Story and photos by Tom Loughlin Jr.
Hundreds of Central New Yorkers slogged though sub- zero temperatures
Saturday to hear broadcaster Jimmy Failla ‘s prescription for changing…
America’ contentious political atmosphere;; the “ Everybody L Lighten Up Tour”
The event, sponsored by local radio station WIBX, was part of the station’s
ongoing centennial celebration of continuous operation since it’ founding in 1925
Failla appears regularly on Fox Across America and the Fox News Network.
A former New York City cab driver, Failla has a three-hour mid-afternoon
radio show in the time slot formerly occupied by talk show pioneer, the late Rush Limbaugh.
Failla’s on-stage offerings to the Capitol Theater crowd followed his broadcast
format; commentary on current event politics peppered with anecdotes from his
event-filled life as a NYC taxicab driver and as a family man living inLevittown,,a Long Island suburb of NY City. Among the wisecracking ex-cabbie’s panacea’s for political panic in the land of the free was a return to the enjoyment of humor, making uproarious laughter socially acceptable, again, encouraging being able to make fun of one another…especially of ourselves.
The event began with a “warm up” humor set by Ilion native Kristen
Karney…after which show promoter Bill Keeler introduced honorary emcee Ann
Cosentino of Rome., Cosentino, an avid Failla fan and frequent caller to
Keeler’s morning talk radio show was on record as having bought the first ticket to the show when they went on public sale.
Cosentino, a recent cancer survivor met her her favorite entertainer center-
stage when Failla strode out to begin his show accompanied by raucous
applause from his eager and now thoroughly thawed-out fans.
True to his broadcast show form, Failla wrapped the stage show with a lively session of audience questions and commentary.
A post event “meet and greet” autograph session in the Capitol Theater lobby gave scores of Failla fans with heartwarming keepsake to carry with them out of the Capitol and into the biting sub-zero co cold which greeted them outside.
