Happy Birthday Richard Pryor! Here’s a story in memory of him, my father and Mitzi Shore owner of @TheComedyStore. My father was a projectionist, owned a drive-in movie theater for some years, and for a spell worked at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood when I was a kid.
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I didn’t spend a lot of time with him growing up. But the little time I did, it involved running around the basement of the Chinese Theater, learning how to splice and glue reels together, and picking up garbage at the drive-in during the day...
as people always liked to clean out the inside of their cars before leaving; popcorn containers, whiskey bottles, spent roaches, and dirty diapers. Gear was always being upgraded, fixed, or changed out. Eventually, my dad worked at a chain of theaters where he did just that.
When I was 18, I visited my dad in Denver where he was struggling with a big swap out of projectors in a smallish multiplex. I had to sit and wait for him all day as he tinkered and cursed in aggravation.
Seeing pretty quickly that I was bored and given it was early, he had me sit in one of the theaters as he screened Richard Pryor’s Live on Sunset just for me alone. Twice. It overwhelmed me. I never knew stand up comedy existed up until that point.
Weirdly a few months later I met a comic and he took me to my first live show at the @ComedyWorks in Denver which was a brand new club...long story short I decided to give it a try.
By the time I was 21, I had made my way to Los Angeles and was made a regular at the Comedy Store by Mitzi Shore. A miracle that changed my life.
One night, Richard comes in. I tried my best to contain. I didn’t look him in the eye. I didn’t say a peep but followed him from room to room on the down-low (for those of you who don’t know there are 3 rooms) as he hung out getting ready to go on.
It was a Tuesday. He proceeds to chit-chat to the crowd, and I’m going to be honest, it was bad. To my new comedy eyes, it was like watching the slow death of a hero. Half the crowd walked. Someone yelled smack at him on the way out.
But it didn’t phase Pryor one bit. It shook me down to my core. It made me question what the fuck I was doing. I was still at the point where I ate a turd 2 out of every 3 shows. I would be all bravado on the outside when I bombed...
as I slunk away from the Sunset Strip trying not to cry. A curse on your soul if Kinison or one of the other douche-bags should see that kinda weak-ass hijinx on the premises.
Pryor walked off stage with nary a worry in the world. Wednesday night he comes back in. Same thoughts onstage. A tic more organized in general. Still disappointing. A few stragglers walk.
Thursday night, again he comes back in. Same thoughts. Some laughs, more shine, even a small applause break. No one walks. Friday night he returns. I dare to say hello to him in the back hallway, looking him in the eye. He gives no shits. He’s focused.
He goes onstage, same thoughts, tight as fuck this time tho, and he murders. The place goes meteorically wild. I laughed my ass off with eyes watering, I shit you not, just from the joy of finally getting to see the great Richard Pryor SLAY.
It literally was one of the biggest lessons a 21 year old could receive whether in comedy or not. Whether male or female.
The lesson of staying true to your voice and never wavering even when others turn away from you and walk. Happy Birthday to the greatest of all time! #Comedy #Pryor #LifeLessons #birthdayboy
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