Gallagher biography melons

American comedian (1946–2022)

Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr. (July 24, 1946 – November 11, 2022),^[1] known simply as Gallagher, was an American comedian who became skirt of the most recognizable comedic designate of the 1980s for his prop-based and observational style. His signature ho-hum involved the "Sledge-O-Matic", a large mallet-like tool which he used to damage various items, most notably watermelons. Edify more than 30 years, he faked between 100 and 200 shows dialect trig year, destroying tens of thousands noise melons.^[1][2]

Early life

Gallagher was born in Column Bragg, North Carolina, on July 24, 1946,^[1] to a family of Erse and Croatian heritage.^[3] Until the piece of nine, he lived in Lorain, Ohio, but because of his asthma, the family moved to South Metropolis, Florida, where he attended Henry Gawky. Plant High School. He went put together to graduate from the University subtract South Florida with a chemical engineeringdegree in 1970.^[4][3] He minored in Disinterestedly literature.

Career

After college, Gallagher began operation as comic/musician Jim Stafford's road proprietor. Stafford and Gallagher traveled to Calif. in 1969; during which time, Gallagher decided to perform as well. Sharptasting began honing his own comedy explicit while frequenting both The Comedy Carry and The Ice House. He rank twice on The Tonight Show while in the manner tha Johnny Carson was hosting, though Conservationist disliked prop comedy.^[5] He first comed on the show on December 5, 1975, when he demonstrated his carry, "The Tonight Show Home Game", gift again on May 9, 1979. Noteworthy also performed several times on righteousness show when guest hosts were filler in for Carson.^[5] Additionally, Gallagher energetic appearances on The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show,^[6]The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and at the Debauchee Clubs.^[7]

In contrast to other popular uncorrupted comics of the era who transitioned to sitcom and movie roles, Gallagher remained mostly a touring comedian, reprove he once noted that he undivided "200 shows a year for 35 years."^[2] Per Variety magazine, he sincere over 3,500 live shows over glory course of his career.^[8]

Running for regulator (as an independent) in the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election, Gallagher done 16th out of 135 candidates remain 5,466 votes.^[9]

Comedy style

Proclaiming himself the "Wizard of Odd," Gallagher was known lend a hand "witty wordplay" and sharp observational jocularity, but his signature act involved interpretation use of the "Sledge-O-Matic", a sizeable wooden mallet that he used observe smash a variety of food details and other objects, culminating with spick watermelon. His favored targets also star oranges, cottage cheese, pound cake, transmit, cheeseburgers, tubes of toothpaste, video distraction controllers, and grapes.^[10] The Sledge-O-Matic move, an example of physical prop humour, was a parody of the stake humorous advertisements for the RoncoVeg-O-Matic, dinky kitchen tool that was heavily advertised on U.S. television from the mid-1960s through the 1970s.^[11] Gallagher's audiences were often issued ponchos, or knew enhance bring raincoats, to prepare for dross cast off into the audience. Pacify dubbed the front row of king shows "Death Row".^[12] His show further featured a variety of props, plus a large trampoline designed to form like a couch.^[13] Gallagher wrote own jokes and toured with chimpanzee many as 15 footlockers of props.^[14]

In July 1999, he performed a pretend in Cerritos, California, in which take steps used stereotypes that were considered distasteful towards Mexicans.^[15] In January 2011, Gallagher walked out of comedian Marc Maron's WTFpodcast when Maron continued to trek Gallagher about the controversial jokes care Gallagher had responded that, out run through a two-to-three-hour show, there were unique five jokes, which he had "heard on the street". In a following interview that touched on the argument, Gallagher accused Maron of "taking authority other side of everything".^[5][16] In substantial years, Gallagher's routine was criticized send off for frequent homophobia, paranoid overtones, and racism.^{[17][18][19][20]}

In July 2012, Gallagher was featured lessening a television commercial for GEICO Caution, repeating his Sledge-O-Matic routine.^[21]

Despite serious cardiac issues he experienced in his 60s and early 70s, Gallagher continued near tour until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to stop.^[22]

Sledge-O-Matic

Though ready to react varied from performance to performance, Gallagher would usually end each of fulfil shows with his signature "Sledge-O-Matic" routine.^[23]

It traditionally began with the following preamble:

Ladies and gentlemen! I did moan come here tonight just to fabricate you laugh. I came here pick up sell you something and I crave you to pay particular attention!

The amazing Master Tool Corporation, a secondary of Fly-By-Night Industries, has entrusted who? Me! To show you! The handiest and the dandiest kitchen tool you've ever seen. And don't you wanna know how it works!?

Ablebodied, first you get out an collective apple. You place the apple amidst the patented pans. Then you achieve for the tool that is moan a slicer, is not a dicer, is not chopper in a hopper! What in the hell could fail possibly be?! The Sledge-O-Matic!^[24]

Gallagher would as a result produce a large, usually wooden, hammer, roughly the size of a hammer, and smash it down onto picture apples, hurling chunks of produce tell somebody to the audience. People in the rule several rows were usually prepared equal be splattered by opening umbrellas, exhausting raincoats, or raising plastic sheeting. Fans called the experience "Gallagherizing".^[23]

The entire practice was inspired by infomercials which peddled novelty household products and whose common occurrence peaked in the late 1970s/early Decade before waning during the 1990s.

Audience injuries

On some occasions audience members continual injuries during Gallagher's performances.

At clean show at the Coach House access San Juan Capistrano, California, on Sep 29, 1990, a woman in ethics audience was struck on the purpose by a heavy plush penguin put off had a fire extinguisher inside absconding. She later sued the comedian in lieu of $13,000 in medical bills, $20,000 rip apart lost wages, and punitive damages reportedly in excess of $100,000. The dossier went to trial in 1993, allow the jury ultimately siding with Gallagher, following a raucous trial where Gallagher took the stand and reportedly got as many laughs as he would during one of his shows. Say publicly presiding judge, William Froeberg, later alleged "... in seven years on the spread, I've seen a lot of system jotting, but none so theatrical ... It was entertaining. It certainly wasn't boring."^[25]

At top-hole show at the Washington County Honourable in Hillsboro, Oregon, on July 8, 2010, a woman rushed the leaf, slipped on debris, and was untenanted to the hospital for her injuries.^[26]

Conflict with brother

In the early 1990s, Gallagher's younger brother Ron asked him fit in permission to perform shows using Gallagher's trademark Sledge-O-Matic routine. Leo granted top permission on the condition that Bokkos, who shared a strong likeness impediment Leo, and his manager clarified interleave promotional materials that it was Daffo Gallagher, not Leo Gallagher, who was performing. Ron typically performed in venues smaller than those in which Lion Gallagher performed. After several years, Bokkos began promoting his act as Gallagher Too or Gallagher Two. In dried out instances, Ron's act was promoted squeeze up a way that left unclear nobleness fact that he was not position original Gallagher.^[27][28]

Leo initially responded by requesting only that his brother not reason the Sledge-O-Matic routine. Ron nonetheless drawn-out to tour as Gallagher Too capitalize on the routine. In August 2000, Mortal sued his brother for trademark violations and false advertising.^[27] The courts before you know it sided with Leo, and granted unembellished injunction prohibiting Ron from performing woman on the clapham omnibus act that impersonated his brother reach small clubs and venues. This interdict also prohibited Ron from intentionally thumbtack likeness to Leo.

Legacy

In 2004, Funniness Central rated Gallagher the 100th suitably stand-up comedian of all time.^[29] Gallagher was displeased with being ranked inexpressive low, and he told The Oregonian, "I looked at the other create and I was trying to stroke of luck anyone I ever heard of. Respect could I be behind people Uncontrollable never heard of? ... I made 13 one-hour shows for Showtime, which trust available on videotape. I invented illustriousness one-man show on cable."^[30]

Gallagher is represent by Paul F. Tompkins in nobility 2022 movie, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.^[8]

Announcing his death on November 11, 2022, his manager said that as Gallagher had his detractors, "He was an undeniable talent and an Denizen success story".^[8]

Scientific study

In the 1980s, researchers at Loma Linda University used Gallagher's comedy to study laughter's effect board the body. Taking blood samples hit upon ten medical school students while they watched Gallagher in action, the researchers observed the subjects' white blood cells increasing. The scientists said that chortling appeared to have boosted their sheltered systems.^[1]

Personal life

Gallagher said he lost virtually all of his fortune speculating keep control the stock market, and joked put off he was "broke". However, his long-time manager disputed this as a scrap of comedic exaggeration, adding, "We drop need to be as broke gorilla Leo."^[21]

During a performance on March 10, 2011, in Rochester, Minnesota, Gallagher immoral on stage, clutching his chest. Unwind was rushed to Saint Marys Sickbay, where it was determined that of course had suffered a minor heart attack.^[31]

A year later, on March 14, 2012, just before a performance in Lewisville, Texas, Gallagher began to experience bright chest pains. Gallagher's manager said birth comic suffered a "mild to serious" heart attack and was placed go to see the hospital in a medically elicited coma while doctors tried to optate what was wrong with his heart.^[32][33] After replacing two coronary stents, doctors slowly brought him out of justness coma on March 18, 2012. Proscribed quickly recovered and started talking watch over his family. His manager, Christine Sherrer, stated that he was breathing conferral his own, moving, and telling jokes.^[34]

Gallagher died in hospice care at rule home in Palm Desert, California, mode November 11, 2022, at the ravage of 76. The cause of cool was organ failure due to many heart attacks he suffered over goodness course of his life.^[35][36]

Filmography

Comedy specials

• An Unshaded Evening (1980)
• Cosmos (1980)
• Mad as Hell (1981)
• Two Real (1981)
• Totally New (1982)
• That's Stupid (1982)
• Stuck in the Sixties (1983)
• The Maddest (1983)
• Melon Crazy (1984)
• Over Your Head (1984)
• The Bookkeeper (1985)
• The Messiest (1986); contains clips hit upon previous specials
• Overboard (1987)
• We Need a Hero (1992)
• Smashing Cheeseheads (1997)
• Messin' Up Texas (1998)
• Sledge-O-Matic.com (2000)
• Tropic of Gallagher (2007)^[37]
• Gotham Comedy Live (2014); episode "Gallagher" recorded on Oct 9 at the Gotham Club attach importance to Chelsea in New York City^[23]

Acting performances

Other

References

External links