Modified On October 10, 2008
Sam Arif died yesterday from liver cancer.
So we learned in a brief a email from Steve Young, the proprietor of the defunct Comedy Works (the club that was over The Middle East Restaurant in Old City Philadelphia from approximately 1982 to 1992 or so). Young called Arif, “The best Wednesday night open stage coordinator EVER.”
When The Male Half decided to try comedy for the very first time, he did the open mike at the Works on a Wednesday night in mid-October 1981. The man who wrangled the talent and handed out the spots was Sam Arif. He was kind, wise and gentle. Eventually, he fled to Florida and turned over the Wednesday night duties to Jim Levi, a member of the local comedy group Mixed Nuts.
The Male Half saw Arif one more time. It was during one of his first road gigs, at the Comic Strip in Lauderdale. Arif showed up and watched a show. And, of course, offered some constructive criticism afterward!
Arif was also was among eight acts on the first live standup show that The Male Half ever attended.