Cosby Charms Chilled Crowd

by Bernard Decker, The Knickerbocker News, August 31, 1968

You would be hard-pressed to convince about 7,000 persons that Bill Cosby is not the funniest man alive after his performance last night at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

ALMOST EVERY moment he was on that vast stage, Cosby had the audience laughing. Not just snickers or guffaws but deep, rumbling belly laughs.

And when you think over what he has used to make you laugh, you realize that it is — as he himself said — reality. He takes things that really happen and magically makes them hilarious. He has, as again he himself said, the secret.

Whether he discusses the pregnant woman who wakes her husband to have him feel the baby move. or the child who takes the blade of grass away from a sister because it’s hers, or the brothers who divide the bed between them, you are struck as much by the truth as the humor.

And part of his appeal is his stage presence. He is as casual in attitude as he is in dress (tan leather sport jacket, white pants, wild wide tie and boots). It’s just one of the guys down the street telling family jokes.

Cosby has his set routines, of course: Pregnancy, how grandparents spoil kids; trying out his new super duper souped up car; two brothers keeping their father awake with their antics in the bedroom. But he is no slouch at ad-libbing either.

He opened the night by bringing up on stage a young fellow who arrived late. After running through a very funny bit with him, Cosby commented: “You’re not the mayor’s son, are you? I don’t want the cops beating up on me now.” The association to Chicago was not lost on the audience.

IN ALL. RESPECTS, Cosby’s show was a professional one. He had a top-notch trio on hand for the first part of the show, led by pianist Jack Wilson. They not only played a fine number, “81” by Ron Carter, but provided excellent backing for a fine young vocalist, O. C. Smith.

Smith is notable particularly for one recording, “Hickory Hollow Tramp,” which he sang with the swinging beat it demands. He showed also that his deep voice can handle a ballad, singing one number unfamiliar to these ears. It is titled either “I’ll Stay Younger Than Spring” or “Beautiful Girl.” Whichever the title, it is a pretty song that was well sung.

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