Historic Blackface Parade Offends!

Looks like one of the comic clubs got in trouble again this year! The Daily News reported Saturday that the routine of the B. Love Strutters upset some. Why, we just can’t have tasteless jokes at this event that was forever a blackface parade! Let’s see what all the fuss is about:

The skit featured [Geno's Steaks owner Joey] Vento popping out of the top of a float labeled “Gewizno’s Steaks” with a “When ordering, speak English” sign. Vento waved a poster reading, “What?” and tossed fake cheesesteaks into the crowd.

Then an announcer for B. Love Strutters cried out, “Uh-oh, here comes the Border Patrol!” Club members wearing Texas-sized cowboy hats and brandishing wooden rifles pretended to hold back a rioting crowd of “immigrants” from storming the border “fences.” As the immigrants burst forth, they traded in their country’s flag for an American flag, and a Mummer dressed as President-elect Barack Obama handed out Green Cards.

Look, the immigrants came into this country and traded their home country’s flag for an American one, so it could have been worse. I really enjoyed (I think) Lori Delgado’s attempt to spin it positively, calling the skit “a celebration of diversity.” Vento, of course, was having none of that, as he hates diversity:

When asked about that characterization yesterday, the 69-year-old Vento said, “Diversity? It’s a celebration to get a message across that we love immigrants here, we just want you here legally and we want you to speak English.”

Ha, ha, it sure was. Erhm.

Did routine cross bad-taste border? [Daily News]

Something Is Rotten In The Market Of Reading Terminal

Nowadays, the only real cheesesteak news is how Joey Vento of Geno’s has singlehandedly destroyed the immigration bill, saving America from the Mexican menace. But there’s a new cheesesteak controversy: Rick’s Steaks has been kicked out of Reading Terminal.

Rick’s owner Rick Oliveri, who managed to supplant Geno’s as one of the Ashburn Alley steak vendors in Citizens Bank Park this season, says he’s being kicked out because, as president of the merchants’ association, negotiated longer hours and a few other things. Oliveri doesn’t say who’s angry — management? other vendors? — but he does say something is up: “I think it’s retaliation. It’s a concern for merchants, and as president, to make sure merchants are getting the best bang for the dollar at the Reading Terminal Market.”

Tony Luke’s will be replacing Rick’s at Reading Terminal after Rick’s vacates by July 31. I think we all know who’s to blame: The Pennsylvania Dutch. They’re always up to no good!

Long-Time Reading Terminal Merchant Gets the Boot [KYW 1060]
Mind your language at Geno’s [BBC]