four questions
Mark Ridley chats with Platinum
If laughter is the best medicine, MARK RIDLEY could be
WHAT BOOK, CD,
OR OTHER
DO YOU LONG TO
IA R E?
I tend to read myster-
ies by authors such as
Steve Berry, Vince Flynn,
Nelson DeMille and oth-
ers. My literary tastes
involve a protagonist
fighting against the evil-
doers in the world. It's
pure escapism on my part.
As far as music, I love the
Margaritaville station on
Sirius satellite radio along
with any jazz or blues. I
grew up with lots of jazz in the house.
considered one of Metro Detroit's "top does." The long-
time comedy-club owner has been serving up a healthy
dose of humor at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle for 30
years. The club first opened in 1979 in the basement
of the Meating Place on Pontiac Trail and Orchard Lake
roads in Orchard Lake. It's been in its current location on
East Fourth Street in Royal Oak for nearly two decades.
"When we first opened, my new talent consisted of
Tim Allen and David Coulier. They were starting out as
comedians," Ridley said. Since then, big names like
Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell and
z
Jim Garrey have graced the Comedy Castle stage. Ridley, '5
58, is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit.
He and his wife, Sara, live in Beverly Hills. They have
c
two adult sons, Ryan, 32, and Adam, 27, both of whom
are pursuing careers in show business. In the current
economic climate, Ridley views comedy as a great escape. He
also encourages wannabe comedians, urging them to test out
their material during his regular "open mike nights" Wednesdays
at 8 p.m. "Don't give up," he tells potential future stars. "I know it
looks easy, but that means the comic did his or her job right and
really made it look like it was a piece of cake." Here, we ask Mark
Ridley our version of the Four Questions.
Robin Schwartz
IF YOU COULD HAVE BRUNCH WITH
ONE BIBLICAL OR HISTORICAL JEWISH
FIGURE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
If I could have brunch with one biblical Jewish fig-
ure, it would be with David [who killed Goliath with
a stone shot from his sling]. The stories we learned
about him as young people were fascinating, but he
also was a poet and musician. To me, that's remarkable.
WHAT IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS HAVE
'IOU RECENTLY LEARNED?
I met and married a woman who taught me "less is
more." I always wanted to lease a new car every two
years, go out to eat and enjoy too many things. Sara
has made me see how important it is to be a minimal-
ist, and I've come to enjoy that way of life. The more
things I divested myself of, the less hectic my life
became, both personally and professionally.
W HAI- WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO
KNOW ABOUT YOU?
People have always expressed surprise when I tell them,
"I don't remember jokes." My humor was always the
smart-aleck approach and ad-libs in social settings.
Also, I lived and worked on a kibbutz in the mid-1970s.
I traveled across most of Israel either by hitchhiking or
with the leader of our volunteer group from Kibbutz
Re'im. The best trip was camping at St. Catherine's
Monastery, rising at 2 a.m. and climbing what is pur-
ported to be Mt. Sinai. We got to the top as the sun was
breaking over the desert horizon. Very spiritual!
a
Is your hair too thin?
Would you like more?
iN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
Wearin gR aydianCe
theA nswer !
t;
lighten i ypl/
tying the knot
Gives Fullness
Gives Highlights
While Maintaining Your Exact Style
With its contemporary flair and snappy
Consultation are Free
content and visuals, Platinum has
Available with Private Suite
positioned itself in the market to deliver
West Bloomfield Office Offers:
Dupticati, ,n
-
I lairricce
the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish population
to advertisers through home delivery,
Brighton Office Offers:
Faux Image Wig • Reidy to Wear Wig,
•
roidy I Ltirptitc.. • I
lab
street distribution and event attendance.
and Sran
248-855-8845
www.raydianceforwomen.com
5799 W. Maple • Suite 167
West Bloomfield • 248-855-8845
537 W. Main • Brighton • 810-220-8888
B 2 2 •
JUNE 2009 •
.17\ platinum
For advertising information call
245-351-5107