Page 16 - ATA

A13
Friday 16 March 2018

Ray Ellin, comedian, host and producer:
‘It Feels Good’

By Linda Reijnders and during his shows in the what I want to do. It was
PALM BEACH - “It feels evenings making people very clear to me. My first
good to make others feel laugh. “It is a great feeling, performance was when
good.” Ray Ellin is a kind a positive affirmation. You I was 11 years old, during
of half Aruban so to speak. know that you make other 6th grade graduation, and
Well, he lives here almost people feel good and that it went well. After that I did
half the year and his nick- makes you feel good. There standup at summer camp
name is Aruba Ray. The is just one big positive vibe and school talent shows.”
American comedian, host in the room. Of course that When he was 15 years old,
and producer lives the oth- feeds your ego. It’s great Ray performed at night-
er half of the year in New energy.” clubs in Boston. He would
York. He just finished pro- take the train by himself
ducing a new TV show for Big Names to downtown Boston to
Comedy Central, which The comedians he brings comedy clubs in pretty ter-
will air in the fall. Here at here are not just any names. rible neighborhoods. “One
One Happy Island he cre- They are very experienced, was in a neighborhood
ated, produced, and hosts very talented performers, called ‘The Combat Zone.’
a very successful nightly who have been on dozens A fifteen year old had no
live stand-up comedy of TV shows and movies. business being there,” he
show through his company This run of shows will include laughs. He kept performing,
Aruba Ray, called Aruba Chuck Nice, Christine Hur- and got better and better,
Ray’s Comedy, which is at ley, Lenny Marcus, Tony V, determined in following his
the Marriott Resort & Stel- Pete Lee, Tony Woods, Joe passion.
laris Casino. Aruba Today Vega, Mike Vecchione,
was curious about the man Ricky Velez, Yamaneika Ray studied Film at College
behind the laughs. Saunders, Gregg Rogell, and after that he moved to
Jessica Kirson, Jimmy Dunn, New York City. He acted in
“I really think I became Brian Scott McFadden, and many TV commercials, a
the number 1 ambassa- Dan Naturman will climb few films, hosted several
dor for Aruba in the States. the stage. And of course, TV shows, and was asked
When I am on different TV the shows are hosted by to produce a comedy
shows like on NBC and Fox Ray himself. These shows tour with Latino comedi-
I always talk about Aruba. I have become the most ans throughout the States.
love it, it’s a part of my soul.” popular thing to do at night “That gave me the idea of
He wants people to know in Aruba. An almost guar- making the movie. I pro-
how much he loves the is- antee to laugh your heart duced and directed ‘The flyers by hand. They were way ahead of its time. Peo-
land and does the best out. Latin Legends of Comedy’ just terrible. The other mov- ple called in from all over
he can to promote it. He which I financed with 6 ies had beautiful posters, I the world to interact with
also brings big name com- Little Ray credit cards. While I was in had these lousy paper fly- my guests, who were big
ics here that are followed “When I was 11 years old, the middle of making the ers. A week after the festi- big stars. It did really well,
by many, many people. I used to watch Saturday film, someone called to tell val a guy called me from was fun, got a lot of great
He takes the comedians Night Live and also the To- me that only 2 or 3 percent a movie studio: “Can you press and amazing guests.
around to show them the night Show. When I was of all movies that are made send me a copy of your After that show finished I
Aruba outside the resort. nine I vividly remember end up being sold. But for- movie. I picked up your needed a break, and end-
Ray is happy here, during watching SNL and thought: tunately, I sold it to 20th flyer at the festival and I ed up having a trip to Aru-
the day enjoying his Aruba what is this, this is great.” Century Fox. During the thought it looked interest- ba. I fell in love with Aruba,
Little Ray made kids laugh opening weekend, the film ing’. You never know where and that is where this jour-
in school, as well as rela- finished third in per-screen the magic might occur!” ney started.”
tives when he was only 3 or average behind Oscar win- Ray laughs out loud. Before The Aruba Ray’s Comedy
4 years old. “I got that from ners The Last King of Scot- Ray had his successes, he Shows have started again
my mother, I would see her land and The Queen.” The had day jobs like bartend- with shows until March 29th
entertaining people in our movie could have been ing and waiting tables. (some days are off, check
house when I was a kid. She bigger, Ray says, but he He even sold uniforms to the schedule atwww.Aru-
is very outgoing and funny, did it all by himself and was mailmen, did all kinds of baComedy.com). Curious
and a classical pianist, so I kind of burnt out. The suc- jobs while in the evenings about Ray and his fellow
kind of picked stuff up from cess of the film was meant he performed in different comedians? Visit the show
her. It was positive and fun, to be: “I was at this film comedy clubs in New York. and let your smiles flow. To
I loved it.” He told his dad festival, and the other film He found Aruba after finish- Ray it is all clear: “If I am
that he wanted to be a co- makers all brought large ing working on a TV show: not on stage for a week I
median, and of course he support staffs. I was sitting in “I hosted the talk show Late feel weird, it’s a part of my
was not too wild about the an office in the hotel alone, Net for a while, a live show system. Eating, breathing,
idea. “But I told him: this is cutting my movie promo for the internet, which was performing.”q