Happy Mother’s Day May 10 MAY 2015 ianohio.com Story page 10 2 IAN Ohio “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com MAY 2015 Editor’s Corner demand, but the cash cost is astronomical. Irish Network Cleveland, the newly incorpo- rated Cleveland Irish Business Chamber of Commerce, will debur some sharp edges for those immigrants and descen- dants looking for a job or a friend; the rebirth of Cleveland They are not coming any has opened so many eyes once John O’Brien, Jr. more; this is a first – the first again, to all that Cleveland has time there will no longer be to offer; and the focus of This America is still an immigrant significant numbers of 1st Gen- is Cleveland has returned to its nation – I read a lot about the eration Irish in Cleveland; my roots, opening doors and dia- Irish American experience; I generation is the last First Gen- logues with people and entities love American and Irish history, eration. All of the Irish based that want to come here. PEL and the intriguing interlinks. I organizations I am involved Manufacturing is an Ireland see stark similarities between with are aware of it, lament it, based business that opened its the Irish and other immigrant are slow to respond to it, why? US Headquarters in Cleveland Italian, Croatian, Polish, His- Because we don’t know how; early this year. The crack in panic and other cultures. Faith it has never happened before. the dam starts with one drop. based, family centric, pick yourself up by the bootstraps, make your way, then reach a hand down and help another do the same – the power of multitudes and passionate belief in paying it forward. For the Irish in Cleveland, they went to the West Side Irish American Club first. It was where you went to begin the search for success: for a job, an apartment, to find friends and a spouse. Murphy Arts Wins Worlds Don’t cry wolf, cry the great Festivals and fairs, dance Craic in Cleveland, as aware- and Irish music schools and ness of an issue creates that first bands and Irish related busi- drop. My father and mother are nesses, feel the vacuum of immigrants, shall I not offer my replenishing Irish born blood hand to the next generation? in Cleveland; the volunteerism Slan, and active, physical support John that birthed, nurtured, grew Irish owned businesses and providers, and provided the backbone of the community, “Follow me where I go, and the city. In 400+ years of what I do and who I know; the Irish coming to America O’Bent Enterprises includes: post Columbus; not since St. www.twitter.com/jobjr Brendan the Navigator first www.facebook.com/ arrived in a currach in America OhioIrishAmericanNews in the 5th Century, 1000 years www.linkedin.com/in/ before Chris, has this happened. jobjr/ http://songsandsto- Cleveland Dance Schools ries.net/myblog/feed/ seem to be thriving and in high MAY 2015 “We’ve Always Been Green!” www.ianohio.com 3 Yup, an hour in the line but pled it, and filed it. They handed ers? There were so many guys we were finally in the door. me a big number and a pin to pin in drag it looked like a Jamie Living With That’s when I saw the corded it on my front. They directed me Farr/ Klinger convention. It was lines, like at a bank weaved around the corner and I thought people watching at its’ finest. Lardie back and forth, back and forth I would be doing my routine Five more hours: at 5 p.m., by Richard Lardie up to the front of a huge lobby but no. That is when we went they called my number to do at the McCormick Place. We into the room that we saw on TV. my audition. They rounded up got to the head of the line at The room with all the people 10 of us and we went down the Well, you can imagine Kay’s Noon. Three hours in line, but waiting to audition was jammed. hall to an area that had smaller Another Audition surprise when I told her she had it was interesting. People were It was ballroom sized, with meeting rooms filled with people gotten her wish. We were going singing and dancing and reciting chairs scattered everywhere. who were going to judge our act. Adventure to Chicago and we were going poetry and laughing etc. Mothers People in all kinds of make- They told us we would all go in My last story on the audition to be in that crazy room and at once and do our 90 seconds. revealed the craziness of my we were going to audition for We stood at the door and youth. My wife accuses me of not America’s Got Talent. You could at the last minute they an- being able to grow up. I am afraid have knocked me over when nounced that one of us was a this story may prove her right. she said she didn’t remember comedian and he was going In the spring of 2010 Kay and saying she wanted to do that. I to go in alone. They opened I were watching the only Reality reminded her of the conversation the door and pushed me in. show we watch, “America’s Got and she still didn’t remember (so Two women in their thirties Talent”. The program constantly much for meaningful conversa- sat there daring me to be funny. flashes to the waiting room for tion while we are both on our They asked my name and where I people that are auditioning. It is computers and watching TV). was from. We had a nice chat dur- a huge room of wildly dressed “You have no talent, what are ing which I got them laughing people. Singers, jugglers, cross- you going to do?” I told her I pretty hard. They asked if I was dressers, dancers, gymnasts, was writing a comedy routine. a comedian. I said.” When I got in cheerleaders, magicians, cross- “You’re not funny anymore.” line I was a juggler. I was going to dressers, mimes, animal acts, Wow and this juggle two bananas and a snick- crossdressers, strong people, from my biggest fan. ers but I was in line so long I ate dance teams, comedians, poets, “That never stopped me before.” were doting on their sons and up and costumes were sing- my act.” They laughed a lot dur- crossdressers, poetry readers, I retorted. Wait, that didn’t come daughters and smiling proudly ing, dancing, flipping, juggling, ing my audition, but apparently child acts, ventriloquists, and out right? “Oh well, talent or at anyone that would take notice. playing guitars, saxophones, not enough, or this story would did I mention crossdressers? no talent, we are going to Chi- I got to the registration desk fiddles. There were mimes, pup- be about me being on TV. It sure I jokingly mentioned to Kay cago and we are going to people and handed them my registration peteers, magicians, gymnasts, was a great adventure though. that it would be fun just to watch in that crazy room. It will form. They stamped it, tore it, sta- and, did I mention, crossdress- be in that room. The people be another of our adventures.” watching would be fantastic. Then my biggest fan showed She was on her computer and how supportive she can be. ish M half- heartedly watching the God love her. “I am only go- Ir u show and less half -heartedly ing if there is a casino near by” Live sic! listening to me. “That would be You can’t fake support like that. fun,” says she. Well, say no more. I wrote a new routine and prac- I immediately set out to fig- ticed getting it down to 90 sec- ure a way to get into that room. onds. There was a casino on the Never mind that I was 69 years border of Indiana and Illinois. We old and had no talent. I was booked a night and made a week- going to audition for America’s end of it. The casino proved to be Got Talent. (I wonder if there is a a losing proposition (go figure). show “America’s Got No Talent” To make sure we arrived on time , that would be right up my alley). I didn’t tell Kay about the double I started writing a little com- time change. Chicago is an hour edy material to see if I could still behind and daylight savings time write something funny. I wrote ended that Saturday night. My Hours: two jokes and thought, “Yep, I audition was Sunday at 9:00 AM. Mon-Wed still got it”. So I went to the in- We arrived at 8:55 and that ternet and searched out how to is when I discovered all people 11am-Midnight 414 South Main St. get an audition. I found the site, auditioning were told to be there researched it a little and applied at 9 AM. The line was long and Thur-Sat Findlay, OH 45850 for an audition as a comedian. wrapped around the building, 11am-2am Two days later I got this back but the sun was out and it was in 419-420-3602 To: Richard Lardie : 11/05/10 the low 60s, so the waiting wasn’t Sun 10am-10pm We have you confirmed to hard. The line moved slowly but audition in: Audition City: Chi- steadily towards the door.