Comic Dave Cross remembers seeing a teen and green Bob Zany on television’s “The Gong Show” with madcap host Chuck Barris in 1977, long before Zany found America’s funnybone. In fact, the standup upstart was only 15 at the time.
And on for only a few seconds before a man dressed like a nun pulled the plug, God forbid. On acts deemed particularly painful, judges such as Rip Taylor, incidentally far more Zany than Zany, would strike a huge gong with a mallet.
“He was gonged pretty quickly,” said the Columbus native.
Cross loved the program and the good-natured laughs. He and fellow Columbus comic Jan Tatlock are organizing their first-ever version of The Gong Show in the form of an American Cancer Society fundraiser Friday at The Pixy Theatre, 111 S. Walnut St. in Edinburgh. At press time last week, the duo had about 10 acts slated, from music groups to comedians, including people from places such as Indianapolis and Kokomo. But they will be accepting performer signups until just before the show.
Actually, the pair have been working on a broad range of shows at The Pixy for a decade now, though people keep telling them they’re unaware of the building or the concerts and other presentations. Audiences generally have been smaller, though the local Fairy Tale Theater musical drama group has filled the venue with its annual, originally scripted performances near the holidays.
“Summer is almost always the hardest (to promote),” Cross said.
He loves the place’s intimate setting.
“I just love the way the owners (Mike and Gary Harding) have kept it close to the original look,” Cross said.
He acknowledged that judges on Friday will avoid any mean-spiritedness. But he also mentioned that a thicker skin might help contestants vying for the top prize of an opening gig at the venue in the future. He himself will hit the stage with a comedy bit, and try to survive.
“I think it will really be a lot of fun,” Tatlock said.
