Early "Captain Rowdy" Frank Lunney

Above, Frank Lunney performing at the Portuguese Peddler in Torrance, California circa 1977. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back during my college days, I worked as a phone solicitor for the Los Angeles Times selling the newspaper to South Bay residents. The "boiler room" was located in Redondo Beach, California.

Above, yours truly in San Francisco in 1978.

One of my co-workers was Frank Lunney.

Frank found his "calling" (pun intended) as a comedian while calling to sell the paper and cracking jokes in the process. It was here he got the idea to try out being a stand-up comic.

So, he contacted local bars and clubs to see if he can try out his act. He'd have me come along for photography and morale-boosting.


I was going through my old photo albums today and found some pictures of Frank on-stage. These are the earliest photos (around 1977-78) of the comic who became successful on the circuit as "Captain Rowdy" (sometimes spelled "Captain Rowdie" as the ad at left shows).

Above, another shot of Frank at the Portuguese Peddler. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Frank's appearance at the Portuguese Peddler was probably his first as a comic in a professional public setting. Another location was the Sweetwater Cafe in Redondo Beach, California. If memory serves, Frank performed when the band, Sweethearts of the Rodeo took breaks.

Above, Frank at the Sweetwater Cafe in Redondo Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Frank later went on to do talk radio and he currently does so during the wee hours of the night.

The above photos are some of his earliest comedic work (roughly 35 years ago). The rest is history.