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14-- PORT PERRY STAR -- Thursday, August 5, 1976 John Mac provides a messagewitha smile There are many ways to describe just what column- ist-writer John Mac is and what he does, but perhaps the term that describes him best is communicator. John's been communicat- ing for a living for most of his life, either as a salesman, comedian, writer, radio-tele- vision personality, and even actor, -and it's. provided an interesting, exciting life, if not profitable. "I communicate well with people. I get across to them. I suppose it's the only thing I've got going for me." -If getting across to other people is his main occupa- tion, humour with a touch of sarcasm is the tools he uses .. to accomplish what he wants to say. "I often don't intend to write anything funny--if I sit down specifically to write something funny, I can't. It usually starts with a mess- age....I've got something to say. I simply say it with humour. Humour almost always end up in there some- where." The ability to conform has apparently never been one of Mac's attributes, and that fact is often revealed in his columns. He'll handle con- troversial subjects, poke fun at sacred cows, and write openly . about subjects that many tend to sweep under the carpet. " The response is often neg- ative, but John takes it all in stride. '"That's what it's all about," he says. John'sindividualism showed way back when he was involved in radio. A talk show host on a U.S. radio station, John was irked by the station's staunch con- servative attitudes, particul- arly on religion. The station reflected the views of one of fundamentalist churches, and Mac's bosses were always attempting to force him to do religious pro- grams. Their suggestions became threats on Good Friday, how- ever, and he was given the ultimatum of doing some- thing on religion "or else." Mac hosted a rabbi. , John started out as a sales- man in Scotland. When Feary \ RRS > SORE BA Cras A SBE LENT 3 3 \ a \ <0 4 NN aN a John Mac behind typewriter: "It starts out as a message and hum things started to get tough, he moved to Canada with his "wife and three children--and $11 in his pocket. He worked on board a ship as a stocker for about four months, then did some *"door to door stuff' with a west coast company. Within a year, he moved up to manager and part owner, then sold out and got into the sales and manage- ment of a printing company. That and part ownership of a successful Vancouver rest- ....aurant turned into "a good. . buck' for Mac, but when the U.S.-owned printing comp- any "went bust, he lost his shirt. i He had just bought out his partner the year before, and tainer. He liked the night club work so much that he dropped most of his other interests. He got heavily involved in acting, and play-' ed the lead in a long-running play in Seattle. The play was to run for only nine weeks, but ran instead for 33 weeks. "Got good reviews, too," said John, "except for one of the critics." John was play- ing a Scottish character in the play, probably because he never lost his distinct, clear Scottish accent. "That one critic said my performance was good, but that my Scottish accent needs some brushing up." John is almost completely into writing now. He's work- ing on a book, and writes a column for three newspapers (including the Port Perry Star). He finds writing easy, and doesn't worry about "runn- ing dry". He claims that many people today don't take the interest or are G&S DISCOUNT ea our always seems to creep in there'. simply loosing the ability to communicate with others. "I just say what a lot of others would say if they made the effort," he said. He admits that what he's doing now is as much a gamble as anything else he's done. Surprisingly, the book he's writing is a serious novel. 'Although,' he shrugs, "it could turn out to be a big joke..." i was forced to sell. | neon | WARIETYMART | _ Mac sold radio time and package programming for dio, th t involved i radio writing. He joined the PORT PERRY PLAZA PORT PERRY, ONT. taff of a U.S. stati d did "Hayton daily commen: : PHONE 985-3322 tary-type show. He tried a television variety show, and fter bec ight a ensins & gl: Sunday Only Specials - August 8th after filling in for an enter- ¢ . ht DL INVEST Maple Leaf BUTTER 99 11b. La NOW! BOLOGNA po, | HOT DOG BUNS ed d | ? Acouple of whacks at 60z. pkg. 8's some firewood and it's back to the typewriter. iss Srey Jou 33 | SLICED HAM ¢ BUTTERMATE BREAD | i ] 1 | Ya 60z. pkg. 44 2402. 29* | | HEA] HE WEINERS SUGAR Jo ne 69" a. OOF BLITHE SPIRIT FOR 5 YEARS Noel Coward Aug. 3-7 -- INTEREST -- g is payable half yearly or BACON 51 49 C PLUS ORANGE hol may be left to compound 1ib. + oz. 2/45¢ Performance Times and Rates plus deposit Tues thruFri.......830p.m....... $4.00perperson BRARAEBRGOMN at cei. ....900p.m....... 4.50perperson . Wed Matinee | 300pm. 50 per person |INSURANCE WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES. JACKSON'S Poi: (416) 722-3741 AGENCY Watch for our specials this Sunday and every Sunday. . : 'aproject of the Lake Simcoe } LIMITED Project of thele 193 Queen St. Port Perry 11 AM. to 8 P.M. Ci let ------ 0730 el