Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell

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