Like so many of his fellow newspapermen and women, Bob Meddles needed a backup plan when his job as editor at the North Denver Tribune came to an end nearly a decade ago.
“I did everything from zoning to school board to human-interest stories,” Meddles said from his Denver home while preparing for the start of a busy 2014 on the road. “I had gone as far as I could go.”
He began writing jokes for a friend who was trying to break into stand-up comedy, but when his friend prodded Meddles to go on stage himself, the comedy world was short one joke writer.
“I did it once on stage, and I was hooked,” Meddles said.
A fortuitous meeting with another touring comic led to a string of appearances, and Meddles set a goal to get on a comedy stage 150 times a year. In 2006, he hit 153.
“She advanced my career by about three years,” he said.
Meddles now spends about 25 weeks each year on the road, and he’ll play venues from Florida to Alaska in 2014.
One of the first stops will be Saturday night at the Henry Strater Theatre for the first of four evenings of stand-up comedy this winter and spring at The Hank. Fellow Colorado comedian Brett Crandall will open Saturday’s show.
Future Comedy Nights will feature David Testroet with Eric Henderson (Feb. 8), Freddy Charles with Rusty Rutherford (March 1) and Spencer James with Mike Jones (May 3).
ted@durangoherald.com
If you go
Comedy Night at the Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., will feature headliner Bob Meddles with opening act Brett Crandall at 8 p.m. Saturday (doors open at 7:15 p.m.). Must be 18 or older to enter. Tickets cost $10 in advance/$12 at the door, available at the box office, by phone at 375-7160 or online at www.henrystratertheatre.com.
