How many of you got pranked today? As a former radio guy there were a number of gags we tried to pull off. Some worked. Some didn’t. One memory that sticks out for me was when I used to do my LA FM morning show once a week from poolside at the Lodge Hotel. We told our audience that Bobby Clarke was going to make an appearance on behalf of the Canadian Diabetes Association to make a big prize draw. If you’re a hockey fan, you’ll know that Bobby Clarke was the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers when they won a couple of Stanley Cups back in the 70s. And chances are you would know that he is well known for having diabetes. So it would make sense that he just might be in town for a big draw. We never lied to anyone. Bobby Clarke really did show up on April Fools Day but our Bobby Clark was a chef at one of the city’s restaurants. Many people were duped including the Lethbridge Herald who had put an announcement in the paper the day before that the Flyer legend would be in town. (Again, we never said anything about a hockey player) The Herald was very angry at me. But perhaps not as angry as a couple of huge Flyer fans who I’m told showed up late to the draw because they had gotten into a fender bender getting to the Lodge. I felt bad for their bad fortune but didnt’ think much more about it. One year later on April 1 I got up to drive my car only to find all of the tires were taken off, deflated and my vehicle had been put up on blocks. There was a note in my mail box. It was the guys I had inconvenienced the year before claiming responsibility. At the time I was really angry that someone would hold a grudge for an entire year and do what they did. Upon further reflection, I had to give them props for quite an elaborate revenge. (Please don’t do this again to me because of the weather. Once in a lifetime is enough, thank you.)
Today we talked to Keri Griffith from the Canadian Cancer Society. She and a number of volunteers were making bundles of daffodils over at the Marquis Flower Shop. April is cancer awareness month and the daffodil is the national flower. They’ll be available starting Thursday. Keri is a great interview. She credits the many speeches she made while with 4H with helping her with that. As a promo I looked through the daffodil leaves and did my Arte Johnson impersonation: “Verrrry interesting.” I’m wondering how many people will get the reference or will they be saying, “Why is that idiot Mark Campbell speaking in a German accent behind a bush?” We’ll see.
We also talked to the lovely Erin Henderson who told us about the upcoming Connie Caldor show at the Empress Theatre Thursday & Friday. Scottish born Canadian folk singer David Francey will be there on May 1 & 2. Erin appears in Common Chord, the locally produced movie that will be shown this weekend at the Movie Mill.
I always love when up and coming artists come through town and are willing to do an interview with me. Jonathan Li is from Calgary and is currently on a press tour to promote his new album “Our Stories Matter.” You can tell he’s passionate about what he does. And as I always tell people, please don’t forget us little people when you make the big time. I told that to Laday Gaga when she peformed at the Suede night club a number of years ago. (It’s now the Keg) She was true to her word. She added me to her Facebook.
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