ENTERTAINMENT DINNER PRICES BACK TO 10 YEARS AGO AT OUR SOUTHFIELD LOCATION CELEBRATING IT'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY! But Seriously Folks .. . WING HONG Continued from preceding page 18203 W. 10 Mile Rd. at Smithfield Rd. • 569-5527 r -- IfTlailirelitj -- Berl• , yA&D SLAB FOR 2 . . $10.55 BBQ v DAR 13 BBQ CHICKEN FOR 2 . . $6.95 Open 7 Days 11 a.m.-12 Mid. EXPIRES 1-29-88 LUNCHEON SPECIAL—MON.-FRIA-4 HOMEMADE SOUP AND SANDWICH $ (Except Bar-B-1) Rib) COUPON ORDERS DINE-IN OR CARRY-OUT 3 75 LIVONIA — 4274500 30843 PLYMOUTH RD. FARMINGTON HILLS — 851.7000 31006 ORCHARD LAKE RD. AT 14 -I COUPON T 1 2 FOR 1 Monday Thru Saturday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. $ • KAFTA KABOB • CHICKEN KABOB • BAKED CHICKEN • ORANGE ROUGHY • STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES • SHAWARMA 75 FOR 2 INCLUDES SOUP OR SALAD, RICE & PITA BREAD • No Other Discounts • Expires 1-31-88 CARRY-OUT & CATERING AVAILABLE. ASK ABOUT OUR DELIVERY SPECIAL KABOB GRILL 557.5990 29702 SOUTHFIELD RD. AT 12 1h MILE (In Southfield Plaza) Open Monday thru Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. JN L r TRAYS FOR ALL OCCASIONS - TcoupoNT- FREE ASK ABOUT OUR Al•OCCASION CATERING SECOND DINNER WITH PURCHASE OF ANY DINNER EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE • VALID 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. DINE IN ONLY • Expires 1-31-88 OUR FAMOUS .DELI FOR 4 ONLY $1000 — INCLUDES — • '/2 lb. CORNED BEEF • 1/2 lb. PASTRAMI • CHOICE OF 1 LB. COLE SLAW OR POTATO SALAD • LOAF OF RYE BREAD • DILL PICKLES, • OF COURSE EVERGREEN PLAZA 12 MILE AND EVERGREEN 557-8899 58 FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1988 still using them today." Gayle's entree into show business was his musical talent. As a young drummer infatuated with Buddy Rich and the whole "big band" scene, he became proficient enough to earn a scholarship offer to the School of Perform- ing Arts in New York City. But he chose to turn it down in order to pursue a profes- sional career that had already begun. After some experience in East Coast clubs, he join- ed the Army, which placed him in the entertainment division of Special Services. "In the Army we were not only required to play, but to entertain as well," he remembers. "I did some com- edy and some standard movie star impressions of people like Cagney and Edward G. Robinson." After his discharge, Gayle went back to the cafe circuit, joining a combo known as the Showstoppers. Soon, comedy routines were injected into the act. "In those days," he say, "clubs hired self- contained groups. You were the whole show." The trio was finally hired to become part of an act called Sally Marr and Her Three Guys. Marr's son was destin- ed to become a comedy legend in his own right — Lenny Bruce. As one of Marr's "guys", Gayle was encouraged to do more comedy. When Marr moved to southern California, she persuaded him to go west and try his hand in the Los Angeles comedy scene. Gayle began working five hours a night in strip clubs. "Sometimes I strayed from my routines and began mak- ing funny observations about things in real life. I'd pick up a newspaper and talk about whatever was happening. the more outrageous I got, the more people seemed to like it." Gayle has no regrets about those early beginnings. In fact, he says it offered some of the best experience he's ever had "I had to work five hours straight every night. That's where I developed my style. You have to be quick — and you have to be good?' During those formative years, Gayle also fell under the influence of comedian Bruce. The two developed a warm and close friendship. Bruce's controversial forays into previously unexplored territory opened Gayle's mind to vast comedy possibilities. He became bolder, more ir- reverent and funnier than ever. "Lenny taught me honesty in performing. We were friends and I loved him. He gave us all the freedom to use four-letter words on stage without worrying about being arrested. We all owe a lot to him. He paid the dues for the rest of us." Today, thanks mainly to his appearance in Tin Men, Gayle is riding the crest of popularity, allowing his Jewish genes to come to the fore. "You'll see a lot of Italian comics coming up today, but to me they're not as funny as Jewish comedians. Some make better opera singers, but I think Jews make better comedians. Why? because we've done a lot more suffer- ing than the rest of them and that's what makes us funny. "Think about it," he con- tinues. "When people are suf- fering, if they don't have a sense of humor they'll never get through it. Think about your grandparents being thrown out of Russia. The heat and the pressure are on. So you make do. You philosophize. You gather your family around you and you make observations and you laugh among yourselves. I think that's what makes us funny. And it's in our genes — definitely!" Lucky for us, Gayle carries those genes with him. And although he admits he's not a very religous man, he does add that he's very proud of be- ing a Jew. "I get involved in Jewish causes, give to Jewish charities. And if I had a son right now, I promise you he'd be bar mitzvah?' Looking back on his more than 30 years in show business fondly, Gayle takes special pride in once being named "Las Vegas Lounge Star of the Year," opening the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas, be- ing asked to tour with Frank Sinatra, and, most understan- dably, his laudable role in Tin Men. He says his recent hit has gotten him raised eyebrows from bigwigs in Hollywood. He has already written a screenplay, but now a "famous producer" is express- ing interest. "I've also receiv- ed more film and TV offers as well as offers to perform all over the country. Tin Men, he points out, "has certainly been a turning point in my career. No doubt about it. I'm finally being ac- cepted. I was able to prove I'm not just a comedian. I'm also a good actor. This role came along just at the right time?' He describes himself as a performer. "I play character parts, sure. I'm no leading man type. I'm more like W.C. Fields. But luckily, there's no age range in comedy. Look at Rodney Dangerfield. If some- thing's funny, it's funny. And you can be a funny kid or a funny old man. I'm in a business with lots of guys who are funny at 75 and 80. So at my age, I've still got a long way to go. "Look," he concludes, "as long as I stay healthy and my mouth moves, I intend to be a comedian. Today people live longer. So if you're audience is alive and you're alive, everything is OK!" ❑ 'I GOING PLACES Continued from preceding page MUSIC EARLY MUSIC FROM AMSTERDAM Detroit Institute of Arts, Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet, Wednesday, admission, 832-2730. AMERICAN ARTIST SERIES Cranbrook Kingswood Auditorium, Bloomfield Hills, Chestnut Brass Company, 3 p.m. Sunday, admission, 851-5044. ANN ARBOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Michigan theater, Ann Arbor, with guests Robert Conway and Glenda Kirkland, 8 p.m. Saturday, admission, 996-0066. BRUNCH WITH BACH Detroit Institute of Arts, I- Fu Wang, Owen Carman, Deborah Moriarty, Sunday, admission, 832-2730. DETROIT SYMPHONY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Orchestra Hall, Barry Tuckwill, conductor, Friday and Sunday, admission, 567-1400. DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Ford Auditorium, Detroit, Mitch Miller, conductor, Friday, through Sunday, admission, 567-1400. DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Ford Auditorium, Detroit, Music Lives and Moves, Saturday, admission, 567-1400. UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY Rackham Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Empire Brass Quintet, Monday, and Douglas Major, Tuesday, admission, 764-2538. ART SHOWS THE PRINT GALLERY 29203 Northwestern Hwy.,