Golden
Gag
By Mike Rogers
I
love a good gag and the one I'm about to describe
is truly GOLDEN! When I say "golden"
it's for the quality of the gag, and for its
creator, Eddy Golden. If the name Eddy Golden
rings a bell it should. For many years Eddy
operated his company called GOLDEN'S
MAGIC WAND. Eddy was a major distributor
of magic tricks, jokes, and Halloween supplies.
Eddy
Golden, now enjoying retirement in Southern
California, is held in high esteem as a practical
joker. He sees humor and fun in every direction.
For instance, the phone number of his company
was 1-800-FIND-FUN.
OK, on to the Golden Gag. It is so subtle
that I'm sure many have missed it entirely.
A few years ago Eddy hired me to entertain
at his company Christmas party being held
in his home. At the time his home was in the
exclusive section of San Diego County called
Rancho Santa Fe. This is a beautiful area
having no freeways, no malls, no billboards,
and no mailboxes for home delivery of mail.
As wonderful as it is the place is also where
the Heavens Gate kooks were located. You don't
just leisurely drive around Ranch Santa Fe.
Many of the homes are gated or shielded from
view by lush landscaping. You have to know
where you are going, or you don't get there
easily. Hence, the Golden Gag. Eddy sent me
a small map having directions to his place.
The map is held within a small pocket size
folder pictured here. Notice the wording,
"Golden's in the Silvered Valley."
Below that is a compass rose showing just
one direction, North. The gag begins on the
front of this little folder. Using the word
"silver" along with his name "Golden"
is clever, and the compass rose is a tip off
as to what's to come. Yet few will realize
it.
When
opened the map depicts several of the Rancho
Santa Fe streets along with the one leading
to where Eddy lived. The map is correct, or
so it seems. I arrived without any problems,
yet through it all there was something wrong.
I couldn't put my finger on it, but since
I found the venue I didn't give it much thought
at the time. Later when looking at the map
it finally hit me. Though the map is correct
the orientation is entirely wrong. It is inverted
and flipped. Look at the compass rose in the
upper left corner. North and South are inverted
while East and West are flipped. This shows
up again in the upper right corner where an
arrow points to the top saying "South to San
Diego."
What
a great gag, it is absolutely Golden.
I wonder how many people have used this map
wondering how in hell they actual
