Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 LOCAL
Tuesday 17 July 2018
Ray Ellin, comedian, host and producer:
‘It Feels Good’

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