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Tom Dreesen Interview

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If golf had a mas- Tom, tell us about your childhood greatest thing that ever happened to me, Are there any comedians who and your family. What was it like because all of life is about perception and I helped inspire you or mentors who ter of ceremonies, it had perceived it to be great. helped you reach the level you are would be Tom Dreesen growing up on the south side of Chicago in Harvey, Illinois? I had 8 at today in show business? When hands-down! Not only brothers and sisters and we were considered At what age, Tom, did you realize that I first started out, I admired comedians does the nationally-re- very poor. Five of us actually slept in one you were “funny” and had desires tremendously. Before I ever was in show nowned comedian serve bed. We had no bathtub and no shower – to become a comedian. How did business or even thought I would be in show in that capacity at the we lived in a shack; I called it a shack. We you get started? When I was a little business, I just thought comedians were just boy shining shoes in taverns, my mother AT&T Pebble Beach Na- had no hot water, no bathtub and no shower. the coolest men and women in the world. It wasn’t during the Great Depression -- I’m was a bartender, and my uncle, Frank That they could make a living making people tional Pro-Am and the annual not that old. It was a childhood of work at a Polizzi, was behind the bar. He was my laugh. And the thought overwhelmed me, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, very early age. At the age of 6 years old, I mother’s brother-in-law. He was a very that maybe one day I could do just that. So as well as numerous events was already following my brother with a little funny guy. He told jokes behind the bar I emulated them.” on the Celebrity Players shoe shine box. I started shining shoes from all the time and I loved him so much and I 6 to 12 years old at all the taverns in Harvey. emulated him. I would hear him tell a joke I want to be like George Tour, including the celebrity in the bar and I would tell the same joke tour stop at the prestigious At 12 years old, I started setting up pins in Burns. That’s what I the bowling alleys, and then I caddied in the to my friends. Many of the jokes he told Bolingbrook Golf Club, but summertime. I also sold newspapers on the shouldn’t have been told on a Catholic want to do until they Dreesen is one of America’s street corner, and I had a paper route. I sold school playground. But I loved telling close the lid on me. best known and most ad- The Harvey Tribune, which is now The Star jokes even at that early age. mired celebrity and comedi- Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago I loved 2 comedians -- one was Jack Benny You’ve been performing for close an. A veteran of stage and Sun Times, the Chicago Daily News, etc. I and the other was Richard Pryor. Pryor, had a very busy childhood. Even though I to 40 years! Tom, will you continue because I grew up in Harvey, Illinois -- a television, in 2009 Dreesen was a poor, raggedy kid, performing and making people neighborhood like Pryor’s. Pryor always will be celebrating 40 years I always say that laugh? Yes! Till the day I die. I want to be talked about Peoria, Illinois, and the kind of comedy and making peo- i t was like George Burns. I went to see “of characters in his neighborhood were the ple laugh. the George Burns perform when kind of characters in my neighborhood, so he was 95, and he did an I identified with it. But Jack Benny made hour and 10 minutes in Lake comedy look easy. I think a person is an In this exclusive inter- ” Tahoe at Caesar’s. I went artist in any endeavor when they make his view with Golf Now! backstage afterwards or her work look one word ‘effortless’! Jack Chicago, Dreesen and he was so Benny made comedy look easy. Frank talks candidly about excited because Sinatra made singing look easy. And yet his childhood years, he had written it’s not. So that’s the kind of comedian some new that I wanted to be. I wanted to have the getting interested material that poise of a Jack Benny. in golf, his role in day. I thought the Celebrity Play- that’s me. Let’s talk a little bit about your love ers Tour, and what it That’s what for golf. How did you get interested in takes to be success- I want to do golf? As a little boy, I caddied at Ravisloe until they close Country Club in Homewood, Illinois and it ful today in any pro- the lid on me. fessional career. 70 71 was such a great environment for me. bartender because of my environment all make something and compete against of Ceremonies of Golf”. How did As a little boy all I originally wanted to do changing, and so I got interested in golf as one another. The Celebrity Players Tour that come about? As you know at every was to be a bartender. I thought tavern a little boy. is one of the most exciting things that I major golf event in the country there’s usually owners were the richest people in the have ever been involved in. I’m one of the a Gala for all the participants from players world, because my dad spent all his The Celebrity Players founders and I’m also on the board. I’ve to title sponsors. And, besides dinner and money in the bars. So when I first went to been on the board since day one. awards, there’s always entertainment. Years Ravisloe, I saw a different environment. I Tour is one of the most ago Bob Hope asked me to take over as was caddying for doctors and lawyers and exciting things that I have Why are you different from the other Master of Ceremonies for his Gala because successful men and women, Mr. Florsheim ever been involved in. golf tours out there such as the PGA, I was already the Master of Ceremonies from Florsheim Shoes and people like that. LPGA, Champions Tour, Nationwide, for the Frank Sinatra Golf Tournament, and I began to dream a etc.? Because they are pure Golf then Clint Eastwood asked me to emcee the year or two later Tell us about the Celebrity Players Tours and we’re a Corporate Hospitality AT&T show at Pebble Beach --which I do that maybe I could Tour; how it got started, the purpose Entertainment Tour. Do our guys play good every year. Not to mention the Celebrity be more than just a of the Tour and your role in it. The golf? You bet they do -- but they can’t Players Tour calls on me to emcee and Celebrity Players Tour is basketball, compete with the skills of the Professionals. perform at “baseball, football, hockey, tennis and However, when it comes to entertaining show business people that are a 10 corporate America and their clients then handicap or below. It got started the Pro’s can’t compete with us. Our because celebrities wanted to play guys are corporate friendly and go competitive golf, yet, maybe” make out of their way to make sure that the some money for it. Celebrities sponsors and their guests have such are asked to go to all of these golf a good time that they can hardly wait events that raise hundreds till next year. of thousands of millions of dollars for charity. Oftentimes, Tom, you have been given it would cost us money to go to the the title in magazines and event. Now we found a way we could newspapers as “The Master go raise money for charity, and yet we could 72 73 all their events. And now, Tiger Woods there to perform, then you already are in the has asked me to emcee his event at the wrong profession. It should come naturally. Your Celebration Congressional as well as a couple of other The best way to destroy any career is with events he’s involved in. Arnold Palmer has alcohol or drugs. asked me to emcee his event at Bay Hill a Destination couple of times as do many other touring pro’s I really believe that at their functions and this last year the Golf Writers Association of America asked me to service to humanity is emcee their awards dinner at the Masters in the best work of life. Augusta and one of their writers introduced me as “The Master of Ceremonies of Golf” Tom, can you share a personal insight so there you have it... with us before we close? I truly feel, and you and I discussed this earlier, that in the Tom, do you have any advice you end, how do you measure a human life? can give to those interested in a How do you measure if you made any professional career on stage or on difference? Emerson said, ‘you should the links. What does it take to build leave this world better than you found it’. a successful career and life? Constant“ And I always think that this is probably one dedication.
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