Sunday, May 4, 2008

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson with guest host Kermit the Frog (1979)

Hullabaloo with guest hosts Jerry and Gary Lewis (1965)

This goes down in history as one of those incredibly awkward Jerry Lewis things, one of countless uncomfortable moments in his showbiz career. In 1965, Gary Lewis and The Playboys were a huge deal on the pop charts and Jerry Lewis' legendary insecurity did not seem able to cope with his son's success, regardless of the grandstanding about how "proud of him" he said he was. Here we see Jerry trying mercilessly to upstage his son throughout this episode of teen rock show Hullabaloo.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Hazel (1962) - Footage Offline -10/24/08

The Tony Martin Show (1954)


Rudy Ray Moore: Sweet Peter Jeeter (1977)

Here's another vile comedy record from The Human Tornado, Rudy Ray Moore, that was released - I think - in 1977. Totally profane, with a wonderful bed of funk music beneath his dirty ramble, this is another prize in the so-bad-it's-good pile. The great Steve Allen would probably not be pleased to be sharing a page with this LP. 

I've Got a Secret with guest Lucille Ball (1965)

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I've Got a Secret with host Steve Allen (1964)

The contestant on the left comes from "North Surrey, British Columbia, Canada." Not too far from where I'm sitting this very instance. I find it comical that he needed to specify which part of Surrey he's from.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Ready Steady Go! with guests Otis Redding and Eric Burdon (1966)

Amazing Grace starring Moms Mabley (1974)

This film also featured legendary African-American showbiz figures Slappy White and Butterfly McQueen. It was written by Matt Robinson, one of the Gordons from Sesame Street and voice of Muppet Roosevelt Franklin. Hey, you know what? I uploaded a bunch of audio from Moms Mabley comedy records on Chess and Mercury for a seperate article last year - and you can listen to it in all its splendid glory here.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Make Room For Daddy (1953) - Footage Offline - 10/12/10

The Frank Fontaine Show (1955) - Footage Offline - 5/17/09

I think this was probably a pilot in the mid-fifties, hence the lack of sponsor spots on what looks like a raw piece of film. Fontaine, staple of The Jackie Gleason Show, could not hold a show of his own - especially with canned laughs and no writers. At least, it seems as if it has no writers.