Art Chowder January | February 2017, Issue 7 | Page 49

MAKE US LAUGH | Janis V. Bers Happy New Year! I’m sure you’ll want to join with me hoping that 2017 turns out that way, because let’s be honest, it does seem that lately it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find many reasons to “L.O.L.”, let alone “R.O.T.F.L.”! (Teen-texters will gladly explain these abbreviations, and probably offer quite a few more!). The current grim state of our economy, coupled with rising unemployment, immigration issues, and an increase in inner city difficulties, only tends to add weight to our already heavy burdens. And, dare I even mention the recent political debacles that not only invaded every corner of the media circus, but also created gaping rifts in friendships, relationships, professional partnerships, and even, in some cases marriages! Need I go on? So, to employ a medical idiom, when I’m not quite feeling “up to snuff” I tend to reach out to our professionals who are fully qualified to help me get well again. And, using a similar comparison, when I’m feeling a bit “down in the dumps” I find great relief in knowing that I can easily consult with our equally qualified “laugh doctors” to help turn my frowns upside-down. We know these professionals more commonly as “comedians”, and in and around our region they’re ready, willing and very able to lighten our lives with their infectious prescriptions of laughter, optimism, and well-tooled humor. I’m delighted to have this opportunity to share with you the many “giggle factors” that are available to all of us courtesy of a pair of seasoned, hilarious, well loved and renowned local comedians, Nick Theisen and Don Parkins in this article which I’m calling simply “Make Us Laugh!” Nick, (who likes to be known as Nick O Theisen, possibly of Norwegian and Irish heritage) is a Spokane-raised comedian, writer, promoter, broadcaster and impersonator whose mere physical presence can easily bring a wrinkle or two to your cheeks even before he utters a word! Nick’s early foray into comedy began almost accidentally during his initial career as a radio host in Orofino, Idaho at the tender age of 18. Nick recalls, “I got fired after only two months for doing Jimmy Stewart impersonations during the grain report. So I decided to complete my unfinished degree in journalism by moving to Los Angeles during which time I also got hired at revered rock radio station KLOS. My co-host Frazer Smith and I began broadcasting crazy bits on the air, and eventually gained the attention of keen listener Mitzi Shore, owner of the city’s famed Comedy Store, highly regarded as the nation’s Mecca of comedy. In a stroke of awesome luck, Mitzi invited us to her club to host their anniversary show, which went down an absolute storm! This is when and where I really caught this irresistible and quite untreatable comedy bug and became determined to make comedy my lifelong pursuit”. Don (the Godfather) Parkins, also entered the “funny arena” almost by accident, but with an entirely different set of circumstances. “I was born and raised in the Hillyard district of Spokane—which may explain why I trained hard to earn six martial arts black belts and became a karate trainer, subsequently opening five karate schools in Spokane as well as several in Nevada and California. Whilst in Las Vegas I was hired at the Jonas Varga Nugget Casino as security chief for their New Year’s Day party. It was there that I befriended country music recording artist Kenny Rogers, who one evening wanted to enjoy a night out in Reno at a comedy club called Lipps, and invited me along. The comedian that was hired to perform that night, Johnny Johnston was dying a horrible death on stage, and after a barrage of merciless heckling from the audience stormed off before the end of his act, leaving the club high and dry! Wishing to spend the full evening there, Kenny Rogers said to the manager “Hey, get this guy up there. He’s funnier than hell and knows a million jokes; he’ll save the night!” ... So bravely up I went, told a bunch of jokes, and totally killed it! That w