BOOTHBAY HARBOR
Boothbay Harbor native Tim Sample’s New England humor has gained him a national following.
When introducing Sample on ABC’s Good Morning America Charles Gibson referred to him as “the man who wrote the book —literally — on Maine humor,” while newsman Charles Kuralt called Sample “Maine’s Humorist Laureate.”
In celebration of Windjammer Festival week, on June 29, Sample brings his stories and humor to the stage at the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor.
Describing Sample’s work as “humor” rather than “comedy” is, according to fellow Mainer and bestselling novelist Stephen King, an important distinction.
“He’s a funny guy, you’ll get no argument from me on that score, but no more a comedian than Mark Twain or Artemis Ward,” King said of Sample. “Like, them, Timmy (that’s what I always call him the way folks from up our way are apt to call their friends ‘dearie’) isn’t acting; he’s just talking in a kind of heightened and gifted way, as folks do when they’re passing on valuable tales about the human condition.”
In addition to TV, radio and a dozen popular albums of “down east Maine” Sample spent 11 years as a regular correspondent for the Emmy award winning network television show CBS News Sunday Morning.
He has written and/or illustrated over a dozen books, including regional bestsellers “Saturday Night at Moody’s Diner” and and “How to Talk Yankee.” Sample’s narration work includes such award-winning films and audiobooks as Robert McCloskey’s children’s classic “Burt Dow Deep Water Man,” Stephen King’s “The Sun Dog” and “Drunken Fireworks” as well as the film documentary “From Stump to Ship.”
Sample has performed in venues such as The Mall of America, Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo and the Caribou Maine Performing Arts Center. These days, he averages 50-60 concert and after dinner appearances per year.
Tickets for the performance are available through the Opera House box office at 86 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, or by calling (207) 633-5159. Tickets and information are also available at www.boothbayoperahouse.com. Tickets purchased in advance are $22. Tickets purchased on the day of the show are $27. Doors for seating open at 7 p.m. Sample takes to the stage at 7:30
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