BORDENTOWN: Small town ready for big laughs

By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
BORDENTOWN CITY — While few would accuse Farnsworth Avenue of being a humorless place, it is not generally considered the focal point of any local comedy scene. But that might change with two upcoming shows this winter that are bringing big names in “old school” comedy to the area.
    On Wednesday, Nov. 26, Jackie “the Jokeman” Martling will give a performance at The Record Collector, 358 Farnsworth Ave. Mr. Martling spent 15 years as the head writer of “The Howard Stern Show,” a job he worked his way up to after sending the show some of his comedy records with no preparation or contacts.
    He has worked several television series, appeared in over a dozen independent films, and released five CDs, three videos and five books, according to his Web site. Last month, he went to Iraq to entertain troops posted there, and he is currently the host of his own show on Sirius Radio 101, “Jackie’s Joke Hunt.”
    “Being it’s such a small intimate venue, he’s going to be recording this show for his next CD release, ‘Snart,’” said Randy Ellis, who organizes shows at the store. He said Mr. Martling tends to choose smaller venues for his recordings.
    Doors will open for the performance at 7:30 p.m. and the show will run from 8 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $32 in advance or $34 at the door.
    Mr. Ellis said attendees could expect about 500 jokes from the show, and that they might want to pay attention.
    “It’s all in his head and he doesn’t repeat (the jokes),” he explained. “If somebody gets out of line, God forbid, because he’ll just tear him up.”
    Afterward, the comedian will hold a “meet-and-greet” and sign autographs before an after-party at Jester’s Café.
    “Jackie said he’d shake every single hand and talk to every single person until the last person leaves,” Mr. Ellis said.
    Just a month later, on Friday, Dec. 26, another classic jokester will grace the city when “Uncle Floyd,” or Floyd Vivino, will also appear at the Record Collector.
    A former fixture on local television, his “Uncle Floyd Show” was the longest running program in New Jersey, appearing on various channels from 1974 to 1998. A number of prominent musicians appeared on the show over the years, including The Ramones, Bon Jovi, and Cindy Lauper, according to his Web site.
    Mr. Vivino expressed excitement and worry at the prospect of performing in a record shop.
    “I’m going to die, because I’m addicted,” he explained, saying he rents a warehouse to store his own record collection, which he has been accumulating throughout his life. “I even had ‘labelitis,’ which is very bad disease that means you have to have one of every label you see.”
    Despite his addiction, Mr. Vivino expressed pleasure at the prospect of playing somewhere new. “I’m very excited; it’s something different,” he said. “I’m always in the same places.”
    While he said he has no particular plans for his performance in Bordentown, Mr. Vivino said he plans to some of his humorous songs on the keyboard.
    Mr. Vivino performs over 300 days a year, said his manager, David Burd.
    “It’s not filthy, not shock value,” he said. “He tells jokes and funny stories, the kind of comedian that our parents remembered.”
    “Uncle Floyd” will perform standup comedy from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $12 in advance or $14 at the door.
    For more information, visit www.the-record-collector.com or call 609-324-0880.