Do You Know? Michael J. Vivas

If you have ever attended Lodge No. 2’s Stated or Extra Meetings, you might recognize him as our Senior Deacon or as our resident videographer, carefully filming, editing and curating footage for Lodge No. 2’s Interview Series in preparation for the United States Semiquincentennial. You might even know that during the day, he serves as an IT platform engineer at the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office while at night, moonlighting as a guitarist at various pubs, venues and nightclubs throughout the city.

But did you know that our own Bro. Michael J. Vivas is a local celebrity rubbing elbows with some of the city’s most up-and-coming comedic talent? If you ever find yourself perusing the expansive catalogue of shows and movies on Netflix, might I suggest taking a detour to watch the plucky little comedy Tires? Now in its second season, the show centers on Will (Steve Gerben) a mild-mannered millennial who inherits his father's auto repair chain, Valley Forge Automotive, and tries to turn it around despite torture from his cousin and now-employee, Shane (played by Pennsylvania native and comedic superstar, Shane Gillis). Equal parts It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office and Blue Collar Comedy Tour and brimming with plenty of hijinks and raunchy humor, the show is set in suburban Philadelphia with many of the scenes shot on location in West Chester, PA at local tire stores, restaurants and venues. Our own Senior Deacon makes his cinematic debut at around minute 20 of Season 2, Episode 10 (“Patriots and Traitors”) in a cameo appearance as a guitarist for a band led by Goose jam band frontman Rick Mitarotonda.

If ever there was a reason to attend Lodge, meeting a local celebrity might place high on the list. Who knows? If you ask nicely, Bro. Senior Deacon might even give you his autograph.