Sandra Tsing Loh profiles Shelley Berman in the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles (“Inside Shelley Berman, Again”):
Further, while Shelley’s famously not a fan of ringing phones, in a cruel twist of fate (as a producer, the phrase “bowels turn to ice” comes to mind), during Shelley’s performance not one– but three– cellphones go off. Three! (Including one whose owner left the building 24 hours ago.) But even here he finds humor. Removing the cell phone from one young man, he says: “I’ll hold it for you. To get it back later, all you have to do is kiss me… ” Long cross back to stage… “Some place.”
Photo at left is from late 1999. The plucky editors of this publication found themselves in Las Vegas for 18 hours with nothing to do, a Polaroid camera and the knowledge that a comedy legend was appearing on The Strip.
He graciously posed for this pic, gave us his email address and we interviewed him.