Book Release Party! Laughing My Way Through Life
Cleveland Stories Dinner Parties
Storyteller: Lil' John Rinaldi
Doors open at 5:00pm, with the storytelling beginning promptly at 7:00pm
- Weekly series combining great food with great stories about Cleveland’s past
- FREE ADMISSION – NO COVER CHARGE
- In addition to our regular menu, we will be offering affordable specials on these nights
Story topic this week…
Laughing My Way Through Life
John Rinaldi is best known throughout Northeast Ohio as “Lil’ John,” co-host of the Emmy award winning Big Chuck & Lil’ John Show. Prior to joining Big Chuck Schodowski as the program’s co-host in September, 1978. John served as a regular in various skits and productions on Fox 8’s Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show, the forerunner to the Big Chuck & Lil’ John Show. Lil’ John will joing us tonight for the release of his new book Laughing My Way Through Life!
Tonight, Cleveland’s unofficial court jester will share humorous tales from his life on and off television. He has wrestled bears, crashed a hot-air balloon, fought heavyweight champ Mike Tyson, played the bongos with heavyweight champ Larry Holmes, and was almost killed by Elvis impersonators — all while helping to raise millions of dollars for charity and winning several Emmy awards. And that was in his spare time!
Lil’ John Bio
A graduate of Cleveland’s John Adams High school, John Rinaldi attended Ohio State University and graduated in 1968 with a degree in marketing. In 1980, John opened a jewelry store in downtown Cleveland with his wife, Sherry. Rinaldi jewelry moved closer to John’s home in Solon in 2004. Valentine’s Day of 2017 John closed his jewelry store and semi-retired. Not able to dissociate himself from jewelry entirely. Jewelry has been John’s business and passion since 1968.
John has 12 local Emmys and a Cleveland Addy. He was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1996. He has received the Silver Circle Award and the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Award for Excellence in Broadcasting in 1995. John has earned more than 250 service awards for his involvement in numerous community service and fundraising projects. John serves as the celebrity chairman for several charity golf outings. In 2022, John served his 50th year as the Woolybear race coordinator at the Vermilion Woolybear Festival.
A native of Cleveland and a resident of Solon, John enjoys sports and making people laugh. he and his two sons, John and Dino, and 5 grandchildren. John stands 4’3″ tall and weighs 115 lb.
The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past – from sports, to rock ‘n roll, to Millionaire’s Row, — the series will focus on tidbits from Cleveland’s past that will really thrill the audience. The Music Box is presenting this series in partnership with the Western Reserve Historical Society’s new Cleveland History Center. We think the Cleveland History Center is one of the most important museums in Cleveland. An unknown gem that Clevelanders should know more about, and support. It is the only museum in Cleveland dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of Cleveland. The Cleveland History Center includes two mansions, the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, Research Library, Kidzibits Hands-On Gallery, rotating exhibitions, and the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.
See all Cleveland Stories dates here.
