Concert Review by Carmen Amoros
July 29, 2017
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| Uncle Floyd - Floyd Vivino |
UNCLE FLOYD: THE POPE OF COMEDY
We went up to the San Martino Ristorante at 12 Young Avenue in Yonkers, NY, which recently celebrated their 42nd Anniversary and where we knew that Uncle Floyd would be performing last night and we had the most amazing, exciting, savory evening and one that was filled with uproarious laughter.The night began with a bang when TV Comedian Actor Impersonator Bob Greenberg had the distinct honor of opening the program, thanks to Stuart Hersh who booked and promoted the Uncle Floyd Show at this venue and asked Bob to open with the introduction. Bob gave Uncle Floyd one of the funniest, most powerful introductions that I have ever seen in show business. Bob has appeared on TV shows such as SNL (and others) and movies, such as Maid in Manhattan with J-Lo and is famous for his flawless impersonations of Jackie Gleason and Oliver Hardy of Laurel and Hardy and his most recent stage performances in Old Jews Telling Jokes, which has played in several states.
Then, the real fireworks began, when Uncle Floyd took the mic and started his routine. The crowd at the restaurant began to applaud spontaneously and so began the uncontrollable laughing and chuckling. He walked up with a kind of lost stare, his eyes scanning the room, wearing his signature plaid sports jacket and plaid hat, neither of which matched the other and already the audience began to bowl over. It's a formula that is ridiculous and in some way zany, but it worked, spontaneously setting the most unsuspecting persons off into hysterical cackling with glee. The man has it all figured out. Everyone got up and began clapping and he had not even opened up his mouth. It was like the 1970s all over again, only it is now 2017 and Uncle Floyd has become like the pope of comedy or something.
It was unreal to see this. One woman, Gina, said it best at the end of the show, she said she took Uncle Floyd shows in, at some of the larger venues of New York City (one at Five Towns Performing Arts Center and others) and she said "Uncle Floyd always kills audiences in the large venues, but being in a small intimate setting like the San Martino Ristorante, where you find yourself up close and personal with this comedy icon, no large hall experience matches up to that," she said and she was right. Those were my sentiments exactly. Something changes at smaller venues. It is quite a different and much better experience and even to those who might have seen his routine before, his firing one liners in rapid succession, seemed to make some of us forget we'd heard it once before and we began to break down in stitches and soon our abs began to contract and get a workout and the calories from the pasta dish we had just devoured seemed to literally start burning away.
Uncle Floyd began to share stories of his childhood, in an Italian household in Paterson and he shared hilarious scenarios about his father, wife and children. Then he began to deliver those classic lines from the Uncle Floyd TV Show which was seen by millions on UHF from the 1970s to the 1990s and now it was over. That was it. We lost complete composure. Even if we thought we would not be moved, he began to tear us up in increments, bit by bit. There was no resisting. It's impossible. He is this comedian in a hat and suit that don't match, but is suited for top knotch VIP audiences. He delivered pure unadulterated comedy that, no doubt, left the audience remembering the night he appeared at this venue. I sure as heck will not forget my night at the San Martino Ristorante.
Floyd Vivino wowed us with his piano playing and song requests, that the audience pleaded that he play, such as "Shaving Cream" and he played his Honky Tonk style piano that left the audience in deep uncontrollable chuckles and better, he brought the audience into his act, while he played famous jingles from TV commercials featured throughout the ages. People of all ages began to sing along in chorus that came to crescendos.
This was not just your average, biding time, comedy routine folks. This was magic. It is a game that this comedian played to amuse himself at times, it seemed. The music man brought the audience into the game and sure enough the audience was compelled to follow, losing themselves in this warm, clean, childlike game and at times slightly suggestive comedy that culminated in thunderous applause and laughter and then, Uncle Floyd brought us to our feet. It was a magnificent show and those feel good, warm and fuzzies that we left with, made us so happy that we came to the San Martino Ristorante last night.
Half way through the show Floyd introduced a wonderful Tenor, Anthony Siciliano, who mesmerized us with a touching and awe inspiring rendition of a song he made his own -- "O Sole Mio." He sang it with an intensity and an emotion that seemed to cast a spell and sent its wave out to the entire room and when he was done singing the song, he received a standing ovation. What a treat that was. I would love to hear him in concert. He reminded me of Perry Cuomo.
Who would think that after doing The Uncle Floyd TV Show from 1974 until 1995 and continuing to play to large audiences across the country, that this man still has the capacity to captivate us with the same stamina and energy that he did in his early years, but he does and he still does it with punch, great timing and excellence. The stamina and the timing were all still there and he fired his one liners like projectiles at us and we did not want to duck down. We just let them hit us, as we laughed wildly and we left wanting more and feeling happy. This was one great show at a top notch restaurant with two of many great restaurant hosts in New York City.
I recently learned that Rock Star David Bowie once immortalized Uncle Floyd in one of his songs titled "Slip Away." released in 2002's Heathen, which goes to show the extent of Uncle Floyd's magnetic appeal. It is said that John Lennon might have introduced David Bowie to "The Uncle Floyd Show," hence Bowie was inspired to write the song's lyrics:
"Oogie waits for just another day ... " the haunting, dream-pop tune begins, referencing Floyd's trusty clown puppet. Fellow "Floyd" character Bones Boy is also mentioned throughout. The chorus continues: "Sailing over Coney Island / Twinkle twinkle, Uncle Floyd / we were dumb / but you were fun, boy / How I wonder where you are."
Uncle Floyd...what a legend and what show and on a different note oh what a night and --
What better than to have come and meet the wonderful, warm, welcoming hosts and producers of the Uncle Floyd Show at the San Martino Ristorante -- Alfredo Loparo and Gino Poli. The experience was a wonderful one from the moment we stepped into the restaurant and saw that The San Martino Ristorante showcases a lovely glass sun room at the front of the establishment, which is connected to a spacious main dining area, decorated with colorful, bright and lovely paintings of beautiful vistas of Italy.
When TV Comedian Actor Impersonator Bob Greenberg, Pianist Ira Allen and I arrived, we were greeted by the lovely Teresa who is also the beautiful wife of Gino Poli. Teresa brought out several important ingredients before the meal -- a beautiful smile and warm conversation that made us feel like we were longtime clients. She helped us relax and also brought out something to delight our palates, the most delicious breaded fried zucchini appetizer, with two different types of marinara sauce, one with garlic and the other one, a sweet onion marinara. Our eyes were rolling to the backs of our heads as we dipped and knoshed on it. We were in zucchini marinara heaven.
The menu was filled with great selections of beef, poultry, seafood and pasta dishes that made it very difficult for me to choose from. My mouth watered, as I poured through the menu trying to find something to awaken my taste buds even more. I finally decided on the lasagna which was absolutely savory and delicious. It has that wonderful chewy gooey consistency and the pasta flavor was cheesy with a delicious marinara sauce that popped my taste buds back to life. My husband enjoyed his lasagna to the max and he is someone who rarely eats foods with sauces, but he was so impressed at how delicious it was and talked about the great hospitality on our way home. Bob Greenberg totally enjoyed his huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs, with two of the largest meatballs I have ever seen this side of the east. I don't have Bob's review, but I could not help study him and I mentally recorded his every moan of delight, as he cut into each meat ball with a smile and he took his first few bites. I almost thought we had Oliver Hardy (from Laurel and Hardy) sitting at our table, chuckling and moaning to himself as he enjoyed his dish.
I called Gino today to thank him again, for such great food and service and he said, that they definitely plan to have Uncle Floyd back at the San Martino Ristorante again. So please keep an eye out and visit their website at the link below. Also, visit Uncle Floyd's radio website and tune in.
Keep your eyes open, but between now and then, when you feel a bit hungry on a weeknight, visit the San Martino Ristorante and say hello to Gino, Alfredo and Teresa. You are going to leave feeling really satisfied and feeling oh so good!
Floyd Vivino's Radio website: http://www.unclefloydradio.com/
San Martino Ristorante: http://www.SanMartinos.com
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Announcements
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Tenor Anthony Siciliano: You might also want to keep an eye open for
Anthony Siciliano's music, which is coming to iTunes soon. A Tenor to
sing on your radio program, wedding, retirement, concert or social event?
Contact Tenor Anthony Siciliano at (914) 423-1940
Anthony Siciliano's music, which is coming to iTunes soon. A Tenor to
sing on your radio program, wedding, retirement, concert or social event?
Contact Tenor Anthony Siciliano at (914) 423-1940
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Comedian Actor Impersonator Bob Greenberg on:
Actor Bob Greenberg is in the National Touring Company
of Old Jews Telling Jokes, soon to play at the
PGA Arts Center in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
You'll find his Facebook link below. Facebook
of Old Jews Telling Jokes, soon to play at the
PGA Arts Center in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
You'll find his Facebook link below. Facebook
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