The comedian and educator Nick Marino discusses his debut memoir East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE (Robin’s Egg, 2023), with Joseph Planta.

East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE by Nick Marino (Robin’s Egg, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: East Side Story

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

A fascinating book came out this past summer, East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE. It’s a fun memoir about the comedian and educator Nick Marino’s experience working at, and now as a father, attending the Pacific National Exhibition. He joins me to talk about his own experiences at the fair, as well as why it matters to a lot of Vancouverites, not to mention British Columbians. I’ll ask him about the unique people he’s encountered over the years there, as well as the sort of kids like Nick that work the rides and concessions, not to mention the folks who work the fair circuit, either selling products or travelling with exhibits, animals, and the various amusements that have beguiled PNE attendees for over a century. I’ll ask Nick about the good times, as well as the dark history of the fairgrounds, especially the period during the Second World War when Japanese Canadians were interned. Nick’s also interviewed a lot of people who share their experiences at the PNE. Nick Marino is a writer, comedian, and elementary school teacher. He has performed at Just for Laughs Northwest, and curated a series of comedy and music shows called Bite of the Underground. This new book is published by Robin’s Egg, which is an imprint of Arsenal Pulp Press. We taped this interview just over a month ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Nick Marino; Mr. Marino, good morning.

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