State-Journal.com - Comedian to help furry friends

Photo By Kelly Mackey

Betty Martin, president of L.I.F.E. House for Animals, poses with comedian Carl Hurley. Hurley will be performing at the L.I.F.E. House for Animals Benefit at Spindletop Hall May 15, 2009.

When Carl Hurley enters a room, the energy changes.

At first, a modest smile, casual handshake, the usual pleasantries.

It takes a moment.

Then, out of nowhere, Hurley drops a one-liner, and the laughter begins.

From that point, there’s rarely a break in the humor.

Billed as “America’s Funniest Professor,” Carl Hurley will be featured at a benefit for Frankfort’s L.I.F.E. House for Animals, May 15, at Spindletop Hall in Lexington.

L.I.F.E. House stands for Let Important Friends Exist. It was established in 1997 as a no-euthanasia pet adoption facility. The non-profit is run by trained volunteers and is dedicated to finding loving homes for pets in need.

Betty Martin, L.I.F.E. House president, says this is its first fundraiser at Spindletop.

“We totally rely on the community for support. We are so excited to have a known celebrity to join in support of our dream.”
Hurley is being sponsored by Michael C. Davenport, founder and “proud supporter of L.I.F.E. House.”

Joe Johnson, a retired state government worker involved in many community activities, came up with the idea of bringing Hurley to town. He says he feels a special connection to Hurley - “it’s like meeting an old friend” - as he and his wife have listened to Hurley’s comedy tapes for years.

The money raised from the benefit, says Johnson, will go for the daily care and nurturing of animals sheltered at the facility.
Carl Hurley, 68, is originally from the Rockcastle River area in Laurel County and considers himself an “Appalachian storyteller.”

He lived for a while in Indian Hills in Frankfort, and credits a “dull job” with state government as his springboard to comedy. He started interspersing humor to make his work more interesting, and continued that delivery style while a professor at Eastern Kentucky University.

Word got around, and he began receiving invitations to speak at other events. He finally left teaching in 1982 to join the comedy circuit.

Today Hurley spends a third of the year on the road. He has traveled internationally and to every state in the nation.
Except Wyoming.

“I don’t believe there is anybody out there.”

Hurley attributes his brand of humor to an ability to laugh at himself and to find something funny about every day life.

“My humor is not vulgar, not offensive and not meant to embarrass but to entertain.”

In keeping with the tone of his performance, there will be no cash bar at the event.

Hurley hopes to give everyone a good time at the May 15 benefit, and reminds us that humor is healthy.

“It reduces stress and raises morale,” he says. “And on a day when it’s most difficult to laugh – that’s when the need to laugh is the greatest.”

Hurley says he is a “cat-person by marriage,” and is happy to help with the L.I.F.E. House mission.

And on a rare serious note, he says, “I would not perform for a charity I didn’t believe in.”

Serious moment over, Hurley begins to tell about his beloved wife of 46 years. He’s in deadpan.

“The only thing we have in common is that we got married on the same day.”

It takes a moment…

…and the laughter breaks out again.

Tickets for the Silent Auction and Dinner are:
$65 single; $120 couple
For tickets (or donations) to the L.I.F.E. House Benefit, contact:
Joe Johnson, 110 Rutherford Drive, Frankfort 40601 KY
Phone: 502-695-9166 or 695-4560
Email: joecheryljohnson@aol.com.

L.I.F.E. House
Location: 14 Fido Court - Prevention Park
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday 8 a.m. to Noon
Telephone: 502-875-FIDO
Website: www.lifehouse4animals.org