RIP: Meanwhile, watermelons rejoice

[Brad Beam]

Gallagher (as portrayed by Paul F Tompkins in the Weird Al movie), 76.

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/gallagher-dead-comedian-smashing-watermelons-1235430439/

[M-D November]

This is NOT going to help Weird Al's anxiety about his movie being cursed...

[Kevin M.]

Gallagher died… 20 years after his career died… 30 years after his career should have died 

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

[Dave Sikula]

A friend of mine posted this story today:

In 1975 I was working stage crew at the theater venue at Knott's Berry Farm. That year the summer show was "Pop Your Buttons" this was an archetype of a theme park show and is like that this was probably the worst thing ever. It was supposed to be a vaudeville review. It was awful. The music was provided by an accordionist sitting on a stool downstate left in front of the main drape. That is how bad it was. And I wore a gorilla suit in part of it. And part of the show was Leo Gallagher.

He had an ongoing walk on bit through the show, and then would do his routine with props and the Sledge-o-Matic. He would put the apple between the patented pans and turn it to applesauce. Then he would say to the audience 'Imagine this with a watermelon' and some laughter ensued.

So eventually, while looking for amusement, we went out between shows and bought a watermelon. The next show, after he made the watermelon joke, two of our usherettes in pillbox hats roller skated onstage carrying the watermelon. And then for the very first time he smashed up a watermelon. After that he never stopped.

So the watermelon bit was our fault. We did this. You can blame us. It was we who doomed so many poor innocent watermelons.

It feels good to finally admit to this.

[Diner]

Great story.

I'll always remember watching Leno in early 1992 (he was still filling in for Johnny) when he did a joke that went something like this:
"As a goodwill effort, Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko will be doing a tour of the United States next month. That's the good news. The bad news: he's opening for Gallagher."

I don't think it got a big laugh from the audience, but I remember Jay reacting to the people to his left and right - the joke got a lot of laughter from Doc and the band, plus the people offstage.

So even at that point, it was obvious to me that people in show business hated Gallagher.

Rob Martinez just posted this story on the Gilbert Gottfried Podcast Facebook group:

The date: early 1990s. The place: A Suncoast Motion Picture Company store in the Midwest.

My best friend was working behind the counter waiting on a customer with two other people standing nearby to check out. Other employees are helping other customers in the store - it's a Saturday, it's crowded.

At this moment, Gallagher walks into the store as if he owned the place. He looks around waiting to be recognized. Some people look up and recognize him but by the comedian's body language, it's not the reception he wanted. My friend looks up and sees him but continues to ring up his waiting customers.

After one minute, Gallagher raises his voice and yells "DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW WHO I AM?" The entire store stopped and looked at the entrance.

My friend looks up and simply says "Yes, I know you. You're fourth in line and when I'm done here, I'll gladly help you."

Gallagher did a complete double-take, turned around, and left the store.