Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell
Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell
Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell
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COMED/...<br />
<strong>The</strong> Other Cafe<br />
^Sboko Kashiyamu<br />
icaion to (urn this place into<br />
§tdy club six ycais ngo was<br />
fijedsion a well as a personal<br />
^omedy provided plenty of<br />
bah artistic and business op-<br />
^•'reJkxted Chip Romcr. who<br />
(per.pf <strong>The</strong> Other Cafe.<br />
iejr Cafe, located in the upper<br />
ihbury. is a popular comedy<br />
got in San Francisco providing<br />
Sif comedy from improvisation<br />
Htmateur open-mike nights.<br />
|t',of the week. It is also one<br />
"e'roedy clubs which admits<br />
Cafe, which is currently co-<br />
•Romcr. Bob Ayr«. and<br />
', opened in 1974, strictly<br />
: first. "It was sort of a hip-<br />
§ffi>" according to Romcr.<br />
an liter, Ayrcs. along with<br />
Bfjner, who is no longer in the<br />
purchased the business and<br />
into a nightclub with folk,<br />
one night of comedy a<br />
Her Romer and Snow j.'incd<br />
farmers of the cafe, two yers<br />
la took over, the movr \va*<br />
ievbtt the entertainment of Vie<br />
r/e-entirely to comedy,<br />
bout this time, comedy was on<br />
ing in the Bay Area, and we<br />
mid be good for the business."<br />
Bed. He attributes the growing<br />
pof comedy at r.e time in San<br />
& largely to Robin Williams.<br />
Sout ; - San Francisco and<br />
j ' V ' c in Hollywood.<br />
,was sort 01 a catalyst for the<br />
aedy scene. Kis great success<br />
""tarty flow of performers as<br />
Sence,' Romer observed,<br />
./who performed at Vie Other<br />
•t'other comcd"y clubs in the<br />
*"' move to Hollywood, has<br />
i to pop in unexpectedly from<br />
and perform for the<br />
nt surprises aside. Vie<br />
tits top local comedians<br />
la regular basis, including<br />
"ard, Dana Carvcy, Paula<br />
f Bob Goldthwaii. and Bob-<br />
r known comics, such as<br />
^ a n und Jay Lcno,<br />
QNjghl With Dand Uttemum<br />
(lined at Vie Other Cafe<br />
X,as well.<br />
I the entertainment itself,<br />
fe seems to be liked by the<br />
audience as well as the comedians for its<br />
atmosphere.<br />
"This is a great place because it's not<br />
'ike ihc comedian is up on a big stage<br />
ill by himscir. li's more personal, and<br />
I think many of the comedians rely on<br />
heavy audience participation or<br />
response." stated Greg Tolby. a member<br />
of the audience this particular night.<br />
Hi-continued, "I think it's a treat way<br />
to spend an evening. I m^an. with movie<br />
prices so high, it's a way to enjoy<br />
something completely different for a few<br />
dollars more. Comedy is addicting,<br />
though."<br />
Bill Caipinc, who works the door three<br />
nights a week, observed. "I think Vie<br />
Other is one of the more liked comedy<br />
clubs in the city because it's more relaxed,<br />
homey, and ha< a nice ambiatice. For<br />
me, this job seems more like a social<br />
outlet than a job."<br />
Goldlhwa : t. *ho often headlines at Vie<br />
Other Caff agrees. "This is like my<br />
favorite place to play because the audience<br />
is pretty hip and there rcaily isn't<br />
any pressure here. <strong>The</strong> size is just right<br />
and the atmvsphcrc is nice."<br />
"Fooling amund. or cvperimenting, 10<br />
put it more respectably, is encouraged<br />
here, unlike some other clubs where you<br />
feel like you're under presvjre to impress<br />
somebody. And it's 'accessible to all<br />
MUNI lines." joked Tom Kenny, T<br />
member of the comedy trio. Uncle<br />
Slinky's Pipsy Doodle Revue, who often<br />
plays Tin- Other Cafe.<br />
Paul Kozlowsky. anoihcr msmbcr of<br />
Uncle Stinky's, added, "Sometimes, this<br />
place doesn't even feei like a club<br />
because the windows (which cover an entire<br />
side of the stage) provide a special<br />
outlet. It encourages improvisations,<br />
usually of people walking outside or<br />
something."<br />
On October 31 of last year. Vie Other<br />
Cafe oocned a branch in Pucito Vallur-<br />
M. Mexico. Romcr conceded that their<br />
new bushev; is doing well, but is still<br />
in its growing stage where ihcy ire "still<br />
testing the water."<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir business here in the city, on the<br />
other hand, may be labeled * success.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cafe is usually full for pcrtbri.-unce.<br />
on Wednesday through Sunday, -vhen<br />
they have a hcadlincr. Mondays and<br />
Tuesdays arc usually comedian auctions.<br />
Admission fee for Mondays and<br />
Tuesdays is S2. and varies for Wednesday<br />
through Sunday shows, depending<br />
on the day and the hcadliner. For.more<br />
information, one may call 681-0748.<br />
(Editors nole: three of the clubs reviewed in this<br />
section have an admission policy of "111 years and<br />
older." <strong>The</strong>y have reputations of being popuiir<br />
among many'Pay Area young adults.)<br />
'Night Life'<br />
is fine,<br />
but...<br />
While some young people envision<br />
the ideal adult evening out as<br />
dining and dancing at a prputar<br />
night club, other teenagers have a<br />
different view of what goes into a<br />
fun-ftllcd evening.<br />
In the informal poll conducted at<br />
*chool. some SO student* were uked,<br />
"What t\ your idea of a Tun*<br />
evening?" <strong>The</strong>ir responses were<br />
many and varied.<br />
Seven students responded that<br />
going out to dinner, followed by an<br />
evening of dancing is their favorite<br />
way of enjoying a night ot fun.<br />
Two varied a Nt from this pattern<br />
and said that go.ng to a movie after<br />
dinner would be preferable, and<br />
two others picked going to a party<br />
after dinner.<br />
Spending an evening at the<br />
movies was the first choice of five<br />
students (skipping a dinner out),<br />
and three suggested visiting a<br />
favorite pizza parlor before going<br />
home, while two voted for Mopping<br />
off at tin ice cream parlor.<br />
Four Lowcllitcs indicated that<br />
having a party evening was 'heir<br />
idea of ihc mow fun. Four athletic<br />
students picked an evening of bowl'<br />
ing as their most enjoyable activity.<br />
Driving ami cruising amund in a<br />
fancy sports car was listed oy ihrcc<br />
seniors at a way of having a satisfying<br />
lime.<br />
Otcr a do/cn vudents reminded<br />
in A general way. indicating J\ long<br />
at they were with friends, they<br />
would be content. A senior stated.<br />
"'A fun ni^hi out doc\ not rcilly o>pend<br />
on what you actually do.<br />
Everything depends on whom you<br />
arc with. If you go out with someone<br />
you like or with someone<br />
who is just fun to b£ around, you<br />
can"! misv"<br />
A junior commented. "I like inviting<br />
some friends over and doing<br />
T*r Lmrll. Jmuart IS. NSS. Fqt II<br />
PROFILES<br />
most anything together." Another<br />
junior reflected. "I always have<br />
lots cf fun whenever 1 am with my<br />
favorite friends, no matter what we<br />
do."<br />
<strong>The</strong> remaining responses were<br />
mostly i-.dtviduali7cd in nature and<br />
did not fit a specific category.<br />
A junior opted for in evening of<br />
ptaying Trivial Pursuit. Another<br />
junior cited, *'... walking up and<br />
down Haight Street with my<br />
gang."<br />
"To me, an ideal evening is one<br />
that merely deviates from ths<br />
routine that I am accustomed to on<br />
weekdays," offered one senior.<br />
Washing television wts mentioned<br />
by on!y two student*. A<br />
senior chose "... having a pujama<br />
party." as her number one choice.<br />
Anoihcr said, "... going out and<br />
having a big banana split.* Other<br />
responses included, "... renting a<br />
good fT-ovic." "... getting a full<br />
night's sleep without worrying<br />
about cramming for exams." "...<br />
silting on the bench and watching<br />
the sunrise." "... going out to<br />
Candlestick Part., cbrcring for the<br />
Giants, and '«cczi f .R to death."<br />
"... talking *.•* '"JC telephone for<br />
hours," and "... listrning to<br />
r**.ords with a member of the opposite<br />
sex."<br />
Two respondents can't get away<br />
from the academic influences of<br />
<strong>Lowell</strong> High. A freshman enjoy*.<br />
"... gaing to the library to do<br />
I nntewnrk with mv friends and enjoy<br />
inj: many reference buuLs<br />
and research materials." A junior<br />
U happiest "... when writing letten,<br />
journal*, and poems."<br />
I, these various responses are<br />
typical. <strong>Lowell</strong> students find a<br />
variety of activities pleasurable in<br />
enjoyhg a "fun-filled" evening.<br />
Ha Ha a Go Go<br />
By Eva Fcsta<br />
<strong>The</strong> rumc "riv-ha a go-^o" implies '*... lauding<br />
and continuing, as opposeO to dining and dancing."<br />
stated Jim Baikc of the Ha-ht a go-go, a comedy pub<br />
on Clement Street.<br />
rhc Ha-ha a go-go offers comedy seven nighu a<br />
week and serves beer, wine, and soft drinlu.<br />
In addition to its unusual name, the Ha-ha a go-go<br />
is marked by a uniqtic physical appearance. <strong>The</strong> club<br />
•s a ruTow little hole in the wall with a floor<br />
decorated in a large hlack and while checkered<br />
pattern.<br />
On Munday and Tuesday nighu, aspiring come*<br />
rfians can try their luck with "open mike." Admission<br />
to th ic shows is one dollar.<br />
According to nunagcr Becky Irwin. the open<br />
microphone U what makes the club special.<br />
"We provide a training ground for up and coming<br />
young comics. If a person has lalcrr . pcrscve/ance,<br />
and keeps coining up to the micropuone. sortKon:<br />
will snot him. and he'll get 'hooked' "<br />
On Wednesday nighu. Steven Pearl hr«u a show<br />
with other local comics.<br />
Thursdays. Fridays. Saturdays, and Sundays,<br />
"headlined" such a> Dana Carvcy. Michael Pritchard.<br />
and Robin Williams perform.<br />
Junior Suah Remkicwicz. who frequcnu the club,<br />
enjoys the "uff-tbe-wal) atmosphere."<br />
"<strong>The</strong> remedy il really outrageous . .•. it> an interesting<br />
pUce to go at nigh:." she enthused.<br />
i