Tom Dressen "Making Sinatra Laugh" Show #74

Great short stories from comedy Legend Tom Dreesen, as he shares a couple times he really cracked Frank Sinatra up. Fun to hear from a man who has worked with the Best and has anecdotes about the Famous People he has worked with.

Catch Tom Dreesen Live On Stage if you can!

Transcript

Jill Edwards: 0:02

Stand up comedy, your host and emcee presents, comedy appetizers, a podcast where you will find short comedy sets, stories and funny bits from the famous. Not so famous. Here's your host MC. Scott Edwards.

Scott Edwards: 0:22

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the podcast, we have a special audience of one show for you. And boy, what a treat this gentleman toured with Frank Sinatra for over a decade. He's got 52 years in the industry. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Tom Driessen. Thank you. Hey, Tom, it's so nice to have you back on the show. You toured with Frank Sinatra for all those years. In fact, aren't you doing the show the man who made Sinatra laugh? I mean, how often did you get Sinatra to really laugh out loud

Tom Dreesen: 0:59

several times, I think probably one of the hardest times that ever made them laugh. They were giving him an award at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Will Rogers award and for humanitarian service. But Will Rogers was a comedian many years ago who had one of his races that he was known for when he never met a man he didn't like. And they were given Frank this award and at the cocktail party before all of the people of course, were murmuring Frank Sinatra was getting an award. He never met a man he didn't like you know. So I had to get up and speak in front of this whole audience black time group. I got up in the first words I said was Frank Sinatra punch every man Will Rogers ever like.

Scott Edwards: 1:45

I bet that knock Frank on the floor.

Tom Dreesen: 1:48

And my one man show we show a film of him laughing and laughing and pounding the table. Another time that I made him laugh. You know, he never went to bed when the sun came up, whether we were on the road or off the road, and I toured with him for 14 years in 4550 cities a year. And he wanted you to hang out with him. And it was fun for about 10 years. But after a while, you know, I'd like to get laid off once in a while. But one night we did. One time we were on the road doing a bunch of one nighters. And we ended up at the Desert Inn Hotel in Las Vegas where we were going to do a week in Las Vegas. And opening night we did two shows. Now after the second show. He's we're hanging out in the restaurant, we ended back at the desert and now it's like 430 in the morning, you know, and he's going strong. And I was tired. It was like four guys at the table. And I got up from the table. He said to me, Hey, where are you going? I said I'm going to bed. He said what four? I said I gotta get up early in the morning, go to the cemetery and visit those guys. He said what guys? I said all those guys who died trying to stay with you every night.

Scott Edwards: 2:47

What was Frank's response? He

Unknown: 2:50

laughed, he should go to bed and he made me tell that story. You know, every time we get together should tell him about that night in Vegas.

Scott Edwards: 2:58

Well, Frank obviously had a great sense of humor and you being able to tour with him for all those years. What an honor and in what a validation of how important a stand up comic you are. Tom, thanks so much for sharing your humor with us today.

Unknown: 3:13

Thank you, Scott. It's always great being with you. Thanks for

Jill Edwards: 3:16

listening to this week's episode of comedy appetizers. Be sure to share with family and friends and we will see you this Sunday for our regular podcast, your host and emcee. And again next Friday for another episode of comedy appetizers. Bye