June 24-Closing the Curtain on Carlin

First off, let me thank the Chicago Sun Times for the plug in
their Chicago-pedia yesterday- it’s a feature where they give local words or phrase that, as they put it define how our city lives. Yesterday’s entry was- Berwyn! The definitions – 1.a working-class bungalow-laden suburb just west of Cicero.
2.A North side avenue that boasts a Red Line L stop. 3. Punch line to a long running gag by “Svengoolie”- on locally produced Saturday night horror and sci-fi movie show. Whenever Sven says Berwyn, he’s echoed by a resounding “BERRR-WYNNN!”
It’s always cool to be considered a part of the fabric of this city- not to mention- Berwyn…
Now, on to our main subject- the passing of comedian George Carlin. He passed away Sunday at he age of 71, a victim of heart disease- something I have, unfortunately, become well acquainted with.
I first heard George back in the 60s, when his “Hippy-Dippy Weatherman” bit was so popular; it was even played on the Top 40 rock and roll stations. It was a cut off his comedy album “Take-Offs and Put-Ons”-which had a number of very funny bits on it. Back then, he was a typical, dark tie, white shirt, and dark suit wearing stand up comic, with slicked back hair-and was hilarious. He was also a radio guys, having been a partner at one point with Jack Burns (who later paired with Avery Schreiber, and did the taxi-cab bit with the “Huh?” “Yeah!” “Huh?” “Yeah!” hook in it.)He and Jack both did the same big-mouth guy voice, so that, if one if them got to the station late, the other guy could do the voice in bits, so it sounded like they were both there! He went on to do stand-up by himself, and hit it big with his “Al Sleet- the ‘Hippy-Dippy Weatherman” bit, in which he was a cool, somewhat stoned weather anchor.
Eventually, he dropped the suit and tie, let his hair and beard grow, and became a more observational comic, lacing his act with some obscenities. He became a counter-culture sensation, getting big fame for his wordplay bits, including his famous “7 Words You Can’t Say on Television” bit, which also got him into trouble here and there. Carlin said that he decided to evolve into the hipper, more scatological comedy persona after seeing Lenny Bruce on stage here in Chicago! That doesn’t quite make sense, since Lenny Bruce died in 1966, and Carlin didn’t go “long hair” until around 1970 or so- but, I’m sure the Lenny influence was there, nonetheless.
A lot has been made of Carlin’s drug use, which may have contributed to his long-time battle with heart disease.
I have one really vivid memory of Carlin- he was on some talk show, where they had a bunch of comedy people on, taking phone calls- someone called in and asked Carol Burnett what he should do, to become a comedian. “Well, of course, you should go to college…” she said, at which point Carlin jumped on the line and said “hey, this is George-you don’t have to go to school to become a comedian- you have to do comedy- do whatever you can to perform and work on your act.” I’m sure carol was just presenting the idea that, you should finish school to have something to fall back on if your comedy career never makes it- but, it was cool that George suggested that the ay to become a comedian- is to do comedy. That’s what he did- and he was tremendous at it.