Algonquin Roundtable Incarnate

13 October, 2003 , New York City -- The Algonquin Roundtable of the Roaring Twenties came back to life at O'Lunney's Irish Pub in the middle of Times Square , New York City on Monday night reincarnated as the O'Lunney's/Comen International Roundtable. The "Vicious Circle" was reborn as the " Compassionate Circle " with a whole new set of players, a whole new set of rules. Dubbed by Howard Comen, founder of the new Roundtable, "a politics-free-speech monthly dinner where the left wings and right wings will be but parts of the Great American Eagle," he hopes it'll be the start of a history-in-the-making gathering of like-minded associates in a social circle ... and perhaps continuing his work on the path toward his many philanthropic ventures.

In light of busy lives, the changes post-Sept. 11 brought about and the technology of the 21st century, the new circle of players have precious little time to luxuriate in hotel rooms, nurse hangovers and partake of "long liquid lunches" as did the original Roundtablers. So the lingering lounging of the early 20th century has been replaced with a new millennium once-a-month Irish buffet hosted by the infamous Hugh O'Lunney and Howard Comen, where an eclectic mix of professionals will meet to join forces and open up to be led by the muses to inspire and use their talents collectively to help each other achieve success in their many endeavors.

The brainchild of the legendary Times Square restaurateur Hugh O'Lunney and private eye Howard Comen of the Comen International Detective Agency, the Roundtable was organized to be a social circle with teeth, a sort of return to the concept of legendary King Arthur to assemble a group of fighters for truth, justice, and social impact on society.

They may never rule the New York literati landscape - two might come, twenty might show up - but the purpose of this eclectic mix of professional people may achieve more positive things than the Algonquin Roundtable of the '20s did for their community. After all, it was to be witty, caustic, antagonizing and to carry on cunning conversation that drove the wits of the famous "Gonk" that was their purpose... to merge minds for creative writing that eventually turned into collaborations, both personally and professionally.

"Jazzy lines and bon mots" aside, detective Howard Comen opened the evening with a brief discussion of the new Roundtable concept as opposed to and coinciding with the idea of the original Algonquin Roundtable. Comen's elegant brochures outlined a brief history of the Algonquin Roundtable, which has become an American axiom used regularly even in today's TV sitcoms.

The 1994 film, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle gave most of us a glimpse into this famous club, but suffice it to say it all began with Dorothy Parker. When she was unfairly dismissed from Vanity Fair, Robert Benchley followed her out the door. Soon after, they started a writing firm they dubbed "Park-Bench" and began meeting with a group of intellectual writers during lunch at New York 's Algonguin Hotel that would become known as the Algonguin Roundtable.

With "members" such as writer/poet/critic, Parker, Harold Ross (founder of The New Yorker) and Robert Benchley; columnists Franklin Pierce Adams and Heywood Broun, and Broun's wife, Ruth Hale; critic Alexander Woollcott; comedian Harpo Marx; and playwrights George S. Kaufman, Marc Connelly, Edna Ferber, and Robert E. Sherwood, the Algonquin Roundtable embodied an era and changed forever the face of American humor. Eventually they became so famous, their luncheons began to attract an ever-fluctuating gathering of luminaries such as Tallulah Bankhead, Ring Lardner, Noel Coward and other notable figures in literary and theatrical circles - which strongly influenced writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway - and an audience of onlookers, always curious to capture the next quip.

We "asked simply sheaves of divine people to come..."

The 15 or so attendees at the inaugural O'Lunney's/Comen International Roundtable partook of a traditional Irish buffet of corned beef and cabbage as they perused first edition books and other memorabilia of famous original Roundtable attendees and notables Dorothy Parker, Harold Ross, George S. Kaufman, Harpo Marx, Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. "If you touch the books of these writers, maybe their spirits will inspire," said Comen to the Roundtablers of the future.

Then this 21st Century Roundtable took on a life of its own. Legendary radio talk show host, one of THE most clever wordsmiths alive today, Barry Farber, livened up the evening with jokes that had the new Roundtablers howling with laughter. Barry's weekly column at NewsMax.com is one of their most popular... Barry can charm a fly off a buzzard, as they say, and this southern gentleman's unconventional life story in broadcasting has been an inspiration to some of the greatest radio stars on the planet - not the least of which Howard Stern says Barry is one of his biggest influences.

True to Parker's adage as Mrs. Parker herself understood the ephemerality of conversational humor - "Wit has truth in it," she said. "Wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words" - the Roundtable was entertained by Dr. Joyce E. Braak an amazing woman, who dominated the evening with stories of her fascinating journeys as head of surgery in Kabul during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan . Injecting wry and dry, antic and offbeat humour into her stories, the attendees caught the spirit, drive, and ambition of the original Algonquin Roundtable.

Also in attendance was Alan I. Samuels, Ph.D., consultant in security-related technology. So you can imagine how fascinating it was to have them join the group in conversation!

Betty Dornheim, Doris Humphrey and Virginia Robins were honored for their help on the Comen International Detective Agency Great Gatsby Investigation and presented with the "Elizabeth Baron Extra Mile Award." The award is named after internationally known trance medium Elizabeth Baron who has a reputation for her unselfish help to the Comen International Detective Agency and law enforcement throughout the world. The award will honor people at the monthly O'Lunney/Comen International Roundtable that have gone the EXTRA MILE unselfishly for others.

Carl Limbacher, Lead reporter and Editor of Inside Cover at NewsMax.com, New York Times bestselling author enlivened the evening with discussions about his new book and all the goings-on at the ever changing American political front. Carl's career as a controversial journalist/reporter has been fast on the rise over the past several years as he's always the man with the latest scoop! One of the most popular guests of radio and TV talk shows today, Carl has carved out a niche in the news world that is unparalleled. His creative writing is expressive and well researched... just ask 90% of the radio talk show hosts in the country who rely on him to MAKE their show!

Richard Wellington, COO of Comen International, who has a true appreciation for the late great Gertrude Stein and is a world traveler, most recently exploring the far reaches of his lovely Fiancee, Jana Barry, helped his partner Howard Comen to organize the new Roundtable. His wife-to-be is the former owner of upscale women's fashion stores. Gorgeous Jana is a tennis pro, very much into the nutrition of body, mind and spirit. These two lovebirds were like a breath of a fresh air as they danced cheek-to-cheek, cooed and smooched well into the wee hours. The Roundtablers also enjoyed the company of some of the young Wellington family members, Shayna, Brad and Ben.

Sandy Frazier, Artist / Musician / NewsMax Publicist, the only female founder of the new Roundtable, will be its correspondent and publicist. Sandy is an artist who has exhibited in Soho with excellent reviews and throughout the country, a songwriter and singer whose album Resurrection is available on the Internet. By day, she is the exclusive publicist at NewsMax Media (Internet and hard copy magazine). Sandy 's unique, colourful, expressionist art has captured the imagination of her friends, family and peers and we're hoping she'll show up to the next Roundtable with her guitar.

John Frazier, an award-winning director of Country Music Videos flew in from Houston for the event and charmed everyone at the Roundtable with his magnetic personality. This young film director is an up-and-coming talent who has already begun to win the accolades of some of the hottest acts in Country music in Texas . John has a way of really getting inside the artists and characters of his video creations and takes a personal interest in every aspect of their expression, which was obvious to everyone that night. We predict John is headed for the CMAs and Grammys! And John was pleasantly surprised at the kinship he discovered with Hugh O'Lunney, a real true country music aficionado. Hugh knew almost as many stars of country as John!

Though this group is not "eager to create a legend out of their own banter, bon mots, insults, and decrees," it'll be interesting to see what the culmination of future roundtable dinner meetings bring. "We just hope to be 'one of the great examples of an American artists’ community and the effects it can have on its time,'" Howard Comen added as he gathered his friends, shook hands with Hugh O'Lunney and sauntered out into the gorgeous Autumn air of Times Square.

"It couldn't have been more thrilling."

"...couldn't have been more furious."

[View Pictures from the 10/13/2003 Dinner]

The O'Lunney's/Comen International Roundtable will meet the second Monday of every month. For more info on the O'Lunney/Comen International Roundtable contact Howard Comen at 843-571-2667, www.comeninternational.com or Sandy Frazier at 516-735-5468, sandy@mystic-art.com