Comedian Gallagher to perform Saturday

Some might say comedian Leo Gallagher's performance Saturday will be simply smashing.

Performing under the stage name Gallagher, he is a prop comedian, meaning he brings a number of objects on stage with him during the performance.

Not all of them, however, make it off the stage -- at least, not in their original condition. That's because Gallagher uses a Sledge-O-Matic, the name he's given the giant mallet he wields during the act, to pulverize objects throughout the show.

Most of the items he smashes are food, culminating with a watermelon.

The wooden mallet sends bits and pieces of the food flying into the audience, and spectators in past shows have brought protective sheets of plastic to shield themselves from flying debris.

Gallagher, 68, has been performing with the Sledge-O-Matic since the 1970s. The act originally was designed as a parody of advertisements for the Ronco Veg-O-Matic, a kitchen appliance that was marketed via television advertising in the mid-1960s through the 1970s.

During his act, Gallagher uses a play on words to point out the idiosyncrasies in the English language. He graduated with a minor in English from the University of South Florida.

He also uses several other objects in the show, including a giant trampoline designed to look like a couch.

Gallagher has starred in comedy specials since 1980 and has toured extensively, performing in comedy clubs, during his career.

Gallagher has made 14 one-hour specials for the Showtime cable network.

His stop in Cape Girardeau is part of the 24-city "Gallagher's Jokes on You Comedy Tour."

To view his comedic style, visit gallaghersmash.com.

A portion of the ticket sales proceeds will go to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Sikeston.

Cape Girardeau resident Carlos Nelson, who is promoting the event, came up with the idea of having a portion of the proceeds donated to the food bank after he took a tour of the facility and realized there are children in the area who didn't have enough to eat.

"I didn't know that they packed backpacks with food to send home with schoolchildren on Fridays," he said.

Missy Rice, chief communications officer for the food bank, said the organization has promoted the event on social media and is excited about the donation of proceeds.

"We really appreciate their efforts," she said.

Gallagher will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Arena Building.

Tickets, which are $25, may be purchased at the arena box office the day of the show. More information is available by calling Nelson at 469-418-4655.

Pertinent address:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.