TheBuzz
TheBuzz
DELVING into the obvious, it's beyond uncommon to do laundry along the Pali Highway during morning and afternoon rush hour. Or, for that matter, at any time. All the world’s a stage
—even Pali Hwy.Thursday and Friday of last week, however, windward commuters were treated to the site of two oddly dressed people doing just that in front of a Caesars 333 Cleaners panel van.
One was clad in a toga complete with laurel around his head. The other -- a man -- was dressed as "a Portuguese washer woman," according to company General Manager Theresa Paulette. (Sonny Chillingworth, Frank DeLima and several other local entertainers over the years have recorded a song entitled "Portuguese Washer Woman.")
She referred to the roadside theatrics as "highway entertainment."
"From what we can tell the crowd loved it," Paulette said, adding commuters were "honking, laughing, and waving."
Paulette said the publicity stunt was company President Jack Robinson's idea, which started as an in-store event in Caesars' six Oahu locations. She said the costumed couple would humor customers and survey them about the company's service.
They decided it was too cute to keep under wraps, "so why don't we take it to the road?" Paulette said.
The "actors" were identified as local comedian Mel Cabang, and Caesars maintenance supervisor Al DeRego.
"Everybody calls him 'Uncle Al,' he does everything," she said. Evidently "everything" includes wearing garishly colorful women's clothing in front of thousands of commuters.
(Cabang is on work furlough for his 1998 sentence of 51 months in prison on federal charges of gambling, money laundering and interstate transportation of betting paraphernalia.)
The publicity stunt, which Paulette said was "definitely cheaper than advertising," and intended to draw attention to the laundry and dry cleaning business, will not be limited to the Pali.
"We plan to probably be out Hawaii Kai side, and in a few other areas," she said, while the in-store appearances will also continue.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com