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  • “The Gong Show” was revived locally on Friday at the Granada Center for the Performing Arts in Mt. Vernon. The show featured acts that were originally on “The Gong Show” as well as original acts. Here, Tom Schroeder, Barbara Hengle and Mike Beard rate a performer. RORYE O'CONNOR/REGISTER-NEWS

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November 16, 2009

'The Gong Show' revived at Granada

By RORYE O’CONNOR

roryeoconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON— A man impersonating a steamroller was just three points away from winning it all.

The Granada Center for the Performing Arts held its own version of “The Gong Show” Friday night before a crowd of about 50 people from the community.

Two acts tied for first place. Wes Halfacre, performing “Cryin’” by Roy Orbison, and Harold Buford, Blonbell Buford, Evette Jones and Angela Nesbitt performing the Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk” tied with perfect scores for first place, winning tall red and gold trophies.

Board member David Lister acted as host, donning a variety of hats before he introduced each act.

“The Gong Show” Judges Tom Schroeder, Granada board member, Barbara Hengle, Granada board vice president and Mike Beard rated groups on a scale from one to 10.

Several acts got “gonged” off early into their act, including Granada board member Linda Williams.

“I’m going to sing ‘The Donut Song,’” Williams said before going onstage. “I am just the opposite of Susan Boyle, where she went on and no one thought she was going to be any good. I’m going to act like I can sing opera, but I can’t sing a lick.”

Williams sang her song about baked goods to the tune of “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider,” drawing the play acted ire of the judges.

One favorite act of the judges was the Rend Lake College Thespian Club’s performance of The Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me.” The club made it all the way through their dance performance without getting gonged, to their surprise.

Kearah Wressler, who performed in the racy ensemble, said she enjoyed the “lighthearted” atmosphere at the event.

“It’s a decent amount of people here,” she said. “I had a lot of fun performing with my classmates, and I’m surprised we made it that far, too.”

Mike Launay performed as “Mr. Impersonator,” eliciting near-constant loud laughter from the crowd. Dressed in all black, complete with a black beret, he impersonated a flower, a rain drop, a steamroller and a bull. He used members of the audience during his steamroller and bull impersonations.

Halfacre, who won for his rendition of “Cryin’,” said he loved “The Gong Show” anyway, so he was pleased to take part.

“I really appreciate the judges voting for me,” he said. “It’s the first Gong Show, so it’s good to win.”

Granada board members said they hope to have more “episodes” of the show in the future.

“I was surprised by the talent of the acts,” Hengle said. “We’re hoping to have more. We think it will be a regular thing... it was the most fun I’ve had all year!”

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Anne Craig, director of the Illinois State Library and Dennis DeRosset, executive director of the Illinois Press Association presented an award to Yaro Hospodarsky of Ina for his work as volunteer with the Adult Literacy Program at Rend Lake College. Hospodarsky was one of 20 winners throughout the state of Illinois who were recognized for their work in the 2012 Spotlight Literacy Awards.

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