Gonged!

Sherman, adjust the Wayback Machine for August of 1977. . .Philadelphia. . .Independence Hall:

Okay. . .actually I was flipping through some old photo albums this evening, and ran across a picture and autograph from a celebrity encounter I had at the tender age of 13. Okay, maybe "troubled" is a better term to use when discussing an early teen! But, anyways, we were on a two-week family trip exploring everything from Maine to Virginia and all points in between.

I had BEGGED to undertake this trip the prior summer (1976), but my father (Being the wise man that he was) refused to go anywhere near the original thirteen states during the Bicentennial Celebration! He also refused to drive in New York City, which was probably just as well since it was the "Summer of Sam". . . but I digress. And damned if I aint gonna do it s'more. . .

My favorite shows from that year were, in no particular order, Charlie's Angels, Happy Days, and The Gong Show. Hmmm. . .sex, school, and juvenile humor. What strange picks for a 13 year old. How does this all tie together with our family trip that summer long ago? Well, you see, I was an extremely patriotic youth and insisted on seeing EVERYTHING there was to see regarding our country's history on the east coast (Looking back, my Dad must have had the patience of God himself!).

So, of course, we HAD to visit Independence Hall in Philly so that I could set my eyes upon the Liberty Bell. I merely wanted to see if it was all that it was cracked up to be! Okay, come back! I promise I won't do that again!! ;) After we had exited Independence Hall, I spotted a VERY familiar face walking towards us on the sidewalk! It was MY HERO, Chuck Berris, from the Gong Show! As it turns out, he's a Philly native, one hell of a nice guy in person, and agreed to not only an autograph but even a picture with a geeky teenager:





Yes, the highlight of my voyage of exploration of our nation's creation was a chance meeting with the "Game Show King". If you were a fan, then I know you can relate.

Just in case you missed it, here's the episode that got the Gong Show taken off the air. The fact that it's widely available today on the internet, and probably considered quite tame by today's standards, speaks volumes about what three decades can change in public opinion and standards of decency:

"The Popsicle Twins"


If you're too young to remember the Gong Show, do a YouTube search for it. . .I guarantee you will laugh yer ass off! If you recall the show, you will STILL laugh yer ass off!!