Mike Randall, retired news reporter, now entertaining as a ventriloquist

Randall and characters will perform at Golden Hill on Oct. 13 during Christmas at Lighthouse fundraiser

Provided photo: Mike Randall, retired reporter from WKBW-TV, is pursuing a new career as a ventriloquist. He is pictured here with one of his favorite characters, Gordon the Groundhog. He will entertain visitors at noon Oct. 13 during Christmas at the Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park.

BARKER – The annual Christmas at the Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park, scheduled Oct. 13, will feature extra-special entertainment this year, with the appearance of retired WKBW-TV feature reporter Mike Randall.

Many are familiar with Randall as Mark Twain and Charles Dickens, and now we can laugh as he brings “Mike Randall and Friends” to Golden Hill State Park.

Randall has been in love with puppetry, making them and performing with them since he was a child.

“When I was 7 years old and in Kenmore Mercy Hospital for three months after a car accident, my grandmother gave me a bunch of puppets, and I was hooked,” Randall said. “I made hand puppets, marionettes and eventually tried to build a ventriloquist dummy, but that didn’t go so well. When I was 30 and got my first good-paying job on TV, I bought a professionally made dummy. My family thought I was nuts. It was carved out of wood and I started working on talking without moving my lips.”

He says he never met a puppet he didn’t like, and admits to not being a great ventriloquist. But, he says a lot of magic performing with puppets is in making the characters believable and fun.

“I have steered away from those wooden type dummies that are kind of scary and use soft animal type puppets,” Randall said. “Some I have made myself and some I have had professionally made.”

Randall has received rave reviews for his fun-filled, entertaining shows, as he travels to festivals and family events across the area. A popular family entertainer, Randall has appeared at Springville Dairy/Ag Festival,  Cattaraugus County Fair, M&T Plaza, Eastern Hills Mall Children’s Theatre Series, the Toy Festival in East Aurora, Lewiston’s Wildlife Festival at the NY Power Authority and Cuba Garlic Festival, as well as schools and libraries throughout Western New York.

As a weather-caster and award-winning feature reporter for 40 years at WKBW-TV, Randall has interviewed celebrities such as John Candy, Steve Allen, Red Skelton, Gregory Peck, Willie Nelson and Robert Goulet. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2017.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Mark Keller of Potsdam, a member of Friends of the Lighthouse, stands next to a sled in the kitchen decorated for Christmas at the Lighthouse on Oct. 13. (Right) Golden Hill State Park employee Barb Larson walks up the new path recently completed to allow visitors a closer look at the lighthouse from the lake side.

Randall’s performance is scheduled at noon Oct. 13 at the lighthouse. It includes puppets, magic, comedy, ventriloquism, audience participation and tons of family fun.

Christmas at the Lighthouse is their biggest fundraiser of the year, said Barb Lawson, a park employee for the last 15 years. Meeting people from all over the world who want to learn about lighthouses is the best part of the job, she said.

Mark and Kim Keller of Potsdam have been a member of Friends of the Lighthouse since 2015, after visiting Golden Hill while touring lighthouses across the country and the Seaway Trail. They spend the last three weeks of every camping season at Golden Hill, to help out and decorate for Christmas at the Lighthouse.

Oct. 13’s event begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. In addition to Randall’s performance, features include a pulled pork dinner, chili, hotdogs, beverages, a basket raffle, free tours to the top of the lighthouse, a farmers’ market, wineries and vendors, one of whom is Mike Dreyfus of Medina.

Mike and Kathy Dreyfus first became familiar with the lighthouse when their daughter was married there in 2012. Since then they have continued to support Friends of the Lighthouse by Mike making and donating buttons and refrigerator magnets for sale in the gift shop and at Christmas at the Lighthouse.

For children, there will be face painting, kids’ tattoos and a visit from Santa.

Other entertainment will be provided by the Lock City Sound men’s glee club from Lockport.

Larson said another great feature is the ability to stay in the lighthouse during the camping season.

She also pointed out a new walkway between the lake and the lighthouse. Boulders have been added to reinforce the breakwall and a path with fence was built so visitors can get closer to the lake and see the lighthouse from back side.

As a special reminder, Larson also said next year will be the 150th anniversary of the lighthouse.

Golden Hill State Park is managed by Renee Campbell.