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If it seems a little confusing, that's because it is.
The Times-Union has been publishing advertisements of a man with a watermelon on his head, long hair streaming out from under his cap, featuring the appearance of "Ron Gallagher."
It looks like Gallagher, the nationally-known watermelon-smashing comedian who has been entertaining for 25 years.
The confusion sets in because the poses and the props are the same. But the guy scheduled to perform Friday night is not Gallagher, it's his younger brother - Ron.
The real Gallagher is scheduled to appear in Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday and in Denver, Colo., Saturday. A faxed advertisement of the Colorado appearance shows a Gallagher with a shaved head.
The long-haired Ron Gallagher, 48, plans to entertain in Lancer Gym on the Grace College campus.
How did it all come about?
Gallagher, 53, gave Ron permission to impersonate him in 1991, according to Gallagher publicist Ruth Ann Hoffman of Sold Out Shows Inc.
"He also had permission to use the 'Sledge-O-Matic,'" Hoffman said in a telephone interview.
Ron, according to Hoffman, was to promote himself as "Gallagher II: The Sequel," or specify "Gallagher's Brother" or indicate he was a "Gallagher Impersonator." The idea was that Ron could play smaller venues and give audiences a similar show.
Then, in September 1999, Ron kind of quit checking in, Hoffman said, and began playing the same venues where Gallagher was established.
The elder vegetable pulverizer has packed the house in Merrillville on Halloween at the Star Plaza Theatre for years.
Winona Lake is too close to Merrillville for comfort.
Hoffman and her staff keep track of Ron through inquiries they receive about Gallagher shows.
Hoffman received the most recent indication of Ron Gallagher's whereabouts Tuesday when an e-mailer named John corresponded with the sledge-o-matic@worldnet.att.net address inquiring about the Gallagher show in Warsaw April 7.
When fans start to wonder who's who, Hoffman becomes concerned.
She contacts the local media and advises them of what her company considers a ruse.
Hoffman said a lawsuit seeking an injunction against Ron Gallagher's method of promotion is pending in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
"We want people to know it's not Gallagher," Hoffman said. "If they are aware it's Gallagher's brother, Ron, that's fine.
"You're not going to see a Gallagher show when you see Ron Gallagher. The only similar thing is the Sledge-O-Matic."
Ron Gallagher is being promoted by Classic Entertainment. Tickets for his show are available by calling 888-649-7971.
A call to that number gives the caller an answering machine message to leave a name telephone number so they can call back.
Ron has plenty to say about this situation.
"My brother is the one who started this with me over 10 years ago. He asked me to do this," he said this morning from a hotel in Indianapolis.
"I'm not using any material or doing anything different than what my brother said I could 10 years ago," Ron said. "We developed the Sledge-O-Matic together. I appeared as his 'twin' on a Comedy Central Showtime special seven years ago with him.
"My show is completely different. I've written my own material and use Gallagher classic bits. I've seen other comedians use his bits - they're timeless."
Ron said he plays small clubs, ballrooms or auditoriums with seating for 300 to 400 people.
"I've got to have a rapid delivery and make the audience laugh every five seconds," Ron said.
"I think our shows are completely different. I use the best of Gallagher, the topical humor and the 'cooking demonstration' at the end."
Ron Gallagher said the show will go on without any changes.
"I'm doing the same thing I've done for 10 years, really, being a walking advertisement for my brother," Ron Gallagher said.
