| Gil
has been working on the stage since his early school years.
After majoring in Theatre Arts at Colorado State University,
and starring in dozens of productions there, Gil moved on
to Stand Up and Improvisational comedy in California. He
appeared in theatrical productions of plays and sketch comedy,
did two seasons of work at Disneyland, and has toured with
Leslie Uggams and Louise Duart in a special stage show for
Pontiac Automotive. And if you consider that all the world
is a stage, Gil's resume is pretty big |
Gil & Dick Benjamin laugh it up while Leonard Stern, Stanley Rubin, Larry Gelbart and Carl Reiner yawn.
Arthur Hiller pays tribute to Leonard Stern while Gil yawns
Gil
& Harlan Williams, standup and actor who
co-starred with Gil in an episode of the hit TV series
"My Name is Earl"
  
Check
These Out:
STAND-UP COMEDY
After Hours
IMPROV
W/Johnathan Winters
and More
STAGE
Balloon Man
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GIL
ON STAGE AT DISNEYLAND
Gil worked a few seasons at Disneyland as Sam the Bartender
in the Golden Horseshoe Review in Frontierland. It was
a great experience, doing 6 shows daily, with singing
and dancing as well as goofy family style comedy. Although
Disneyland management is known for its strict enforcement
of Disney rules, Gil was never hassled about his performance
or demeanor, and had a very good time being a part of
the Disney family.
Gil was hired to be in the stage show at the Golden Horseshoe
saloon after it was totally revamped, and cast members
who had worked in the show for literally dozens of years
were replaced for newer, different faces. Unfortunately
for Gil, he wasn't aware that he was part of this radical
re-staging, so many times during his tenure at Disneyland,
when he innocently told other employees that he was the
new Sam the Bartender, often people would stare very coldly
at him and say things like, "My good friend got fired
from that show after working there for 15 years." Gil
found a very chilly reception among several park employees.
Other than that, however, it was very exciting to be "backstage,"
behind the scenes at Disneyland. After many years of visiting
the park as a paying customer, Gil was thrilled to see
the inner most goings-on. One of the best parts of being
a Disney "cast member" was the incredibly cheap employee
cafeteria is secretly hidden under the Pirates of the
Caribbean ride. Not many park guests realize that there
is a whole underground of tunnels and passageways to Disneyland.
One
strict rule that Gil violated many times was to go on
the rides while he was on duty. There was usually 40 to
60 minute breaks between shows, so often Gil would change
into his civvies, run to one of the coaster rides and
ride it as many times as possible before having to head
back Frontierland to get into costume. The record was
going on Space Mountain 7 times in one lunch hour.
Unfortunately for Gil, he broke his foot doing his stand
up act at another club during his tenure at Disneyland,
and producers of the Horseshoe Show decided not to hire
him for another season. Of course it would have been impossible
to dance in a cast, so Gil is not bitter. Still, every
time he goes to Disneyland, he looks for the secret passage
ways to the underground tunnels!
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