The Gong Show returns to Mobile to help knock out dementia

A beloved throwback game show is making a stop in downtown Mobile, and this time the laughs are going to a serious cause.

‘The Gong Show’ returns to Alchemy Tavern on Joachim Street on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m., with celebrity judges and special guests on hand to cheer on some of the Gulf Coast’s most talented — and most untalented — performers. All proceeds will support the fight against dementia.

The original Gong Show, a 1970s television staple and a forerunner to modern talent competitions, let contestants show off unique skills to a panel of judges. If the judges weren’t impressed, they rang a gong to end the act. This Mobile edition keeps the playful spirit while raising money for a disease that affects more than 3 million people a year and currently has no cure.

Organizers say there is something for everyone, whether or not you plan to take the stage. Along with the talent and the gong, the night features food, giveaways and raffles. Tickets are $10.

‘Great fun, food, raffles and prizes, along with helping to fight a terrible disease,’ organizers said. ‘Come on out to watch The Gong Show this Thursday.’

Registration is still open for anyone who wants a shot at the stage. The event is open to the public, and organizers say the biggest reason to come out is the chance to support dementia research and care in the Gulf Coast community.

About The Gong Show and dementia

The Gong Show was created and hosted by producer Chuck Barris and debuted on NBC in 1976. Amateur and offbeat acts performed for a panel of celebrity judges, any of whom could strike an oversized gong to end a performance.

Dementia is a general term for a decline in memory, thinking and reasoning severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, accounting for an estimated 60 to 80 percent of cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.