Dickensindex

Mike Randall

Mike Randall grew up in Western New York and still can't believe that he spent his whole life not knowing that Charles Dickens performed in Buffalo in 1868! A lover of Buffalo history and presenter of one person shows, Randall decided to recreate Mr. Dickens presentation of his most well know story "A Christmas Carol".

What Randall finds most intriguing about Dickens and his Readings is the way the author threw himself into the performances not just reading the words but becoming the characters on stage. At one time Charles Dickens had almost become a professional actor. Even when he pursued writing instead, he continued to produce and perform in "amatuer theatricals". His close actor friends claimed repeatedly that Dickens could easily have made a successful career on the stage. The Dickens Readings were not only a outlet for this amatuer actor, but they became an absorbing, entertaining Tour de Force, a blending of author/actor creating wonderfull magic on stage.

Mike Randall has performed a variety of roles in theatres around the country and he continues to perform his critically acclaimed, one-man portrayal of Mark Twain Live! Mike also spent time as the Marvelous Magical Burger King where he perfected his abilities as a magician & live family entertainer. Mike Randall is also a member of the the Puppeteers Of America.

Meteorologist Mike Randall covers the weather duties for WKBW-TV in Buffalo each weeknight. Also an award-winning feature reporter, Mike has interviewed celebrities like Willie Nelson, Jerry Lewis, John Candy, Steve Allen, Red Skelton, Gregory Peck and Robert Goulet. Mike has been with WKBW-TV since August 1983.

An avid supporter of the Variety Club of Buffalo, you can see Mike each year on The Variety Club Telethon for Children’s Hospital. You may also catch Mike making appearances all year round at fashion shows, auctions, and fund-raisers for numerous charitable organizations across Western New York.

Mike attended Onondaga Community College for radio and TV and SUNY Geneseo for theatre arts. He received his Certificate In Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University and earned both the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association Seals Of Approval. He is the only local TV meteorologist to hold both seals! A career highlight for Mike was filling in for Spencer Christian on ABC's Good Morning America.

Interestingly, one of the few luke warm reviews that Charles Dickens received during his American Tour was from an up and coming young newspaperman, lecturer and soon to be (1869) co-editor of the Buffalo Express, Mark Twain. Twain took his future bride Olivia to see Dickens in New York City, and the America author found the British author "too Englishy". Since most other critics gushed about the Dickens presentations, and the audiences adored him, it can only be assumed that Mr. Twain was simply not going to let himself enjoy what everyone else was, which was very much in his crumudgeonly nature. In addition, Mark Twain was putting the finishing touches on his first big book Innocents Abroad in which he lampooned most of Europe, including a few good shots at the English. In a later Book, Following The Equator he wrote "The English are mentioned in the Bible. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth."