April 2, 2019 ‒ The Jester Has Lost His Jingle author-artist David Saltzman loved April Fool’s Day. A phunster through and through, in high school he enjoyed putting together hand-made calendars that always poked fun at the day ‒ usually adding in April 31 to the silly calendar.
In that spirit, The Jester & Pharley Phund has been celebrating April 1 as a “phund-raiser” in early April (or late March) at The Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach for the last seven years. The club generously opens its heart to nonprofits on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, allowing groups like The Jester & Pharley Phund to keep the proceeds from ticket sales. And friends come by the dozens to spend a couple hours eating great food and sipping great drinks to laugh the night away ‒ and donate copies of The Jester book and Jester & Pharley Dolls to young patients.
Headliner Ian Bagg looked, almost seriously, at the sea of audience members wearing Jester & Pharley Phund buttons. “Who are all you people?” he asked the crowd that had been guffawing at all his jokes and antics. So, Phund founder Barbara Saltzman stood up. “We help children with cancer laugh again with my late son’s children’s book,” she said. Bagg didn’t pause a second. “Well, tonight, I’ll be selling some of my special limited-edition T-shirts after the show,” he said. “I’d be happy to donate all those proceeds to The Jester & Pharley Phund.” And he did. So, in addition to The Jester books and dolls sent to patients from entrance fees, even more young patients received Jester smiles from Ian Bagg.
Memories from the 2019 PhunNight at The Comedy & Magic Club
