Riggle maintains = clean comedy act - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Randy Riggle is ready to graduate from college.=20

For the past 15 years, the comedian has been a = regular on=20 the campus circuit, performing for students from Seton = Hill=20 University and St. Vincent College to the Universities = of=20 California and Hawaii.=20

His reputation as a "clean" performer -- purposely = leaving=20 four-letter words and off-color humor out of his act = in the=20 interest of good taste -- made him a popular booking = for=20 student activities planners and collegiate = administrators.=20

With almost 250 colleges and universities among his = list of=20 venues played, Riggle, of Lone Pine, Washington = County,=20 is about to focus his comedy career on another = generation of=20 audiences -- baby boomers and beyond.=20

His "Nostalgia Show," which he brings Wednesday to = the=20 Palace Theatre, Greensburg, captures funny stories and = warm=20 memories of three decades -- the '40s, '50s and '60s = -- that=20 are close to his heart.=20

"Each one of the three decades had a war -- World = War II,=20 Korea and Vietnam -- and they all involve someone = special to=20 me," he says. His tribute to veterans is an important = part of=20 his show that includes a moving, multimedia slide = segment.=20

In his routine, he also helps his audiences recall=20 performers from past generations by revisiting classic = comedy=20 routines such as Abbott and Costello's "Who's on = First?" drill=20 and Jerry Lewis' slapstick performance from his 1963 = movie,=20 "Who's Minding the Store?"=20

Riggle also offers a range of impersonations in his = act,=20 from Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and Bing Crosby to = Beaver=20 Cleaver, Marvin the Martian and Kermit the Frog.=20

Riggle's fascination for comedians from generations = past=20 sometimes makes him think he was meant to live in = those times.=20

"I always felt I was born in the wrong time," he = says. "All=20 the people I emulate are from that era."=20

His comedy heroes include Red Skelton, whom he = calls "my=20 inspiration and the reason I'm in this business." He = says he=20 met Skelton twice, once backstage at the former = Stanley=20 Theater in Pittsburgh. "He spent 10 minutes with me = and really=20 encouraged me," Riggle says.=20

His other favorite entertainers include Johnny = Carson, Bob=20 Hope, Elvis Presley and the Beach Boys.=20

He has sharpened his stand-up skills by performing = opening=20 monologues or performing with the likes of Ellen = DeGeneres,=20 Louie Anderson, Dennis Miller, Jerry Seinfeld, Carrot = Top,=20 Weird Al Yankovic and Gallagher. He also has written = material=20 for comedians including Jay Leno and Joan Rivers.=20

He says he has patterned his G-rated comedy image = after=20 Skelton and Milton Berle, who "worked clean. They = didn't have=20 a choice. It was a way of life back then."=20

He says the way he performs also reflects the way = he=20 chooses to live his life.=20

"It's not only an act, but a lifestyle," says = Riggle, whose=20 career has allowed him to take care of his parents and = grandparents. His Web site -- www.standupcomedian.com = --=20 includes a tribute to his mother, Virginia C. Riggle, = who died=20 on June 4.=20

Riggle hopes to venture out into more clubs and = theaters=20 with his "Nostalgia Show," hoping that his comedy = "trip down=20 memory lane" will be a popular destination for = audiences of=20 his parents' and grandparents' generations.=20

"Randy's act features a clean, refreshing approach = to humor=20 as he is a favorite in both Christian and secular = markets,"=20 says Teresa Bachman, spokeswoman for the Palace = Theatre.=20

"If I have a gimmick," Riggle says. "It's that I = have a=20 clean show that everybody can go to."=20

'Summer in the City' = Celebration=20

Randy Riggle's one-man "Nostalgia Show" at the = Palace=20 Theatre kicks off a five-day celebration of "Summer in = the=20 City" in Greensburg. Sponsored by the Greensburg = Business=20 Assoication, the event includes special activities = each day.=20 Highlights include:=20

Wednesday: "Nostalgia Show" with Randy = Riggle,=20 Palace Theatre, 7 p.m.=20

July 13 : "Thank Goodness It's Summer," with = music=20 by Common Bond and Megan Intermission Suite, Palace = Theatre,=20 6-9:30 p.m.=20

July 14: Concerts in the Park, featuring = Luce, St.=20 Clair Park, 7-9:30 p.m.=20

July 15: Activities include free = horse-and-buggy=20 rides in downtown Greensburg; storytime, crafts and = puppet=20 show from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Greensburg-Hempfield = Library; live=20 entertainment from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the parklet on = Pennsylvania Avenue; martial-arts demonstrations and = medieval=20 activities sponsored by Society of Creative = Anachronism at DV8=20 Espresso Bar & Gallery. A self-guided garden tour = of=20 Academy Hill Historic District from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. is = $10. For=20 reservations, call 724-836-0906.=20

July 16: BBQ Brunch, noon-2:30 p.m. at = Greensburg=20 Garden & Civic Center. $15. For reservations, call = 724-836-3074 or 724-836-1123. Activities at St. Clair = Park=20 include Sadecky's Puppets at 5:30 p.m., car cruise = show at 6=20 p.m., music by Johnny Angel & the Halos at 7 p.m., = food=20 booths and prize auctions.=20