Thought you guys might enjoy this note from a standup comedian that graduated from my high school, about 12 years after I did:
>>From: Brad Upton ('74)
I think it was 1971, I was 15-years old. George Carlin's fame was
at a peak—he was touring the U.S. playing sold out theaters. He
had released several albums and my family owned them all. Mom,
dad, myself and my 13-year old brother made the 210 mile trip to
Seattle to see him at The Paramount Theater. The anticipation in
the theater was electric. Remember, this was 1971, people were
openly smoking joints all over the theater before the show began.
I remember the approximate spot where we were seated—they were
good seats. What I clearly remember is sitting there before the
show and looking at the stool with a pitcher of water on it and
the microphone standing there all alone bathed in a blue light.
It's as vivid as if it were last week. It was the first time I'd
seen a comedian perform live. I remember being so awestruck that
this person was going to come out and entertain this entire
audience with nothing but that microphone and his brain. It was a
moment that would change my life, set me thinking in a different
way and send my life down a path that I am forever thankful. That
night George Carlin made me dream.
I don't remember many specifics of the show but I know George
didn't disappoint. He came out and killed. The crowd loved him,
when I left the show my sides and face ached from laughing.
I progressed through high school and college. I tried to watch
all the comedians on Johnny Carson and in the back of my mind I
dreamt of what it would be like to be a comedian. Wouldn't it be
great to just entertain with nothing but a microphone and your
thoughts? But really, what are the odds of that happening?
In the early '80s I'd begun teaching school but still thought
about doing stand up. I was filling notebooks with things that I
thought were funny but absolutely terrified of giving it a try.
By this time comedy was booming and clubs were opening all over
the country. In 1983 I drove the 210 miles over to Seattle, went
into the Comedy Underground and signed up to do the open mic. I
was going to give this stand up thing a try! About 15 minutes
before it was my turn I chickened out, I told the emcee to take
my name off the list. I walked out of the club and drove 210
miles home very disappointed with myself and taught another year
of fourth grade. I went back a year later, signed up for the
open mic, and went on stage. Within two years I walked out of the
classroom and have made my living with a microphone ever since.
In 1987, I was in the finals of the Seattle Comedy Competition
which was held at the Paramount in Seattle on the very stage
where I'd seen George Carlin 16 years earlier. It is still one
of the most vivid moments of my career to perform there that
night. I kept looking down in the area of seats where I'd sat
years earlier.
In the mid-'90s I was performing at The Maxim Casino in Las
Vegas—right across the street from Bally's where George Carlin
was performing. I walked over to Bally's, introduced myself to
the concierge and asked him to deliver a note to George Carlin.
It said: "Hey George, I'm performing across the street at The
Comedy Max. You're the first comedian I ever saw live and the
main reason I'm now in the biz. I wanted to thank you. Brad
Upton." A couple of hours later the phone rang in my room and a
familiar voice said, "Brad? Georgie!" George Carlin called me!
We talked a few minutes and he invited me to his show that night.
George told me to come down to the stage door after the show and
tell the security guy that he was expecting me. I rushed over
there after my show and watched the last 15 minutes of his show
and then went backstage and talked for about 15 minutes and had
my picture taken with him. He couldn't have been nicer or more
gracious.
In 2001 I was asked to perform in The Legends and Friends portion
of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. It was held at The Stardust.
Before the show we were all backstage in Wayne Newton's dressing
room. The comedy legends on the show were some of my favorites:
Norm Crosby, Pat Cooper, Jack Carter and Pete Barbutti. We were
standing around listening to these guys tell hilarious stories
and berate each other in the way only a room full of comedians
can. Through the doorway we heard that familiar voice say quite
loudly as he entered, "Hey, I heard there's some bitter, old
co******kers in here." The legends turned en masse and said as
one, "Georgie!!!" Carlin came in and hugged everyone. It is still
one of my favorite memories to be standing around with all of
that comedy royalty and being treated like a peer. George watched
the show from the back of the room that evening before leaving to
do his own show. Afterwards, his manager sought me out and told
me that George had asked him to personally tell me how much he
enjoyed watching me work and that he's now a fan. It simply can't
come from a higher source. No validation will ever compare.
For the past 22 years I've made a very nice living with just a
microphone. I've headlined comedy clubs all over the country.
I've seen all corners of the world headlining for several cruise
lines. I've opened for some of the biggest names in show
business. I'm heard all over the country on the radio. I've been
on national television. Last weekend George Carlin was playing at
The Orleans in Las Vegas. On that same weekend I was over at The
Las Vegas Hilton opening for the legendary Johnny Mathis. All
that made possible because back in 1971, George Carlin started a
dream for a 15-year old boy.
-Brad Upton ('74) ~ Livorno, Italy
