Kaplan On
Kotter More.

• •

ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

G

PHOI 0 COU RTESY OF CAP ITAL CITI ES/ABC INC.

abe Kaplan is back, Af-
ter a 12-year hiatus
from show business,
the star and creator of
the '70s hit sitcom
"Welcome Back Kotler"
is ready to reenter
the limelight. From
Wednesday, March 13,
through Sunday,
March 17, Kaplan will be
performing his stand-up act at
the Comedy Castle in Royal Oak.
When "Kotter" went off the air
in August 1979, Kaplan tried
acting in theater, feature films,
episodic TV and even another
half-hour situation comedy. He
also continued to perform his
stand-up routine in Las Vegas
and Atlantic City. But when it
became clear that his career was
fading, he chose to take a sab-
batical from the entertainment
industry.

"When I started to reach the
level that I wasn't as hot or as
sought after as I had been two or
three years earlier, I had to
make a serious decision," recalls
Kaplan, whose feature films in-
clude Fast Break,Tulips and No-

Gabes taking
his comedy on
the road.

body's Perfect. His play credits
include Doubles and Grouch°.

"I could either keep plugging
away, hoping that something
should happen to put me back
on top, like it did with John
Travolta, or I could try some-

thing else — and that's what I Kaplan thought he would try it
out himself. With some "bor-
did."
Having successfully dabbled rowed" material from other
in the financial market after comics, he honed his performing
climbing to stardom, Kaplan skills and, before long, he became
turned investment banking and a regular on the small-nightclub
the stock exchange into his new and coffeehouse circuit.
The turning point in his ca-
full-time career. "I thought it was
a logical choice for me, and it was reer, however, was when he was
booked on "The Tonight Show"
a good break," he says.
But last year, he regained the with Johnny Carson in 1972. It
desire to be on stage, and want- gave him the national exposure
ed to go back to his roots as a necessary to succeed.
"On my first Carson show, I
comic. "When `Kotter' reruns
started to air on Nick at Night, did the 'Miami Beach Dating
I did a little promotion tour with Game,' which was four old Jews
Ron Palillo (who played Hor- on a dating game," chuckles Ka-
shack) and Robert Hegyes plan. "I thought it was the fun-
(who played Epstein)," says niest thing that I ever did, and
Kaplan. "It was then that I de- it was well-received."
But his biggest break came
cided to take another crack at
show business. I am really look- shortly after, when he turned
ing forward to going on the road his comedy routine into a hit sit-
com called "Welcome Back Kot-
again."
Presently, Kaplan, who is 50 ter."
"It took about four or five
years old, is in the process
of creating new material. weeks, and then the show real-
"I want to talk about the ly took off," he says. "I drew from
way somebody my age sees my own experiences. Only rather
the world," he says. "In than making myself one of the
fact, one of the things that contemporaries, I made myself
I want to work on when I'm a teacher. We had a very faith-
in Detroit is a bit where I ful audience and very faithful
fans."
am my own room-
Kaplan looks
mate — me at age The brainchild of Gabe
back at those days
21, and me at age
Kaplan and Alan
with very fond
50."
Sacks, "Welcome
Writing a new Back Kotter" ran from memories, and he
repertoire should September 9, 1975, also looks forward
to the future.
not be difficult for through August 10,
1979.
"After more than
Kaplan, since he
a decade of being
started developing
his own monologues at age out of show business, it feels
17: Born in New York City, strange, but good, to be back," he
Kaplan says he was not says. "I don't know how long I'm
particularly extroverted as going to keep traveling and do-
ing my comedy act, but for right
a boy.
"1 was funny with people now, I'm having a great time." ❑
I was comfortable with, but
tt Gabe Kaplan will perform
I was shy with people I
his stand-up routine Wednes-
didn't know," admits Ka-
day - Sunday, March 13-17, at
plan, who was raised in a
Mark Ridley's Comedy Cas-
Orthodox Jewish home. "I
tle. Showtimes are at 8:30
was far from the class
p.m. Wednesday and Thurs-
clown."
day, 8:15 and 10:45 p.m. Fri-
After graduating from
day and Saturday, and 7:30
Erasmus Hall High School
p.m, Sunday. Tickets are $10
in Brooklyn, he did not go
Wednesday, Thursday and
on to college, against his
Sunday; $15 Friday and Sat-
parents' wishes. Instead,
urday. 269 E. Fourth St., Roy-
Kaplan landed a job as a
al Oak. (810) 542-9900.
bellboy at a resort hotel in
Lakewood, N.J. Observing
the stand-up comedians,