By day, Mike Murphy is a real estate broker but by night he is a comedian who has entertained and made many a Sun Valley visitor and resident cry from laughter for more than 34 years.
But after 12 years in the Boiler Room and many years of being flown to fundraising events, private parties and other entertainment venues, Murphy is retiring.
"Everybody has been so good to me that I have been doing my shows for free at Sun Valley," he said. "It's been a lot of fun."
Murphy said he originally wanted to be a pro guitar player.
"In college, I performed at Disneyland and would do my homework at the bar in between performances in a club in Newport Beach," he said.
After being in bands and part of a duo in Newport Beach, he ended up as a solo performer. His act started to include more comedy.
"Comedy crept in with more impersonations," he said. "I enjoy making people laugh."
Murphy said his jokes are invented from life experiences, marriages, living in Idaho and kids.
"I hate being repetitive," he said.
He has written down his jokes since 1972. From time to time, he said, he has gone through his boxes of loose-leaf paper, which serve as his archives. He has done four-hour shows and up to seven-hour shows without repeating.
Murphy's routine stays original because he's a news junky. Reading several papers a day and checking in with national news shows, Murphy said he's always skimming headlines for material.
He said that for 38 years, he lived off his Stagecoach routine, which was written in conjunction with Tim Thomerson, his comedy partner in Newport Beach and who also lived in the Wood River Valley.
"I would change the routine year to year," Murphy said. "It was a running gag about being kicked off a Horizon airline plane, kicked out of Zenergy, kicked out of a Blaine County police car or being kicked out of Graceland."
Murphy said he likes to get as close to the edge as possible with his jokes without falling over. He also said he only uses a four-letter word for punch.
"I have to gauge an audience first before I try a joke," he said.
He rehearsed for a month before taking the stage this year.
Murphy will perform every Wednesday at the Sun Valley Resort Boiler Room at 6 p.m. for free through the winter season. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Mike Murphy has been a comedian in Sun Valley for more than 34 years. This winter will be his last season performing at the Sun Valley Resort. Photo by Willy Cook
