticut’s facsimile of the Catskill’s Borscht belt – where Jewish chicken farmers discovered they could earn a better income by converting former chicken coop buildings into summer resort accommodations (which still never lost that chicken farm aura). Among other attractions, surprisingly good kosher meals—where you could always order “seconds.” Saturday night often featured an amazingly talented entertainer, clearly dropping by for an additional gig from the previous night’s Catskill performance.
While the adults were finishing up whatever they were doing, I had carved out a spot to wait next to one of the ping pong tables off to the side in the same hall. A rather polished tall young guy (at that age everybody looked tall) in a bow tie, tux and patent leather tap shoes, wandered over and asked if I’d like to play a game or two, and treated me like an adult . He was fun. A while later I look onstage and it’s the talented actor comedian Dick Shaw performing a portion of his long running nightclub act, which I later learned was called the Second Greatest Entertainer in the Whole Wide World --to borrow from Mary Tyler Moore’s celebrated Death of Chuckles the Clown episode – a little song, a little dance (but not a little seltzer in your pants). The guy really did do it all.
Maybe 30 years later, I read that the talented Mr. Shawn had died after collapsing face down on stage from a heart attack in the middle of a performance at UC San Diego. After he lay there motionless for minutes, someone asked for the proverbial “doctor in the house,” but even after CPR, most of the audience assumed it was part of the act and didn’t leave until the paramedics showed up. If you’re in show business, that’s clearly the way to go -- although not as tragically prematurely as your friend. Thanks for sharing your remembrance.
It seems about a million years ago since I saw Gary. Your history is on point. He was one funny guy. Also he probably would’ve been all you speculate on in his future if he would’ve been lucky enough to have lived. I enjoy your writing a ton. These stories are genuine and authentic. I’m gonna drag my ass down to texas and have a few beers with you as soon as I retire this year. Keep up the good work.
Please do come down, Chris, and spend more time than just what is sufficient for a few beers. We have 50 years of politics and history to catch up on, and I'd love to show you around. I'll expect to hear from you when the time gets near, and thanks for reading my stuff.
The ultimate touchstone of friendship is not improvement, neither of the self nor of the other; the ultimate touchstone is witness, the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another, to have walked with them and to have believed in them, and sometimes just to have accompanied them for however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone. ~ David Whyte
David Whyte has a wonderful book called Consolations.. The solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words that I highly recommend.
He was a talent and , for sure, your image of him growing old and successful is accurate. I enjoy the reflection on a life that touched yours, albeit briefly. I have a few of those in my life, too, and never forget them. Thank you.
A great story with a heartbreaking ending . As I was reading about his rising career I wondered why I hadn’t heard of him and there was only one video of his standup routine. Thanks for the tribute, Jim.
What a beautiful tribute to Gary. I feel that I knew him so well that I am grieving his loss this morning. I was struck by your wondering what he would have made of different aspects of today’s world. I have often thought this about friends who have passed. The world missed Gary’s take on the current insanity. We could use it. Wonderful writing.
One summer when we were in elementary school, my parents took us kids for a week’s summer vacation at either Grand Lake Lodge in Colchester or Banner Lodge in Moodus – Connecticut’s facsimile of the Catskill’s Borscht belt – where Jewish chicken farmers discovered they could earn a better income by converting former chicken coop buildings into summer resort accommodations (which still never lost that chicken farm aura). Among other attractions, surprisingly good kosher meals—where you could always order “seconds.” Saturday night often featured an amazingly talented entertainer, clearly dropping by for an additional gig from the previous night’s Catskill performance.
While the adults were finishing up whatever they were doing, I had carved out a spot to wait next to one of the ping pong tables off to the side in the same hall. A rather polished tall young guy (at that age everybody looked tall) in a bow tie, tux and patent leather tap shoes, wandered over and asked if I’d like to play a game or two, and treated me like an adult . He was fun. A while later I look onstage and it’s the talented actor comedian Dick Shaw performing a portion of his long running nightclub act, which I later learned was called the Second Greatest Entertainer in the Whole Wide World --to borrow from Mary Tyler Moore’s celebrated Death of Chuckles the Clown episode – a little song, a little dance (but not a little seltzer in your pants). The guy really did do it all.
Maybe 30 years later, I read that the talented Mr. Shawn had died after collapsing face down on stage from a heart attack in the middle of a performance at UC San Diego. After he lay there motionless for minutes, someone asked for the proverbial “doctor in the house,” but even after CPR, most of the audience assumed it was part of the act and didn’t leave until the paramedics showed up. If you’re in show business, that’s clearly the way to go -- although not as tragically prematurely as your friend. Thanks for sharing your remembrance.
It seems about a million years ago since I saw Gary. Your history is on point. He was one funny guy. Also he probably would’ve been all you speculate on in his future if he would’ve been lucky enough to have lived. I enjoy your writing a ton. These stories are genuine and authentic. I’m gonna drag my ass down to texas and have a few beers with you as soon as I retire this year. Keep up the good work.
Please do come down, Chris, and spend more time than just what is sufficient for a few beers. We have 50 years of politics and history to catch up on, and I'd love to show you around. I'll expect to hear from you when the time gets near, and thanks for reading my stuff.
The ultimate touchstone of friendship is not improvement, neither of the self nor of the other; the ultimate touchstone is witness, the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another, to have walked with them and to have believed in them, and sometimes just to have accompanied them for however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone. ~ David Whyte
David Whyte has a wonderful book called Consolations.. The solace, nourishment and underlying meaning of everyday words that I highly recommend.
Thanks, bud. I’ll find it and take a look.