comedians stand up
for northwest laughs
The father of stand-up comedian Robert Jenkins had an answer to every medical ques
tion. “Put ice on that. It will make the swelling go down.” Everything, fttmi hangnail to
frostbite, pack it in ice.
In fact that's why Jenkins was bom at home — his mother was packed in ice. From this
chilly birth to Robert's adolescent questions about contraception, the answer waste pack it in
ice. Now Robert glances down and says he knows the swelling could go down if he and his
wife could only find enough ice.
Such outrageous answers to common problems gained Jenkins first
place in the second Portland (and Oregon) Stand-up Comedy Com
petition on Saturday, held by the Comedy Connection at the
Masonic Temple in Portland.
)enkins said he felt his family and its problems gave him an edge on
his competitors.
Finishing second was John Johnston who asked not to be called
“just another bagpipe-playing comedian.” Third was Jim Lyonais, who
has done some television commercials. Fourth was Howy Kirsten who
characterized his act as “goofy.” Fifth was Portland State University
student Dwight Slade.
The same comedians appeared July 22 at the semi-finals in Edison's
Bar at the Factory, in Springfield. Another five acts were eliminated that
night.
If family was funny for Jenkins, relationships were for the others.
Johnston, beginning to pump up his bagpipe, said the next selection,
was in B-flat, like his girlfriend. Kirsten's idea of cheating, he said, was
to switch hands.
Lyonais focused more on social roles and his job as a homemaker.
He said men deny watching soaps, and they only own up to macho
shows such as Weekly Tractor Pull.
Johnston as talevlsiori's Mr. Rogers introduced a special guest, his
impression of a grinning and giggling Ji?nmy Carter who asked how the
tiny trolley could take adults to make-believe'land.
Much of their comedy materia} came from everyday life, but as seen
through silly lenses by skewed minds. For example Slade-told of holp
Reporter’s notebook
ing out his biology professor by transporting four preserved brains. Hut
when his car was rear-ended, he tossed them on the pavement and yell*
ed, "Look at what you’ve done to my family!”
Though daily life Is more the target for 80s comedy, in contrast to
the trenchant satire of the 60s, an occasional social comment bursts out.
Jenkins said he saw a bad accident on his way to the show. “But for
tunately no one was hurt. But then. I left before the Portland police ar
rived. "
Sometimes the comic vision is absurd. Slade observed that a
number of bums occupied the Portland streets. "Is it a convention? Or
do they lay eggs? 1 can Just see them hatching at midnight. Their first
words must be 'which way to the bus stop?’ " .
In addition to the $1,500 Jenkins won, his position as top stand-up
will win him the headliner spot on comedy programs that feature an
emcee arid a second comedian. As headliners, comedians can get three
or four times more money for their acts. ...
Last year's. winner Mike “Boats” Johnson was a successful
headliner and has now moved to Seattle to further advance his act.
Jenkins plans to move to Los Angeles to broaden his audience.
Though clubs specializing in comedy are only two or three years
old in Eugene and Portland, they join those that have been in Seattle six
years and San Francisco ten. The reasons for the growth in comedy were t
summarized by an audience member at last Saturday's competition. "I
like comedy. I love to laugh; it feels good.”
Humor also has a social function, according to Dan Bruno, a former
teacher and now an actor with Eugene’s On The Edge, an improvisa
tional troupe. "Humor breaks down the'barriers between people,”
Bruno said.
Whether they wanted to break down barriers or just feel good, the
Eugene-Springfield audience has encouraged Edison's to hold over On
The Edge's gig for three more weekends and schedule an evening of
open-mike amateur comedy every Monday night.
The Comedy Connection, sponsor of the stand-up contest, is based
at The Main Place in Portland . Judging from the bedlam of the crowds in
both cities, the people are saying. “Send In the clowns!”
By Art Tegger
Photos by Rob Hare
(clockwise from top) John Johnson asks that people
think of him as0 more than "just another bagpipe
playing comedian. " Robert Jenkins, winner of the
Stand-up Comedy Competition, says family problems
give him an extra edge on the competition. Susan
Kice performed at the semi-finals in Springfield, but
failed to make the finals in Portland.
Hanging out
at the EMU
with Doc
He can be seen in a corner of the
EMIJ cafeteria most days around
lunch time. He usually,is sitting
alone, drinking coffee and working
elbow-deep on his latest manuscript.
“Doc” Wynd, a Eugene native and
retired administrator from the University
biology department, says he has lived,
worked and traveled in more than 30
countries since completing his educa
tion in 1933.
Unlike the many faculty and students
who go to the cafeteria just for a quick
bite to eat between classes, Wynd spends
his hours in the cafeteria In a more
casual manner.
“1 sit around and read books and talk
to students." he says, adding that he
goes to the EMU every day just because
he’s used to it.
But he also goes to work on that
manuscript.. For now, Wynd refuses to
discuss exactly what he is writing But
perhaps someday he will unveil his
work. "Sometime later maybe," he says.
"Maybe in five or six years."
"1 don't know what the heck he’s
writing." says Dr. Arnold Soderwall, a
retired professor of biology at the
University and a close personal friend of
Wynd.
"He considers himself quite an expert
on mushrooms and oysters.” Soderwall
says. Wynd has been working on recipes
for oysters, but he is unsure if that is.
Wynd's current protect, he adds.
Gene Arvidson. a graduate student in
political science, and another friend of
Wynd’s, says Wynd "directs traffic” at
the. University. "He's the resident
Chinese expert, the resident biology ex
pert and a general philosopher," Arvid
son says.
But Wynd is not known for his hard
work. In fact, Arvidson says he has never
known Wynd to work much. .
"Give me two bucks and I was off
when I was young." Wynd says. "It's
pretty hard work not to do anything, but
I have spent my life practicing how to
waste time."
Wynd, who celebrated his 81st. birth
day Saturday, remembers his youth in
Lane County.
Them were very few paved roads in
Oregon back then, and the road to
Portland was a trail winding along the
river, he says. "It took all day to get
there."
When he enrolled at the University in
1922. his class boasted about having
almost 3,000 students. "Everybody
knew everybody," he says.
In 1928, Wynd received his bachelor’s
degree in botony from the University and
two years later earned a master’s degree
in biology. He then transferred to
Washington University in St. Louis.
Missouri to work toward a doctorate in
Retired University Administrator Doc Wynd spends hours in the EMU cafeteria
every day. reading, working on his manuscript and talking with students.
bio-chemistry, completing that work in
1933,
Not one to take himself, his education
or much of anything else too seriously,
Wynd says, "Ph.D. means piled higher
and deeper.”
Wynd says after graduation from.
Washington University he worked on
Rockefeller Foundation post-doctoral
.fellowships at the Washington Universi
ty Medical School and at the University
of Missouri. He. then spent 12 years as a
professor of research at the University of
Illinois.
"During World War II. I was released
from the Navy to work on a government
project to develop synthetic vitamins for
use by the military in the tropics," he
says.
After the war, Wynd says he went to
Mexico to collect botanical specimens as
part of a project sponsored by univer
sities in Mexico. Europe, and the United
States.
During: what he calls his "academic
period,” Wynd says he published more
than 90 research papers, four magazine
articles and a book on the evolution of
fungi. This text was published in
cooperation with the University of
Zurich in Switzerland.
After a number of years with a bio
chemical consulting firm near Windsor,
Ontario, Wynd moved to Alaska. He
bought a small sea-going cruiser and
qualified with the Coast Guard as a
licensed skipper taking passengers for
hire. Wynd eventually sold his boat and
returned to Eugene.
Wynd became an academic ad
ministrative assistant at the University in
the department of biology during the
time of student rebellion in the late
1960s. “The behavior of the students has
greatly improved” since, that time,
Wynd. says. “And they dress better,” he
adds.
After his retirement, Wynd says he
spent time travelling in the Far East. His
most recent trip was to.China three or
four years ago. he says. “Of all the peo
ple I've seen in the world, the most
civilized are the Chinese.”
As a result of a personal association
with a number of students, Wynd says he
feels he is a safety valve for the release of
student pressures. He feels he has helped
students deal with a variety of com
plaints. “As long as students are able to
gripe about things, the administration is
on its toes/' he says. “Griping, is the
solace of the soul.”
After all his travels, Wynd came back
to Eugene. “I could have lived
anywhere, but Eugene is the best place to
live in the world,” he says.
By Marty Schwarzbaur
Photo by Karen Stallwood
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