Page 14 - AHATA

A14 LOCAL
Wednesday 27 February 2019

Ray Ellin, comedian, host and producer:

‘It Feels Good’

her. It was positive and fun, er film makers all brought
I loved it.” He told his dad large support staffs. I was
that he wanted to be a co- sitting in an office in the ho-
median, and of course he tel alone, cutting my mov-
was not too wild about the ie promo flyers by hand.
idea. “But I told him: this is They were just terrible. The
By Linda Reijnders Aruba outside the resort. man will climb the stage. what I want to do. It was other movies had beautiful
“It feels good to make oth- Ray is happy here, during And of course, the shows very clear to me. My first posters, I had these lousy
ers feel good.” Ray Ellin is the day enjoying his Aruba are hosted by Ray himself. performance was when paper flyers. A week after
a kind of half Aruban so to and during his shows in the These shows have become I was 11 years old, during the festival a guy called
speak. Well, he lives here evenings making people THE MOST popular thing to 6th grade graduation, and me from a movie studio:
almost half the year and laugh. “It is a great feeling, do at night in Aruba – it is it went well. After that I did “Can you send me a copy
his nickname is Aruba Ray. a positive affirmation. You rated Number One on Trip standup at summer camp of your movie. I picked up
The American comedian, know that you make other Advisor in three different and school talent shows.” your flyer at the festival
host and producer lives the people feel good and that categories. You are almost When he was 15 years old, and I thought it looked in-
other half of the year in New makes you feel good. There guaranteed to laugh your Ray performed at night- teresting’. You never know
York. He just finished pro- is just one big positive vibe heart out. clubs in Boston. He would where the magic might oc-
ducing the first season of a in the room. Of course that take the train by himself cur!“ Ray laughs out loud.
television show for Comedy feeds your ego. It’s great Little Ray to downtown Boston to Before Ray had his suc-
Central called “This Week energy.” “When I was 11 years old, comedy clubs in pretty ter- cesses, he had day jobs
at the Comedy Cellar” (Ray I used to watch Saturday rible neighborhoods. “One like bartending and wait-
was one of the Executive Big Names Night Live and also the To- was in a neighborhood ing tables. He even sold
Producers), which was ex- The comedians he brings night Show. When I was called ‘The Combat Zone.’ uniforms to mailmen, did
tremely successful. Here at here are not just any nine I vividly remember A fifteen year old had no all kinds of jobs while in the
One Happy Island he cre- names. They are very expe- watching SNL and thought: business being there,” he evenings he performed in
ated, produced, and hosts rienced, very talented per- what is this, this is great.” laughs. He kept performing, different comedy clubs in
a very successful nightly formers, who have been Little Ray made kids laugh and got better and better, New York. He found Aruba
live stand-up comedy on dozens of tv shows and in school, as well as rela- determined in following his after finishing working on a
show through his company movies. This run of shows will tives when he was only 3 or passion. tv show: “I hosted the talk
Aruba Ray, called Aruba include Chuck Nice, Chris- 4 years old. “I got that from Ray studied Film at College show LateNet for a while,
Ray’s Comedy, which is at tine Hurley, Tony V, Pete my mother, I would see her and after that he moved a live show for the internet,
the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Lee, Judy Gold, Mike Vec- entertaining people in our to New York City. He act- which was way ahead of its
Casino. The comedy show chione, Robert Kelly, Ricky house when I was a kid. She ed in many tv commer- time. People called in from
is rated as Number One on Velez, Chloe Hilliard, Brian is very outgoing and funny, cials, a few films, hosted all over the world to inter-
TripAdvisor in three differ- Scott McFadden, Rachel and a classical pianist, so I several tv shows, and was act with my guests, who
ent categories, including Feinstein, and Dan Natur- kind of picked stuff up from asked to produce a com- were big big stars. It did re-
‘Best Nightlife Activity.” The edy tour with Latino co- ally well, was fun, got a lot
comedy shows have been medians throughout the of great press and amaz-
entertaining people for five States. “That gave me the ing guests. After that show
years. Today was curious idea of making the movie. finished I needed a break,
about the man behind the I produced and directed and ended up having a trip
laughs. ‘The Latin Legends of Com- to Aruba. I fell in love with
edy’ which I financed with Aruba, and that is where
“I really think I became 6 credit cards. While I was this journey started.”
the number 1 ambassa- in the middle of making
dor for Aruba in the States. the film, someone called The Aruba Ray’s Comedy
When I am on different TV to tell me that only 2 or 3 Shows have started again
shows like on NBC and Fox percent of all movies that with shows until April 3rd
I always talk about Aruba. I are made end up being (some days are off, check
love it, it’s a part of my soul.” sold. But fortunately, I sold the schedule at www.Aru-
He wants people to know it to 20th Century Fox. Dur- baComedy.com). Curious
how much he loves the is- ing the opening weekend, about Ray and his fellow
land and does the best the film finished third in per- comedians? Visit the show
he can to promote it. He screen average behind Os- and let your smiles flow. To
also brings big name com- car winners The Last King of Ray it is all clear: “If I am
ics here that are followed Scotland and The Queen.” not on stage for a week I
by many, many people. The success of the film was feel weird, it’s a part of my
He takes the comedians meant to be: “I was at this system. Eating, breathing,
around to show them the film festival, and the oth- performing.”q