Listen to storyteller Shock, you might laugh until you cry

By Jerry Fink

Friday, July 31, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Genius storyteller Ron Shock headlines Bonkerz comedy club this week.

The 66-year-old Las Vegas resident will have you in tears as he relates incidents from his colorful life and observations about the world around him — such as evangelist Oral Roberts being visited by a 90-foot Jesus.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” says the legendary comic, who had a rocky start, doing several stints in prison before changing his ways. He began selling encyclopedias after his final stretch behind bars.

“I had a knack for sales. I was a wunderkind. I loved books. I read a tremendous amount in the penitentiary,” he says. “They don’t care if you have a college degree or you’re an ex-con, as long as you can produce and make them money.”

He became a national sales trainer and vice president in charge of sales for a publishing company. He started a book distributing company in Sydney, Australia, and eventually moved his family to Houston, where he enrolled in college and took a theater course.

He was doing a skit in class when he was spotted by Hayden Rorke, who played the psychiatrist on the TV series “I Dream of Jeannie.”

“He takes me to lunch and out of the clear blue sky said I should be a stand-up comic,” says Shock, who speaks with a slow drawl.

Shock, who was raised in New Mexico and Oklahoma, tried performing at the Comedy Workshop in Houston and bombed but was inspired to pursue comedy as a career.

That was 1983. In the past 26 years, his storytelling prowess has become legendary.

For a sample of his wit go to myspace.com/ronshockcomedy.

Details: 8 and 10 p.m. today and Saturday; Bonkerz at Palace Station; $29.95 (Nevada residents receive $10 off the ticket price with valid ID); 367-2411

Country show moves to Primm

The Country Superstars Tribute show, which recently closed after two years at Fitzgeralds, opened this week at Whiskey Pete’s Showroom in Primm.

The show was created by music director Ronnie Lee Keel and producer Leonard Quenneville.

Cast members include Keel as Ronnie Dunn, Leonard Wayne as Kix Brooks, Corrie Sachs as Reba McEntire, Eric York as Garth Brooks, Roy Hammock as Willie Nelson, Dave Hoover as Tim McGraw, Brian Pop as Kenny Chesney and Johnny Potash as Charlie Daniels. Each evening’s show features four or five of the tribute acts backed by a live band.

Details: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; Whiskey Pete’s, Primm; $21.95; (800) 386-7867, primmvalleyresorts.com. After each Friday and Saturday show, the Country Superstars Tribute band hosts an after party from 10 p.m. to midnight in Whiskey Pete’s Lounge.

Around town

Art Vargas and his band the Swank Set will resurrect vintage Vegas during a free concert from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Bootlegger. The Detroit native’s Bobby Darin tribute eventually landed in Las Vegas, appearing in “Legends in Concert.” In recent years Vargas has toured the country with a tribute to the personable entertainment that once dominated Vegas ... “Tickled Pink” has thrown its hat into Las Vegas’ ever-expanding comedy ring, with performances at 8:30 p.m. Sundays at the Harmon Theatre inside Krave. The show is hosted by comedian Shayma Tash. This week’s lineup features Kate Rigg, Mal Hall, Mark Ellis and Penny Wiggins. The Aug. 9 roster includes Matt Fulchiron, Matt Bragg and Melinda Hill ... Comedian John Mendoza headlines the Riviera Comedy Club Aug. 10-16. The supporting lineup includes Jill-Michele Melean and Traci Skene.