Transcript
petgordon: Hello, everybody. This is Phil Gordon and Dave Margolis for Laughing Liberally Arizona.
Dave Margolis: Hey Phil, how you doing?
petgordon: Hi, Dave.
petgordon: Oh, great. I can hear you. You can hear me, I'm assuming.
Dave Margolis: I'm hearing you.
petgordon: And this is now going to be our second episode. Of the sort of... newest iteration of Laughing Liberally. As our audience knows. we We did the radio show on the KMKR in Tucson for many years.
petgordon: We called the show at that time, Is This On? But it always had the... Uh... liberal political bent to it. We often talked about our live Laughing Liberally showcases that we did here in Tucson.
Dave Margolis: Yep.
petgordon: at the Tucson Improv Movement. Notice the Tim.
Dave Margolis: nothing
petgordon: And now we're... Back in a new iteration of this podcast with our good friends at Zencaster. And so far, Dave, we're distributing via Spotify.
Dave Margolis: Well, you know, Phil, when we did when we did our radio show called Is This On?
petgordon: How are things with you, sir?
Dave Margolis: it always opened with me singing the theme song.
petgordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: this And I have a sneaky suspicion that you wanted to change the name of the show so you didn't have to hear me sing anymore.
petgordon: well
petgordon: I know that rumor is out there, Dave, but I don't want to either confirm or deny. However, I will... Make the offer if your of your pipes are ready to go and you'd like to sing this song.
Dave Margolis: Well, I need to write a new one for laughing liberally. i don't have the song
petgordon: Okay. Why don't we make that a challenge to you?
Dave Margolis: I may burst into song out of the blue anyway. from time to time. okay But I also want to...
petgordon: Absolutely. That would be great.
Dave Margolis: one One more thing I wanted to say Phil is that
petgordon: Uh, Dave's up.
Dave Margolis: i I get some.
petgordon: Yep.
Dave Margolis: research on podcasts and not what they're like and you know what people do. And I realized that usually every podcast. Starts off with five minutes of the people on the podcast.
Dave Margolis: praising each other. to high heaven. how wonderful they are and gushing over them and fawning over them.
petgordon: Mm hmm.
Dave Margolis: So I have to say, Phil. You're looking fantastic today. You're one of the most talented people I've ever met. And I know the ladies love you and the men want to be you. And I just think it's just I'm honored that you're here.
Dave Margolis: That's the kind of gushing we hear. Kind of gushing we need to have up front.
petgordon: Well... ah
petgordon: you're You're reading my mind, Dave. I was just going to say, you look... magnificent in that Hawaiian shirt. I love the, I hope our audience can can read that. That's the.
petgordon: landscaping hat that was Was that given to you by Rudy Giuliani, Dave?
Dave Margolis: I guess, yeah, personally. And he actually signed the inside with a hair dye.
petgordon: All right.
Dave Margolis: Peace. I mean, you autographed it. great with your eyes.
petgordon: with a hair dye. and then uh
Dave Margolis: We're okay.
petgordon: And then he sold you that hat, Dave? Yes. We, yeah Rudy, of course, was a frequent guest on our Is This On show.
Dave Margolis: Yes.
petgordon: was not ah It was not a good time for Rudy.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, I see.
petgordon: He was hurting financially.
Dave Margolis: Excellent. I think the last time we talked to him, Phil, he was we we met him at a dumpster.
petgordon: In fact, didn't we...
Dave Margolis: in the east side of town he was looking
petgordon: Yeah, at the East Side of town, didn't we? Didn't we catch him one time, Dave, up north of Tucson? The the Rooster Ranch, the Rooster Cogburn.
Dave Margolis: right
petgordon: ranch who was living there with the roosters and I think was romantically involved with one of the roosters, if I recall.
Dave Margolis: yeah
petgordon: Yeah. Well, Rudy is certainly not judgmental. when it comes to his love life.
Dave Margolis: okay
petgordon: I was thinking, by the way, I'll share it with you right here, Dave, just so our audience feels. that they're a part of how we make this show, that, you know, we don't rehearse a lot. You know, it's it's it's happening now. I was going to suggest that a new segment.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, where is Rudy?
petgordon: Where's Rudy?
Dave Margolis: yeah yeah
petgordon: Yeah. that's That's what we want to know. he ah I'll just take a quick guess and say he's sharing a hospital room with Mitch McConnell.
Dave Margolis: and And from what I hear, it's possible that their nurse was... Melania Trump, who also has been MIA. for some time now. and
petgordon: She's been MIA, and I think for ah for the right price, she would be your nurse, Dave. well Well, let's... um Give a little bit of a rundown on what we have planned today, but the plans are always loose. Anything could happen.
petgordon: But we do have a special guest, don't we, Dave?
Dave Margolis: We have a very special guest. I'm very excited to... to uh to meet him when he when he shows i mean we talked to him before many times on laughing on our This is fun, but yeah.
petgordon: ah Let's end the suspense right now. It's one of America's greatest actor, if not America's greatest actor, Dave. the the The terrific, the spectacular Al Pacino.
Dave Margolis: The daughter of Adam Sandler's Jack and Jill.
petgordon: will be joining us, Dave.
Dave Margolis: Yes, he's very well known for that.
petgordon: That's very right. And of course, so when we had Al on in the past, it was because it was our radio show.
Dave Margolis: okay
petgordon: So it was rather interesting that he wanted to do a cooking segment.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, okay.
petgordon: And he's going to be doing that again today. And now we have the video today.
Dave Margolis: That's great. That's great. Looking forward to it.
petgordon: So I wonder what else got cooked up for us.
Dave Margolis: I don't know. I remember he made a delicious ziti.
petgordon: We'll find out.
Dave Margolis: Ziddy. last time and it was so Really great working with him.
petgordon: A beautiful zitty. Yes, zitty, zitty.
Dave Margolis: you know he said
petgordon: Yes. I think it was from his Mama Pacino recipe cookbook.
Dave Margolis: Mm hmm. Yep, yep. i think
petgordon: they they well I can't wait.
Dave Margolis: I can't wait to see what he's got.
petgordon: I'm hungry. How about you?
Dave Margolis: yeah
petgordon: Yeah, he's the greatest. Always a great guest. And you know, the thing about him is he'll talk about at any subject.
Dave Margolis: Right. Yeah.
petgordon: Uh...
Dave Margolis: You have to go.
petgordon: He's an open person. he's you know
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
petgordon: Certainly his acting is, you know, legendary. and But he we've gotten to know him personally.
Dave Margolis: He's a good guy. Yeah, he's a good guy.
petgordon: He's he's a great guy.
petgordon: Real good. And you've got for us, Dave, another in your long line of special days of the month.
Dave Margolis: We always like to go through the month and see like who had birthdays and what famous historical events happened. a lot of us historical events happened in the month of august and we're going to talk about those a little bit Um,
petgordon: Oh, wonderful. And of course, now... You know, it's changed a little bit, Dave, since you and I were... high high school or younger, school starts generally these days in August.
Dave Margolis: I don't know how horrible.
petgordon: Where for us, it was always that day after Labor Day, right?
Dave Margolis: Yep. Yep. yep in now when i When I lived in California, I was in California for high school.
petgordon: So August now has to include the start of school.
Dave Margolis: And like you say, the... School started. the day after Labor Day, but in California, Admission day is September 9th. That's when California became a state. We got that day off. So a lot of times we would go to school for a day and then we get a day off, which...
Dave Margolis: It was a nice way to ease back into the school year.
petgordon: Beautiful. Oh yeah, yeah, it was always at a tough transition. And that because you had you had the World Series right then, too. So you had you know to figure out how am I going to sneak my transistor radio?
Dave Margolis: Right. I got a friend.
petgordon: in the school.
Dave Margolis: I had a friend who who wore a big sweater and he put ah the radio inside and he had that
petgordon: Now it'd be easier with the internet.
Dave Margolis: uh earphone going up and he would sit in class like this little the king
petgordon: Yeah.
Dave Margolis: As many people do.
petgordon: I like that. I think I tried something kind of similar. Yeah. would be easier these days with the cell phones.
Dave Margolis: And also, we're at their night games now. It wasn't just the same football.
petgordon: We'll have to check. Yeah. I've got a few young friends that live down the block.
Dave Margolis: This is a slush.
petgordon: I'll have to ask them what they're doing.
Dave Margolis: Was this Stonewall Gerbenstein, or was this...
petgordon: to listen to the World Series, yeah.
Dave Margolis: uh Moshe Leibowitz.
petgordon: Well. shlobo Shlomo lived down the block when I was five. I'm talking about now. I'll have to check with some of the kids that lived down the block. But, yes. Yeah, Shlomo Gerberstein was one I would check with for for an update on the scores, for sure. Dave, you you mentioned that. and and We'll also fill in our...
petgordon: regular listeners or we're gaining subscribers every day. on Spotify, which is where you can find us currently. We're going to try to expand that out to Apple and some of the other.
petgordon: hosting services. But... I... I was gone for about a month. we did This is our return podcast. And I'm happy to tell you and happy to see you, of course. I was in Chicago.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, you guys, people, anybody listening can tell. from the way you talk. Thank you, Arish. You're a Chicagoan and a prep proud of it, and this year... You you visit Chicago every year.
Dave Margolis: as I recall. But this year, we went for it.
petgordon: I do. I do, since I moved to out to Tucson here, which is about 15 years ago.
Dave Margolis: 15 years ago. and
petgordon: I love to get back to Chicago. I've got. Grown children live in Chicago, so it's a beautiful family. reunion for us. And of course. so i get to do all the things I always love to do which is you know Go to Cubs games. Go to Sox games.
petgordon: Oh. Enjoy the beach a little bit. And then Dave. Let's start right here. A visit to my favorite delis in Chicago.
Dave Margolis: I was waiting for that. did you see ah I sent you a photo yesterday. Did you see that sandwich?
petgordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: That was pastrami. And tongue. Do you like tongue? Do you eat tongue, Phil?
petgordon: I have eaten tongue. It's not my favorite. But I have. My mother ah and father were big fans of Tongue, would love a Tongue sandwich.
Dave Margolis: Really? I never... never I just don't like the idea of tasting something that can taste me.
petgordon: Yeah.
Dave Margolis: So now I've got this.
petgordon: That includes several of the women you dated, David.
Dave Margolis: i Well, okay. that's That's the next episode.
petgordon: Tongue is for our listeners that may not have grown up. in an Orthodox Jewish home. or a near one. Uh, tongue is another one of those you know, salty smoked meats.
petgordon: And it actually is from the.
Dave Margolis: Yep.
petgordon: Tongue of a cow. And then it's salted and smoked and it's, um... And actually, to be honest with you, it tastes a lot like... The other salted smoked meats is like pastrami, like corned beef.
petgordon: But I'm with you. It's hard to get that image out of your head. of where the tongue comes from they should have called it something else i think it would be more popular do You can still get it.
Dave Margolis: and also It's like they don't
petgordon: Let me tell you, um I visited maybe my favorite place on earth, Dave. The Romanian...
Dave Margolis: right then
petgordon: delicatessen. In Chicago up on the north side, for those that... uh know their way around Chicago. It's on the corner of Clark and Toohey. where it's been like since World War II.
Dave Margolis: hu
petgordon: And it is. And. and First off. The requirements to work behind the counter, Dave, at the Romanian Deli, you have to be a minimum 300 years old.
Dave Margolis: ah
petgordon: Big white beard. And they have your own butcher coat, you know, the the the white apron. These guys are amazing. I know it's the same guys from when I was there 50 years ago.
petgordon: that was they were you know They were just getting their 100 -year pin at that point.
Dave Margolis: okay We were only 250 years old at that time. Yeah.
petgordon: they're They're just tremendous. can i Can I go through some of the items?
Dave Margolis: Wait, let let's go through. Let's have a...
petgordon: so So. They have a tremendous freezer case. where you can get your anything with a K, Dave. Kishka, Kanish. Crap block.
petgordon: All of that. Uh... in frozen form. And I'll just focus on the Kishka. This was a delicacy that my mother.
petgordon: made extraordinarily well. And. ah Passover would be... a time when you would would have Kishka, and because of the... What do I to get too technical here, Dave? But a Passover Jews don't eat. breath.
petgordon: or leavened to bread.
Dave Margolis: Thank you very much.
petgordon: That's what we need. the macho comes from. Unleavened bread. but it affects the ingredients that go into the kishka.
Dave Margolis: Hmm.
petgordon: so and Passover time, you would make a potato.
Dave Margolis: Ah.
petgordon: Base Kishka. And I'm noting this. just out of my admiration for the folks at Romanian. They offer both.
Dave Margolis: yeah
petgordon: Leave. Potato -Based Skishka and the... not uh I think it's more carrot -based. I can't recall exactly, but there's some breadcrumbs at least in it.
Dave Margolis: a
petgordon: That would... That would negate it for Passover use.
Dave Margolis: yeah
petgordon: but every other time of the year, like... The f - The high holidays, the high Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah. you would eat the regular Kishke and it would accompany your.
Dave Margolis: and
petgordon: you're probably your brisket And this was an incredible meal.
Dave Margolis: Now, let me... ah you know mike I'm I'm ah by the way for anybody who's going to send us any hate mail or anything
petgordon: Uh, Yes.
Dave Margolis: um I'm only half Jewish.
petgordon: yeah
Dave Margolis: so Okay.
petgordon: So you would expect half of the hate mail, Dave?
Dave Margolis: They can aim most of the of their vitriol at you. uh my father My father was Jewish.
petgordon: I think I get it all. yeah
Dave Margolis: and he he didn't he wasn't observant but he did introduce us to a lot of Yiddish words and terms and things like that. and sometimes if we were acting up or being silly or disrespectful he would Jokingly.
Dave Margolis: threaten us with a zetz right in the kishka So what... So what actually is the Kishka?
petgordon: There you go.
petgordon: Bikishka. refers to the intestine.
Dave Margolis: Like your guts, basically, right? Yeah.
petgordon: of a cow. It's your guts. And and that's what it, the this mixture of. matzo meal, carrots. ah Many other ingredients. Sometimes... Peace.
petgordon: Uh... is made into sort of a paste. and then forced inside the intestine. very tightly I can remember my mom curling like the ends of the kishka, like she was rolling a joint.
petgordon: It was a sort of a an early Jewish joint day.
Dave Margolis: so put
petgordon: And but it's thick, you know, it's you you can picture a cow's intestine. Maybe three or four inch diameter And this is stuffed and then actually tied.
Dave Margolis: So it's like... Thank you.
petgordon: My mom would actually tie string.
Dave Margolis: sausage form.
petgordon: Sausage form. Exactly right.
Dave Margolis: Okay.
petgordon: and then it would be baked. And the results are spectacular. Let me tell you, there's kishka is just delicious.
Dave Margolis: So this is... we we We often have another guest that would talk about this.
petgordon: It's usually a side dish.
Dave Margolis: Does this compare in any way to the Scottish haggis? Is it similar to...
petgordon: Oh, the haggis. And you're referring, of course, to our good friend Sean Connery.
Dave Margolis: Right, yes.
petgordon: the distinguished British actor James Bond.
Dave Margolis: You'll be visiting us occasionally, even from the...
petgordon: For a... our audience. We're trying to make connections, Dave. um in heaven to to get Sean back to the show. And I think that's going to be possible.
Dave Margolis: i'm sure it will
petgordon: I really do. He likes... He liked haggis. He liked another dish, if I recall, Hotch Potch.
Dave Margolis: Hot spot. Yeah.
petgordon: Hatchpatch, which, uh... There's a Yiddish, Jewish dish. ah People eat for breakfast often. That is a hopple popple. short of an omelet with everything.
petgordon: So we'll we' we'll have to ask, sir. Sure, Sean Connery. More about that. But you're right. I think every culture has. some form of that, right? Everybody's got like a ravioli, you know, the Jews call it kreplach, you know.
Dave Margolis: grant them
petgordon: that and the Asians call it an egg roll, you know.
Dave Margolis: pun You're talking about, you know... Jewish, you know obviously Judaism. and ancient religion and places like Scotland that their history goes back way, way back.
Dave Margolis: Of course, they would. eat anything and they would have to use of anything and that includes the intestines and that's what they do
petgordon: Oh sure.
petgordon: Yes.
petgordon: They would. And then I think, Dave, maybe this would clear it up for for our non -Jewish listeners. We're talking about a dumpling, basically. and And every culture's got some form of dumpling. Um...
petgordon: Okay. While we're... On that subject, I want to stay at the Romanian Deli. We're... I would be happy to stay all the time with Rovani and Delegation. First off, that freezer, the cooler has been nice in this weather, you know.
petgordon: I'd get right in there with the Kishka and the Kreplach.
Dave Margolis: You know what I mean?
petgordon: So they got all those.
Dave Margolis: great
petgordon: Those are frozen items. They also have... ah Your typical potato salad, coleslaw, all of those sort of things. They make a beautiful white fish salad, which is a very popular dish.
petgordon: And all of those are in the great freezer cases. But then Dave when you step around the corner of the freezer case to get in line and take that number
Dave Margolis: perfect
petgordon: Uh... I ironically, I always wager I should know this, but I don't have it at my fingertips. Maybe you could Google it while we're talking here. the current Hebrew year.
Dave Margolis: Oh.
petgordon: At 57, 55, I'm going to take a wild stab. um I think that was the, I want to just. saying that was the number I had in mind.
Dave Margolis: That's a lot.
petgordon: And and do you wait for the guy.
Dave Margolis: I'm guessing that the aroma there was probably amazing as you're waiting in line, though. All right.
petgordon: Oh. My God, Dave. Oh my God. Even with. My hay fever in Chicago, I could smell it. And it's the... smelling of, you know, stuffing kishkas and slicing meat.
petgordon: It's just incredible.
Dave Margolis: ah
petgordon: Did you look up the year, Dave?
Dave Margolis: It looks like we are in I think we're in 5786 here.
petgordon: Oh. I got put on pause there.
Dave Margolis: 5786. Don't bust it. Not to be confused with 8647, which will get you...
petgordon: 5786.
Dave Margolis: Throw in a new tail. Be careful.
petgordon: Yes, it will. Yes, you will. So 5786. And I waited, you know. I waited for... you know, 5000 people to be called ahead of me.
petgordon: And they got to my number, Dave, and that's when you get. to the meat counter. And you're waited on, as I was sharing with you, by ah about a 300 -year -old Jewish man with a... Giant white beard.
petgordon: And... um They're very happy to offer suggestions you know like this gentleman was telling me that they they they did The beef there was just made. You're going to love it.
petgordon: I said... that yeah and And of course, just due to some help. issues. I get the extra lean. Which he didn't. He didn't want to do.
petgordon: he yeah it's got The the flavor comes from the fat.
Dave Margolis: hu el
petgordon: I know, but I'd like to get the extra lead.
Dave Margolis: Yes, sir. All right. Extra lean?
petgordon: All right.
Dave Margolis: Oh, you're one of those guys. you're Oh, you're one of those... You're one of those health nuts.
petgordon: Yeah. Exactly, exactly. But they'll do it. You know, you might have to prod them a little bit, but they'll do it.
Dave Margolis: yeah ah
petgordon: ah Anyway, the corned beef had just been made. It was ready to be cut. And then they're, you know, they're, they play that. Meat cutter Dave like a like a Stradivarius, you know
Dave Margolis: but
petgordon: And they will, this is the... one of the classic moments in any deli. or should be. Whether you say, are you loud or would you like it sliced?
Dave Margolis: thank
petgordon: and I say thin. And then he turns around, goes to the meat cutter, slices off ah a piece. and hands it to you on a piece of butcher paper.
Dave Margolis: Love it.
petgordon: And he says, how's how's that? And the beautiful thing is that's for you. So i I... I ate that slice and I said, you know, perfect, you know.
Dave Margolis: Mm -hmm.
petgordon: And then he went back and cut me a couple of pounds of extra lean. He protested, but the extra lean corned beef. Uh... These days, like I say, Dave, due to a little bit more careful diet, I'm not having the pastrami.
petgordon: Which is...
Dave Margolis: and
petgordon: Much more spicy. But... I can only imagine how delicious I've had it, you know. fairly recently within the last few years. It's always delicious, but a little too spicy for me these days.
petgordon: But you kids go ahead and knock yourselves out.
Dave Margolis: I'm a big pastrami fan.
petgordon: Get the pastrabi.
Dave Margolis: I prefer it over corned beef. And for me... It's like... You know. If you're only going to have it once in a while, If they want to make it with a little bit of fat on there for flavor, that's all right with me. You know, you're not eating pastrami every day.
Dave Margolis: hi I do.
petgordon: Well, you're easy to get along with, Dave.
Dave Margolis: I but
petgordon: and
Dave Margolis: specific
petgordon: That's the half of you that's not Jewish.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, that's the Catholic side. I just feel guilty all the time. Well, the Jews are going to be guilty too, so.
petgordon: Right. You know, I like to educate here, Dave. I had mentioned, you know... Growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home, though. I myself...
petgordon: did not follow the orthodox practices But my parents did. And you mentioned that your father was Jewish. which technically... in the Orthodox Jewish community would mean you're not a Jew.
Dave Margolis: i know right yeah
petgordon: It's based on your mother being a Jew. So, you know, I just I hate to out you here on the on the podcast.
Dave Margolis: i think perhaps export
petgordon: But... I think they would be happy still to sell you some pastrami.
Dave Margolis: My mom, you know, was Irish Catholic and
petgordon: Don't worry about that.
Dave Margolis: when my parents got married you know irish catholic and ah and a jew know it was ah It was a story, man. It was not done. It was not it was frowned upon. by By both sides.
petgordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: Back there.
petgordon: Right? Right. But... You know, some similarities, right, to fighting with your neighbors.
Dave Margolis: yeah yeah
petgordon: There's some similarities there. The Irish soda bread, very good. Not quite a challah, but in that neighborhood.
Dave Margolis: right Great.
petgordon: Well, let me continue at the deli counter here for a few minutes.
Dave Margolis: Let's go for it. yep
petgordon: i There was Tong up there. i i saw it up there i did not partake in the tongue but i'm sure it was fresh and good if you like, Tom.
Dave Margolis: And you know, with tongue, they they make no effort at all to disguise it. It looks like a tongue. a great big Oh.
petgordon: oh Oh! It's sitting there, the good the big... Calling to sit there in the freezer case. Yeah, absolutely. ah That would be a an uncooked one.
petgordon: they you know They go in the back and you can get the one that's already cooked if you're purchasing it right then.
Dave Margolis: okay
petgordon: Uh... Then there was Beautiful and the the gentleman, Moishe, who waited on me. suggested the smoked turkey. He said that the smoked turkey is delicious.
Dave Margolis: okay
petgordon: So I had a half a pound of that, and it was... delicious they i gotta say Uh... There's various... sub You can get sliced brisket. of course, which is beautiful. You can also get, you know, ah a larger piece of brisket. Let's say you want to bring it home and they have a dinner with some kishka. and vegetables and all that.
petgordon: It would make a lovely Rosh Hashanah dinner.
Dave Margolis: that
petgordon: um You can order large quantities there and for catering. ah Chickens were there. These were... Again, they have a chicken.
petgordon: sitting in the case, but then they already had the cooked ones too. slice you some chicken or whatever. I remember Dave just as a memory. For those who know Chicago, I grew up at Albany Park.
petgordon: And. in Albany Park on Lawrence Avenue. Next door to each other, Dave, there was the Lawrence Fisheries. Where my mom would go to get her fish. White fish to grind up for gefilte fish, any other kind of fish.
petgordon: the The little high -end sable, for example, she would get there. And then right next to it. was the live chicken market.
Dave Margolis: ah
petgordon: And you would actually walk in and point to a chicken. and they would wring its neck, and that's how fresh it was.
Dave Margolis: ah
petgordon: That's fresh chicken my friend.
Dave Margolis: can
petgordon: I don't know if that still exists.
Dave Margolis: Maybe, yeah.
petgordon: I bet it does in New York.
Dave Margolis: Oh, certainly, yeah.
petgordon: Well, you sent me a a photo, I think. We may have used it actually on the initial podcast when we covered the... food court at the
Dave Margolis: ah would
petgordon: Great American State Fair.
Dave Margolis: Mm -hmm.
petgordon: It was. there some kiddish joint out of New York. had a stand. Do you recall the name?
Dave Margolis: Uh, no.
petgordon: Pyman something, kiddish.
Dave Margolis: Yeah. I don't remember the name. Yeah.
petgordon: Anyway, we'll well we'll we'll we'll research it again, but it's a very historic. Kanisha. place in New York. Um... So then, of course, Dave, I don't want to skip this for a second because I can't believe I forgot to bring it. sitting here with you now, but...
petgordon: I did purchase a two pound. Hanging salami. A hard salami. And it's hanging and aging right now.
Dave Margolis: Hmm.
petgordon: I will. Confess that I have cracked into it. Fixed myself a beautiful hopple popple. I'm lit with it Dave. It's delicious. And I bought it, and actually as a little parting gift, I got like a one -pounder for each of my songs.
Dave Margolis: Mm -hmm. Thanks.
petgordon: before we left. They're all fans of... Romanian, you know you know, from the days of living with me.
Dave Margolis: aye
petgordon: But, uh... Probably not the kind of thing they're going to go up and get themselves, but I thought, oh, they'll enjoy this. It was very good. and And by the way. Not that we're sponsored by Romanian, though that we're certainly open to that.
petgordon: They have a complete... mail order service you could order products from the Romanian deli, it's the... Romanian Kosher Deli Chicago, Illinois. I'm sure they have a beautiful website.
petgordon: And you can order all these delicious things I'm talking about.
Dave Margolis: Well, I have to say, Phil, I know that upcoming when Mr. Pacino joins us, he's going to be doing. a cooking segment and all this talk about the romanian deli i'm going to be really hungry on the channel.
petgordon: yes
Dave Margolis: comes around.
petgordon: Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm sure y 'all have something great for us. let's Let's move on from this segment, which I'll call Deli Talk, Dave. And let me tell you a little bit about, of course, I love to visit the Sox and the Cubs.
Dave Margolis: yes um
petgordon: I'm going to. tilt out here a little bit and show you that in honor i'm wearing my frank thomas shirt
Dave Margolis: Oh! Yeah.
petgordon: Which I was very very happy to wear to a Sox game
Dave Margolis: huh
petgordon: And then also I want to share with you that I went with my son. As life would have it, Dave, I have one Cub fan son and one Sox fan son.
petgordon: So my saxophone son and I attended. Very, very special night. Munataka Murakami bobblehead night, Dave.
Dave Margolis: okay Nice.
petgordon: And I brought it here to show everybody.
Dave Margolis: Still in the box. Have you taken it out of the box?
petgordon: As you look.
Dave Margolis: though Did you take it out of the box?
petgordon: Still in the box. No, right right now it's an investment, Dave.
Dave Margolis: okay
petgordon: Asshole. I don't want to take it out of the box but if you look inside the box it's got a little bat.
Dave Margolis: yeah
petgordon: that would go in his hands.
Dave Margolis: Oh, I see.
petgordon: And it's quite good. it's it's It has a little better look, I think.
Dave Margolis: Well, you know, the... be a
petgordon: It's quite a nice...
Dave Margolis: You know the
petgordon: Quite a nice likeness.
Dave Margolis: The bobblehead... Industry has really advanced in the past few years. where it's not just the bobbling head, but...
petgordon: Oh yeah.
Dave Margolis: Sometimes they're involved in the famous play. That's Jesse Orozco famously at the... last out of the 86 World Series through his glove. Some people say it never came down.
Dave Margolis: but his bobblehead is his glove going up and a lot lot of lot of uh they've done a lot with bobbleheads and i think we're all i think we're all better for it
petgordon: That's right.
petgordon: Absolutely. Um, Dave, you know, and in any good podcast or radio show, you always... want to billboard what's coming next. I will share with you that.
petgordon: I believe it was. two nights ago was Pope Leo Hacknight. at Comiskey Park, it' so White Sox Park, I still call it Comiskey Park.
Dave Margolis: Right.
petgordon: Now it's right field, of course.
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
petgordon: uh but My son, my very loyal... ah Actually, Cub fans, son. who will go to any ballgame if you'll buy him a ticket. Uh... was willing to go on my behalf.
petgordon: I brought him a nice seat at the game, and he... Got the... The Pope Leo Pope hat.
Dave Margolis: Oh, uh -huh.
petgordon: with the White Sox emblem on it. And it's being shipped to me as we speak.
Dave Margolis: So it's... So is it the Pope?
petgordon: So. For our next podcast, I will definitely wear.
Dave Margolis: Pat? And it's got the logo on it.
petgordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: How great.
petgordon: Oh, yes. I encourage everybody to Google it because people are wearing it. They were wearing it in the Sox dugout, the players.
Dave Margolis: ah
petgordon: It's beautiful. My son says it's very nice. He said he said it's the consistency of like a one of those giant foam fingers.
Dave Margolis: Oh, okay. Mm hmm.
petgordon: And then it fits over your head, and it's the actual pope head. and For those who may not be aware, Pope Leo is actually a White Sox fan.
Dave Margolis: Big White Sox fan, yeah? Thank you.
petgordon: You know, he comes from Chicago where he. um Had a... It was you know at in the church, of course. and was a church on Chicago's South Side. He's from...
petgordon: Chicago's way south side. and he was always a Sox fan, and he was at... the 2005 World Series against the Astros. And the seat he sat in, Dave.
petgordon: has like a bronze plaque.
Dave Margolis: Have a great day.
petgordon: It's the Pope Leo seat. I don't know if you can. Buy it for a game or not, I should try.
Dave Margolis: well phil i'm
petgordon: I don't know if I could afford that seat, but...
Dave Margolis: and put
petgordon: Take care, folks. Well, the Catholic Church is loaded then.
Dave Margolis: I'm fully expecting our next podcast. You will be. modeling the Pope Leo. White Sox cap for you.
petgordon: I will. depend That's going to depend on the U .S. Postal Service, Dave. if If the next podcast is for the next few years or so, I should have it by then.
Dave Margolis: Yeah, I think they're they're working on a regulation to ban all mail -in. Pope has. So it might.
petgordon: Well, it could be. Could be. But that's the case. And in all fairness, I also went to a couple of Cub games.
Dave Margolis: right
petgordon: Um... That was also great fun. There's nothing like Wrigley Field.
Dave Margolis: Let's see. what's let's say
petgordon: ah You know, you and I, we're...
Dave Margolis: Let's make clear. Let's make clear to our audience, Phil, and I know many of them would understand that that as...
petgordon: We're just big baseball fans.
Dave Margolis: A devout white. There's no such thing as somebody who's a White Sox and Cubs fan. That doesn't happen. and
petgordon: No, not even Pope Leo, David.
Dave Margolis: And you are, and you've stated this many times. you get more joy from a Cubs loss. than even from a White Sox win. That's how deep it goes.
petgordon: You're right about that thing. This was the wisdom passed along to me by my brother. My late brother. who was Maybe the biggest White Sox fan ever. Uh, who...
petgordon: told me at a very formative age. Around the same time, he gave me my first Playboy. that it's far more important. that the Cubs lose.
petgordon: Then the White Sox win. And you'd have to be from Chicago to understand that. but
Dave Margolis: Well, that's it.
petgordon: No truer words were ever spoken.
Dave Margolis: As a Mets fan, I do take great joy in any Yankees loss. But I'm not quite as far where it's better than a Mets win.
petgordon: Not sure. Yes.
Dave Margolis: But ill i'll I'll say this, if the Mets lose, the day can be salvaged if the Yankees lose too. and i don't program.
petgordon: Yes. yes we're We're coming from a pretty similar place. But Wrigley Field looking beautiful. I got to say. ah The thing I note all the time now that I only see it like once a year.
petgordon: is the renovations around the park.
Dave Margolis: Oh, nice.
petgordon: meaning the perimeter of the park. are just so incredible. They have taken the... So you're picturing the outside of the ballpark. along the left field line.
petgordon: and have turned it into a magnificent area for kids. With AstroTurf, you know, you can play catch before the game. And this is where they have all the statues.
petgordon: of former players and also Harry Carey.
Dave Margolis: mm -hmm
petgordon: ah They just added, you know, very sadly, the Ryan Sandberg statue. Uh... upon his passing away. And that's the newest edition. We took a look at that. It was beautiful.
petgordon: Of all the... statues I've seen out there, this one really looks like Rhino.
Dave Margolis: oh great right
petgordon: It's ah incredibly well done, and it's got him in a... you know, sort of a double play pose.
Dave Margolis: ah
petgordon: which, you know, we've seen right now over the years do that many times.
Dave Margolis: okay
petgordon: Classic. Who else is out there? My gosh, Ernie Banks, of course. Billy Williams.
Dave Margolis: oh bur you
petgordon: Fergie Jenkins, Dave, there's a statue. There's Ron Santo.
Dave Margolis: a paper
petgordon: And I'll...
Dave Margolis: A favorite of yours, I know.
petgordon: say as a Sox hater Uh...
Dave Margolis: for people.
petgordon: If you're a Sox fan, Dave, you have to dislike Ron Sancho. And, uh... point out that the statue catches him with both feet.
Dave Margolis: It's a little bit cold.
petgordon: So it's it's historical to his playing days.
Dave Margolis: right
petgordon: And then later, as you know i may may not know in our audience, Ron Santo became a broadcaster.
Dave Margolis: right remember that
petgordon: for the Cubs. And perhaps... If the statue should be for anything, it it should be for being the greatest Homer ever. In the booth. I mean. This guy lived and died, Chicago Cubs.
Dave Margolis: yeah
petgordon: And if you like that kind of broadcast.
Dave Margolis: No.
petgordon: he was He was good at it. Uh... colorful guy, and and and and for the record, ah a very, very good hitter and a very, very good third baseman in his day.
Dave Margolis: yeah
petgordon: Actually... in his last season played for the White Sox.
Dave Margolis: That's right, yeah. yeah yeah i've got a little something here to share i don't think can you see that
petgordon: I...
Dave Margolis: Adios you see that?
petgordon: Yeah. That's you out in front of Wrigley Field, Dave.
Dave Margolis: That's actually my son Hank. That's right.
petgordon: Oh, that's Hank, why you guys look alike.
Dave Margolis: That's Henry back 25 years ago, something like that.
petgordon: um
Dave Margolis: in front of her We can film? Yeah.
petgordon: Yeah. Well, there you go. He's standing very close to where and What I'm describing, the renovated area where he could have played catch.
Dave Margolis: Oh, great.
petgordon: before the game. And now there's everything. I mean, a fancy hotel out there. great restaurants. In fact... I don't know if it's still there, but when they first started these renovations.
petgordon: The manager of the Chicago Cubs who took him to the World Series. Um. Oh my gosh.
Dave Margolis: second
petgordon: um
Dave Margolis: of Madden.
petgordon: He also managed the Angels.
Dave Margolis: try that so
petgordon: Matt, Joe Matt, thank you. Uh... owned what I am told was a magnificent Italian restaurant right there.
Dave Margolis: Oh, really? Yeah.
petgordon: He himself is a wine connoisseur. He does an interesting podcast, by the way. Very very involved. I'm not sure if he's with any team formally these days, but...
petgordon: i think there was some involvement with the cub store he was uh
Dave Margolis: Yeah.
petgordon: an advisor in some capacity.
Dave Margolis: ah You don't hear much about Joe Maddon, but he ah he made quite ah a mark for himself at a time when he became the... ah manager of the Angels of the Cubs and and a very innovative manager.
petgordon: Yeah. He sure did.
Dave Margolis: And. the All right.
petgordon: That he was, what he used to. he was really a players guy too, you know, where. He would have the crazy. Um... you know, How would I even call it? like pranks and stuff he would pull on the team where...
petgordon: He would insist they dressed in a certain way. And there is a day when he... had a rack of dresses and all the players had to wear a dress. And I wish I could call it up right now, Dave, but you haven't seen.
petgordon: a set of legs till you see Kyle Schwarber in a dress.
Dave Margolis: is there Is there anything he can't do? All right. one that's accept
petgordon: Oh. No, no.
Dave Margolis: thank
petgordon: Apparently not. Doing it again now after a recent home run drought.
Dave Margolis: yeah yeah Well there was ah often a, and it may still be, although...
petgordon: He's back. hitting them again. sope
Dave Margolis: with you know The attitudes towards cross dressing have changed over the years. but it was always sort of traditional. Traditional that the...
petgordon: Who's the attitude kid?
Dave Margolis: last road trip of the season that the rookies would all have to dress up in women's clothes.
petgordon: That's right. You're right about that. and and And Madden made it universal. Everybody had to when they got on the plane. and I think there were many, many fans waiting for them. This was in the height of the 2016 run.
petgordon: So they would have fans greeting the play, and it was it was hilarious. Google it.
Dave Margolis: there well um are you Are you aware that among major league bullpens, the relief pitching staff...
petgordon: And surely you're going to find these photos.
Dave Margolis: And I think this is true for all teams. one pitcher and I think it might usually be the one with the least service with the least senior player. their responsibility is to carry.
Dave Margolis: candy around. They have backpacks full of candy and snacks.
petgordon: oh
Dave Margolis: And it would be that guy's job to make sure he always had that that snack bag with him.
petgordon: I've heard this. Yeah. Yeah.
Dave Margolis: And of course, if he if he didn't, there was hell to pay. but that's a
petgordon: Yeah.
Dave Margolis: Very common thing. that
petgordon: Haha. Well, you know um My gosh, Dave, think about it. you know You spend like six months of the year.
Dave Margolis: Yeah know
petgordon: Living like a family with these guys. And you know those are very valuable. Moments on the team, always. The guy who's got the sense of humor. you know the the guy who's willing to put up with that stuff, the guy who's got the old stories.
Dave Margolis: Bye -bye.
petgordon: This is what makes a team go. And when you find out. every successful team.
Dave Margolis: oh
petgordon: They've got that going.
Dave Margolis: Going ball forward, Jim Bowden talked a lot about what happens in the bullpen.
petgordon: in some capacity Dave, uh...
Dave Margolis: and and how they they got to kill so they got to kill three or four hours every night and sometimes they don't get in the game and they just have to... entertainment. entertainment
petgordon: Did you say...
Dave Margolis: You're welcome.
petgordon: You say Jim Bowden, Dave? No. ah His great book. to Remember how revolutionary that was?
Dave Margolis: yep
petgordon: Ball for it. ah Kind of.
Dave Margolis: ye Yep.
petgordon: Took the curtain down on a lot of that stuff.
Dave Margolis: Yep. they found out that something They found out that baseball players drink sometimes.
petgordon: odd
Dave Margolis: I'm going to put this jacket right here.
petgordon: Oh my gosh. Can you say Mickey Mantle, Dave?
Dave Margolis: whatever i
petgordon: Have you... You know, we in Chicago White Sox fan, of course. uh you know lived for you know 30 years with the play -by -play of Ken Harrelson.
Dave Margolis: right
petgordon: who was actually a great... Red Sox player, did not play for the White Sox, but broadcast the White Sox for over 30 years.
Dave Margolis: Walk.
petgordon: And he was tremendous friends with Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin. And he would tell those drinking stories, too. And it would it was great. to hawk ah
Dave Margolis: You don't...
petgordon: quite a personality.
Dave Margolis: Well, just for a second here.
petgordon: Well, Dave, I'm going to...
Dave Margolis: We'll play that. uh I've compiled as I do special dates in the month of August and things that happen.
petgordon: You go ahead.
Dave Margolis: We're getting a little close on time now and I don't want to. I don't want to give short shrift to Mr.
petgordon: Well, we are.
Dave Margolis: Pacino, so I... i wonder if
petgordon: We don't but ah It is, we're we're about 39 minutes into the show, Dave. We're planning on going an hour. Let's just take a couple of minutes because I want to. share with our audience that we know our many comics, many of our Tucson comic friends, Arizona comic friends.
petgordon: I just want to talk for a minute or two about the Chicago comedy scene.
Dave Margolis: Oh, please do, because that you did a lot of comedy there. Yeah.
petgordon: I did a lot of comedy. I have some. Connections fans at the wonderful Chicago Laugh Factory, Dave. which is one of the premier comedy clubs in the country.
petgordon: And I was on a show. uh that they call the early bird special This is, well... a little bit seasoned comics. And we do a show on, it's usually the third.
petgordon: week in July on a Sunday night, Sunday afternoon, that hence the early bird special. And it was a great show. I was so happy to be on it. I'll encourage people to check out my website, philgordon .com. You can see.
petgordon: my video of my performance at Laugh Factory. Maybe we'll work it into this show sometime, Dave. Uh... we We'll check with the Zencaster robot on that.
Dave Margolis: You're friended. You're a friendly robot.
petgordon: that
Dave Margolis: yeah yeah Well, I just i just wanted i just want to say that the August stuff that I have, we can do it next show.
petgordon: Yes. Ha ha. I was going to say this.
Dave Margolis: We don't have to rush and squeeze that in because I want to hear about the committee and I want to have have Mr.
petgordon: well
Dave Margolis: Pacino visiting us.
petgordon: Right, but maybe you can do an abbreviated short version of the key August 8th.
Dave Margolis: Cover a few things, yeah. Okay, but don't want to be I don't want to squeeze it in and I don't want to rush anything.
petgordon: So we can, I can help. We don't. Well, we're getting set up in his location right now. so But we you know let's leave it. Let's cap it at two, three minutes on the Chicago comedy.
Dave Margolis: okay okay
petgordon: We'll pick it up again some other time. But it's ah it's a beautiful comedy scene, Dave. You know, I started there. um Oh, probably going on about 20 years ago.
petgordon: when I was still living in Chicago. I took the stand -up classes at the great club Zany's. with my mentor and absolutely wonderful comic, Dobie Maxwell.
Dave Margolis: Mm -hmm.
petgordon: I noticed Toby just played at... In Vegas at the... Oh, my gosh, the comedy club owned by the guy from. ah Um...
petgordon: those Show. ah We're the two brothers. Uh,
Dave Margolis: Tommy and Dickie?
petgordon: Sorry about this. No, no, no, no. He was a cop. And the brother is a great comic, too.
Dave Margolis: oh Ray Romano, Brad Garrett.
petgordon: um
Dave Margolis: Yep. Yeah.
petgordon: Ray Romano, thank you very much. And who is Ray Romano's brother in the show, Dave?
Dave Margolis: Brad Garrett.
petgordon: Brad Garrett. This is a long road to get here.
Dave Margolis: Oh, I love Brad Garrett.
petgordon: Brad Garrett's Comedy Club. It's where... ah Adobe Maxwell played. It's a great comedy club, too, in Vegas. But that's my connection and my my background in Chicago.
petgordon: So in Chicago, Dave. On any given night, you've got your choice of maybe 10 to 20.
Dave Margolis: well
petgordon: Open mics. If you want to get out there. Some of them are incredible. i I'll list a few for you. There's... All the big clubs have an open mic. Laugh Factory has an open mic on Wednesday, which is classic. and One of the differences.
petgordon: to what you and I find in Tucson, let's say. is these open mics have like a dedicated, regular, paying audience. You know, you're performing in front of Probably not in their main room.
petgordon: but in one of their side rooms. 100 to 200 people that are not comedians, that are there to see. the new comics so it's a different little different environment that way
Dave Margolis: Or for anybody unfamiliar with the open mic scene. Typically, an open mic is very sparsely attended and it's a lot of... friends of the comic basically.
Dave Margolis: uh so you don't and usually they're free so you're talking about people who are coming out paying money so you're obviously going to get a higher level of of comics at an open mic like that it's going to be a good show
petgordon: Yeah.
Dave Margolis: All right.
petgordon: Absolutely. Then there's a few, in that whole area. where Laugh Factory is located. If you know the streets in Chicago, Broadway and Belmont. And within that area.
petgordon: There are about a dozen
Dave Margolis: wow
petgordon: quality open mics. And they spread it out. on days and times so that you could go to all of them.
Dave Margolis: Mm -hmm.
petgordon: And it's like. There's a place called The Den. a little feeder that. Does open mic. So they'll do it like it's 7 p .m. And then down the street on Belmont, there's Shuba's, a great bar. Also for. uh music But on Wednesday night, I'm sorry, Tuesday nights is their comedy night.
petgordon: And so they do it at about nine. So you'll see a herd of comics walking down Belmont. Because you cannot park. So everybody walks. And you ah heard of comics go from the den to Shuba's.
petgordon: And if you're smart or if you talk to these other comics and get the ropes a little bit. you stop by Shuba's first and sign up and put yourself toward the back of the list. and then go to the den, and then allow yourself time to walk over.
petgordon: So it's incredible.
Dave Margolis: Now, could you could you hit more? Could you hit three or four since they're all bunched together?
petgordon: There's...
Dave Margolis: Would you be able to do that?
petgordon: well they they space themselves out time -wise so that they allow comics to do that.
Dave Margolis: Oh well.
petgordon: And then later in the evening, you go up Lincoln Avenue. And there's some mics that don't start till 10, 11 o 'clock.
Dave Margolis: Well, that's great.
petgordon: which is great. There's a beautiful place called the Lincoln Lodge. That is an entire week of... different performances, also classes.
Dave Margolis: and
petgordon: But they've got several open mics and they start very early. It's like about a six. p .m. start And you got to get in line. There's no signing up early. There's no online signups.
petgordon: And these mics are so crowded, Dave, that sometimes you're just getting three minutes.
Dave Margolis: Wow, okay Sorry about that. The Lincoln Lodge, is that devoted to President Lincoln?
petgordon: So, you know, you got it.
Dave Margolis: Is there a balcony where one could sit? Or does all the dying take place on stage in a place like this?
petgordon: when There's plenty of dying on stage, Dave. I wouldn't trust any of these other comics, you know, so you could be shot in the balcony at any moment. i It refers to the street that it's located on, Lincoln Avenue.
Dave Margolis: oh
petgordon: which I do believe is named after President Lincoln.
Dave Margolis: Well, it's the land of Lincoln.
petgordon: so
Dave Margolis: Yep.
petgordon: Yes.
Dave Margolis: Thank you.
petgordon: Yes. Yes to everything. ah There's great mics in every direction on the south side. There's great comedy clubs and they have open mics. out in Beverly is an area that I know.
petgordon: I taught for a period of time at St.
Dave Margolis: har
petgordon: Xavier University out there. There used to be... A little. Club there. ah that had an open mic on a Wednesday night, which is where I kind of cut my teeth. I remember Dobie.
petgordon: in class would say, If you're willing to drive out to 103rd Street, there's a real comedy club.
Dave Margolis: like president
petgordon: That'll put you up. And it was ah it was a...
Dave Margolis: All right.
petgordon: Sidisi's Wine Cellar, I think was the name of it. And it was run by a great guy, Bill Brady. who still performs comedy around Chicago.
Dave Margolis: hu
petgordon: He closed the club a few years ago. But he had a great Wednesday night, Mike. and you know In Chicago, Dave, if you're a city worker, police officer, fireman,
petgordon: you know, at any sort of precinct captain sort of job. You have to live in the city limits.
Dave Margolis: Mmm.
petgordon: At least you did back that. And. um So consequently, a lot of police and firemen live in those. far out neighborhoods that are great neighborhoods, great schools and all that.
petgordon: ah So you'd often have cops and firemen at this Sunisi's wine cellar.
Dave Margolis: All right.
petgordon: They used to call it the barrel of laughs was the name of the club.
Dave Margolis: great but
petgordon: And so you had an audience of like cops sitting out there.
Dave Margolis: That's it.
petgordon: It was hilarious. And it was a great club. Out west, I notice now in the western suburbs, a lot of clubs. ah opening up and do an open mic. I did a club called the 120 Club.
petgordon: And that was great fun. But Dave, I'll wrap it up there. Just saying, we'll talk more about the Chicago comedy scene at future shows, but it was a great time. I had my great. Great thrill by performing at Laugh Factory.
petgordon: And... I think we should probably move into the special days, and I'll i'll go work with Mr.
Dave Margolis: Thank you.
Dave Margolis: you fetch and If you can go fetch Mr.
petgordon: Pacino to get him ready.
Dave Margolis: Pacino, and I'll cover for a little bit here and just talk a little bit before you bring him back. but Hurry back! And.
petgordon: I will, Dave. Let me just say before I go.
Dave Margolis: Okay, alright.
petgordon: whoa
Dave Margolis: Alright, Phil. wilson we'll see ah you We'll see Mr. Pacino in a little while, and we'll have a little cooking segment with Al Pacino coming today, folks. And we're looking forward to that. I think he has something.
Dave Margolis: a summary plan for you something you might want to Employ when you're camping or something like that this summer I also want to say that, you know, we don't. When we did our radio show, it was called Is This On? We were really aiming at it. comics, young comics, or people who are interested in comedy. Obviously we've done a lot of comedy stuff tonight. But we'll probably be a little more broad -based here. And as you can tell, we talk a little bit about sports and probably get into politics quite a bit.
Dave Margolis: um we are pretty liberal in our opinions, but we try not to be complete jerks about it. No, that's not true.
