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at Haggerty Rd.

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A Case Of Rickles

The Merchant of Venom still zings
on stage and in a new memoir.

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C

omedian Don Rickles has
been doing the same basic act
for more than a half century.
There are no lengthy story jokes (he
admits he doesn't know how to tell one
properly), few one-liners and noth-
ing too topical — just "good-natured"
insults and outrageous adlibs. And his
fans love it.
While his act is not exactly politically
correct today, the portly comic refuses to
change it. Rickles is proud to be known
as the Insultin' Sultan, the King of Zing
and the Merchant of Venom. He still
pokes fun at famous people and at the
average customer in the front row, alike,
"It took a while, but I found a dis-
bringing patrons on stage to participate
tinct sense of sarcasm and humor-
in zany skits.
ous exaggeration. I found my own
At 81, he hasn't slowed up on the
comedic voice — whatever that
national comedy circuit — includ-
means," writes Don Rickles in his
ing performing at casinos — and has
new memoir.
recently penned a book, simply called
Rickles' Book: A Memoir, written with
for High Holy Day services to big donors
Jewish author David Ritz (Simon &
and also served as the synagogue's
Schuster; $24).
quasi funeral director because he "was
"I just couldn't think of a title,"
the only one who could deal with the
Rickles bemoans.
weighty matter of death," says Rickles.
He'll bring his insults to the Andiamo
The comedian admits he wasn't a
Celebrity Showroom in Warren Friday
scholar and lusted after girls — failing
and Saturday, Oct. 19-20. He'll also be
miserably at both. "We weren't rich, we
featured in a television special on HBO
weren't poor, we just were',' is how he
Dec. 2, titled Mr. Warmth: The Don
describes his middle-class family. He
Rickles Project.
was a shy youngster, but he says his
Commenting on Rickles unchang-
father "was a great kibitzer" who liked
ing act despite recent criticisms by
to kid people about themselves. "I loved
advocates of political correctness who
him and adapted his approach," says
were outraged over ethnic slurs by New
Rickles. "I made friends by making
York radio shock jock Don Imus, Paul
people laugh "
Shefrin, the comic's longtime L.A.-based
After a stint in the Navy, he returned
public relations man, notes:
home and tried several sales jobs before
"Don Rickles is not vicious, he doesn't realizing he really wanted to be an
call people names, and he really doesn't
actor. He took classes at the American
insult them. He just does a regular
Academy of Dramatic Arts, failed some
comedy act that has been successful for
auditions and then tried his luck at
more than 50 years. Calling someone a
standup comedy. He knocked around
hockey puck is just good-natured fun:"
several nightclubs and strip joints, but
Rickle's 237-page book spent several
regular gags and impressions often fell
weeks on the New York Times nonfic-
flat.
tion bestseller list and probably would
When the audience voiced displea-
be enjoyable for ardent Rickles fans or
sure, he hit back with insults. He honed
devotees of celebrities in general.
his act, somewhat influenced by Jewish
The first part covers Rickles' early
comic "Fat" Jack E. Leonard, before
life in Queens, N.Y., including amusing
moving to Miami Beach with his then
tales about his father, Max, an insurance widowed mother, Etta.
salesman and "an important member"
The book describes how Rickles
of a small Orthodox synagogue who
A Case Of Rickles on page 70
raised funds by selling close-up seats

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