Howard Lapides Redux

By Author: Augustus Snyder
Total Articles: 384
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“To hell with facts,” said Ken Kesey, “we need stories!” The most effective means of social disclosure is a story. Stories find meaning in chaos.
No one survives in silence. We must hear more than the sound of our own voice. On vocal waves, we share, understand and learn.
“Trust the story,” says author James Robertson. The storyteller “may dissemble and deceive . The story can't: [it] can only ever be itself.”
“Forty-five minutes into his show, David Bowie walks offstage, direct to his limousine,” says Howard Lapides. “I’m left to repair his mess. From that horror I learned to get everything on paper, including show times.”

Telling stories helps us learn. Untold stories lead to the loss of collective memory, lessons gone, forever. It’s easier to remember, learn and understand than it is to recreate.

“Sally Jesse Raphael was a super-star television talk show hit,” says Lapides. “Yet, Burt Dubrow, who created the ‘Sally’ show, wanted a backup. When ‘Sally’ wobbled, ...
... he had Jerry Springer in waiting. Nothing beats 20/20 vision looking forward.”

The teller of tales is central. He or she interests an audience, prodding them with ideas and words; cleverly arousing images. Storytellers force listeners to think, to imagine, for which there is no limit.
“From Jerry Kushnick, I learned a great lesson,” says Lapides. “‘You know what is cool about writers ,’ said Kushnick, ‘they go away for months, there’s total silence, but their royalties keep coming.’ Note to self: manage as many writers as possible because they produce royalties, money that never stops flowing.”

“A tale spinner’s goal,” says author John H Alexander, “is entertainment.” If someone speaks and no one hears, did she or he say anything? Storytelling needs an audience; this is how stories become deeply set in our psyche.

“There was a kid, Rodney Toombs, who learned to play bagpipes, as he grew up in Winnipeg. As a rebellious teenager, he left school and hit the road, finding his way into wrestling. His first match, at age 14, was against Larry ‘The Axe’ Hennig. To grab attention, Toombs walked to the ring playing his bagpipes. Quick on his feet, the ring announcer introduced Toombs as, ‘Roddie the Piper’; the audience heard it as ‘Roddy Piper.’ Thus came one of the most uniquely enduring wrestling characters, ever, ‘Rowdy Roddy Piper.’”

Howard Lapides tells tales. He shares stories about showbiz, deep and rich, dripping vision and meaning. His stories preserve showbiz lore and coach beginners.

“His second stand-up set starts,” says Lapides, “As I listen, I recognize Mike MacDonald is doing all new material. Nothing held over from his first set. Most comedians are lucky if they have thirty minutes after a year. For his first show, ever, MacDonald has two complete 45-minute sets. Do you wonder why he’s such a huge star?”
Everyone tells tales. Some tell tales much better than do others. In this interview, master storyteller, Howard Lapides, shares show business stories, each as engaging and as it is enlightening.

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