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The Pick Of The Day
Posted on 4/7/15 at 5:20 pm
Posted on 4/7/15 at 5:20 pm
Stan Freberg
(1926-2015)
Stan Freberg was one of the most brilliant satirists this country has ever produced.
Variety obituary
He could create a comedy classic from just two words, as in this parody of radio soap operas:
"John and Marsha"
In 1954 he was virtually the only pop culture figure in America who dared lampoon Sen Joe McCarthy:
"Point of Order"
And he spoofed Lawrence Welk:
"Wun'erful Wun'erful"
As well as rock & roll:
"The Great Pretender"
A 1961 satire of liberal tokenism:
"Take an Indian to Lunch"
Freberg eventually moved into commercials:
Omaha! -- "Either the world's shortest musical or the longest radio commercial", a classic parody of Rodgers and Hammerstein blockbusters like Oklahoma!
Sunsweet Prunes -- with Ray Bradbury?!?
Jeno's Pizza Rolls -- Legendary TV spot, one of the greatest commercials of all time. To get this you need to know that Lark cigarettes had an ad where they went to a cocktail party and said "Show us your Larks!" (to the tune of the William Tell Overture), and everyone at the party just happened to have Lark cigarettes. The ending is perhaps the greatest TV commercial moment ever.
Perhaps Freberg's crowning achievement was his short-lived 1957 radio show.
This ad men spoof may be his masterpiece:
"A Gray Flannel Hatful of Teenage Werewolves"
But possibly Freberg's most impressive bit was this modest sketch, which presciently predicts the political correctness movement of 50 years later:
"Elderly Man River"
R.I.P.
(1926-2015)
Stan Freberg was one of the most brilliant satirists this country has ever produced.
Variety obituary
He could create a comedy classic from just two words, as in this parody of radio soap operas:
"John and Marsha"
In 1954 he was virtually the only pop culture figure in America who dared lampoon Sen Joe McCarthy:
"Point of Order"
And he spoofed Lawrence Welk:
"Wun'erful Wun'erful"
As well as rock & roll:
"The Great Pretender"
A 1961 satire of liberal tokenism:
"Take an Indian to Lunch"
Freberg eventually moved into commercials:
Omaha! -- "Either the world's shortest musical or the longest radio commercial", a classic parody of Rodgers and Hammerstein blockbusters like Oklahoma!
Sunsweet Prunes -- with Ray Bradbury?!?
Jeno's Pizza Rolls -- Legendary TV spot, one of the greatest commercials of all time. To get this you need to know that Lark cigarettes had an ad where they went to a cocktail party and said "Show us your Larks!" (to the tune of the William Tell Overture), and everyone at the party just happened to have Lark cigarettes. The ending is perhaps the greatest TV commercial moment ever.
Perhaps Freberg's crowning achievement was his short-lived 1957 radio show.
This ad men spoof may be his masterpiece:
"A Gray Flannel Hatful of Teenage Werewolves"
But possibly Freberg's most impressive bit was this modest sketch, which presciently predicts the political correctness movement of 50 years later:
"Elderly Man River"
R.I.P.
This post was edited on 4/7/15 at 5:33 pm
45
Posted on 4/7/15 at 5:29 pm to Kafka
Posted on 4/7/15 at 5:35 pm to ManBearTiger
Posted on 5/27/15 at 8:24 pm to Kafka
For all you Titanic Fans
"A Night To Remember" - Kraft Television Theater (March 28, 1956)
Long before James Cameron, even before the 1958 British film, came this live (!!!) production of Walter Lord's bestselling 1954 book.
Directed by George Roy Hill (The Sting, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid) -- can you imagine the logistical nightmare of doing something like this live??? Hill tries to keep the abandon ship scenes in tight, to hide the fact he only had a dozen or so extras to represent the masses of passengers. I noticed this production used stock footage from the 1943 German version for big effects scenes.
Some may get a laugh out of the primitive going underwater shot near the end, but I thought it was kinda inventive.
Many of the familiar stories are here -- the old Jewish couple refusing to be separated, Benjamin Guggenheim insisting on going down with the ship dressed like a gentleman -- though for some reason, the unsinkable Molly Brown is not. Perhaps there were legal reasons involved.
Titanic historians may want to watch to note differences from the 1958 British film (IMHO the best version of the story) as well the Leo epic.
Patrick Macnee (yes, Steed from The Avengers) as ship's architect Thomas Andrews realizes the unsinkable Titanic is destined to sink
Boarding the lifeboats
Steerage passengers finally make it to the top deck, only to discover the last lifeboat has been lowered
Passengers and crew await the end
Behind The Scenes
Director George Roy Hill gives the cast last minute instructions
Host Claude Rains goes over his script
The cast waits for cameras to roll in this very rare color photo from a TV Guide article on the production
Excellent essay on the live TV version
"A Night To Remember" - Kraft Television Theater (March 28, 1956)
Long before James Cameron, even before the 1958 British film, came this live (!!!) production of Walter Lord's bestselling 1954 book.
Directed by George Roy Hill (The Sting, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid) -- can you imagine the logistical nightmare of doing something like this live??? Hill tries to keep the abandon ship scenes in tight, to hide the fact he only had a dozen or so extras to represent the masses of passengers. I noticed this production used stock footage from the 1943 German version for big effects scenes.
Some may get a laugh out of the primitive going underwater shot near the end, but I thought it was kinda inventive.
Many of the familiar stories are here -- the old Jewish couple refusing to be separated, Benjamin Guggenheim insisting on going down with the ship dressed like a gentleman -- though for some reason, the unsinkable Molly Brown is not. Perhaps there were legal reasons involved.
Titanic historians may want to watch to note differences from the 1958 British film (IMHO the best version of the story) as well the Leo epic.
Patrick Macnee (yes, Steed from The Avengers) as ship's architect Thomas Andrews realizes the unsinkable Titanic is destined to sink
Boarding the lifeboats
Steerage passengers finally make it to the top deck, only to discover the last lifeboat has been lowered
Passengers and crew await the end
Behind The Scenes
Director George Roy Hill gives the cast last minute instructions
Host Claude Rains goes over his script
The cast waits for cameras to roll in this very rare color photo from a TV Guide article on the production
Excellent essay on the live TV version
This post was edited on 5/29/15 at 7:38 am
Posted on 1/18/16 at 7:00 pm to Kafka
Hee Haw, complete first episode (aired June 15, 1969)
Music:
Buck Owens, Don Rich, Susan Raye and The Hagers "Johnny B. Goode"
Loretta Lynn - "Your Squaw's on the Warpath"
Grandpa Jones - "The Banjo Am The Instrument For Me"
Charley Pride - "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"
Roy Clark - "Sally Was a Good Old Girl"
The Hagers - "Gamblin' Man"
Buck Owens - "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass?" (played over a video of 4 guys mowing grass on a farm)
Charley Pride - "Kaw-Liga"
Ben Colder - "Hello Wall"
Sketches include several installments of "Pfft, You Was Gone", "The Culhanes" and "KORN News". Also, "Pickin' and Grinnin'", "Hey Grandpa, What's for Supper?", 'Eefing & Hambone Act Compilation' - Jimmie Riddle & Jackie Phelps. Special Guest Minnie Pearl tells a story about her brother, Grandpa Jones tells a story about his aunt going to town, and in "Archie's Barbershop", Archie tells one of his famous "That's Good/That's Bad" stories.
RIP Stringbean
That's all!
Music:
Buck Owens, Don Rich, Susan Raye and The Hagers "Johnny B. Goode"
Loretta Lynn - "Your Squaw's on the Warpath"
Grandpa Jones - "The Banjo Am The Instrument For Me"
Charley Pride - "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)"
Roy Clark - "Sally Was a Good Old Girl"
The Hagers - "Gamblin' Man"
Buck Owens - "Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass?" (played over a video of 4 guys mowing grass on a farm)
Charley Pride - "Kaw-Liga"
Ben Colder - "Hello Wall"
Sketches include several installments of "Pfft, You Was Gone", "The Culhanes" and "KORN News". Also, "Pickin' and Grinnin'", "Hey Grandpa, What's for Supper?", 'Eefing & Hambone Act Compilation' - Jimmie Riddle & Jackie Phelps. Special Guest Minnie Pearl tells a story about her brother, Grandpa Jones tells a story about his aunt going to town, and in "Archie's Barbershop", Archie tells one of his famous "That's Good/That's Bad" stories.
RIP Stringbean
That's all!
This post was edited on 3/21/17 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 1/22/16 at 9:37 pm to Kafka
"Captain Sandy's Weather Report" (WSAV-TV Savannah, 1964)
A fascinating relic from the days when local TV was occasionally allowed to be eccentric. Features not only the good captain but also appearances by Wilbur the Weather Bird, Calamity Clam, and Arthur-mometer. Can you imagine what it must have been like watching this? "Later in tonight's newscast we'll have more on that tragic housefire.... But now -- Captain Sandy and Wilbur with the weather!"
Once heard, the classic theme song can never be forgotten:
Yo ho, yo ho, what’s the weather going to be?
Here’s the man who knows, let’s take a look and see.
Here is Captain Sandy with the weather he has found
For Savannah, and for Chatham, and the counties all around.
Apparently this character was a fixture on Savannah TV well into the 1970s (when local TV got more standardized). Any Savvy locals here remember it?
Some info on (and a little nostalgia for) Captain Sandy:
LINK
A fascinating relic from the days when local TV was occasionally allowed to be eccentric. Features not only the good captain but also appearances by Wilbur the Weather Bird, Calamity Clam, and Arthur-mometer. Can you imagine what it must have been like watching this? "Later in tonight's newscast we'll have more on that tragic housefire.... But now -- Captain Sandy and Wilbur with the weather!"
Once heard, the classic theme song can never be forgotten:
Yo ho, yo ho, what’s the weather going to be?
Here’s the man who knows, let’s take a look and see.
Here is Captain Sandy with the weather he has found
For Savannah, and for Chatham, and the counties all around.
Apparently this character was a fixture on Savannah TV well into the 1970s (when local TV got more standardized). Any Savvy locals here remember it?
Some info on (and a little nostalgia for) Captain Sandy:
LINK
Posted on 3/14/16 at 9:47 pm to Kafka
A movie that is SCREAMING to be made:
Bobbie The Vietnam Weather Girl
An amateur (and sometimes amateurish) documentary on Bobbie Keith, who was the on-air weathercaster for the American Forces Vietnam Network from 1967-9. Features some classic clips from the period as well an interview with Bobbie from the early '90s.
"Boys, I just want to show you what you're fighting for". A spoof of Goldie Hawn on Laugh-In that was quickly axed by army brass.
When GIs wrote in asking for pics of Bobbie, this is what was sent out:
Bobbie Keith is very fondly remembered by many 'Nam vets:
Bobbie Keith being interviewed at the Vietnam Memorial in 1992:
Bobbie Keith at a veterans tribute in 2006:
Historynet interview
Bobbie The Vietnam Weather Girl
An amateur (and sometimes amateurish) documentary on Bobbie Keith, who was the on-air weathercaster for the American Forces Vietnam Network from 1967-9. Features some classic clips from the period as well an interview with Bobbie from the early '90s.
"Boys, I just want to show you what you're fighting for". A spoof of Goldie Hawn on Laugh-In that was quickly axed by army brass.
When GIs wrote in asking for pics of Bobbie, this is what was sent out:
Bobbie Keith is very fondly remembered by many 'Nam vets:
quote:
Any American stationed in Vietnam in 1967-1969 will recall Bobbie the Weather Girl, going away the most popular feature of American Forces Vietnam Network broadcasts. Bobbie Keith was an army brat, the daughter of an Army intelligence officer in Vietnam. Twenty years old in 67 she was a clerk for the Agency for International Development in Vietnam. Chosen almost at random to be the Weathergirl, her good looks and a flare for comedy made her an instant hit. A patriot, in her spare time on weekends she would visit combat units her fans invited her to, often coming under enemy fire. To homesick grunts she was the epitome of the girl next door and was cheered wherever she went.
Bobbie was and is a volunteer. She never received a cent for her time as the Weather Girl or her hundreds of trips to the field. She volunteers today with Vietnam vet groups and speaks to school classes containing the grandkids of the men she served with. The vets she entertained will never forget her.
Bobbie Keith being interviewed at the Vietnam Memorial in 1992:
Bobbie Keith at a veterans tribute in 2006:
Historynet interview
Posted on 2/4/17 at 8:20 am to Kafka
The Andersonville Trial (1970)
Shortly after the end of the Civil War Captain Henry Wirz, Confederate commandant of Camp Sumter (aka Andersonville Prison) in Georgia where 14,000 Union prisoners died, is captured and put on trial for crimes against humanity. He insists he was only following orders...
An all-star cast highlights this TV production of Saul Leavitt's 1959 play, directed by George C. Scott (who appears briefly in an introduction). The parallels with the Nuremburg trials are inescapable.
William Shatner is the army prosecutor (the character played by Scott in the Broadway original) in perhaps the best role he ever had, with the great Richard Basehart as Wirz. Many other notables appear including Buddy Ebsen, Cameron Mitchell, and a young Martin Sheen. Especially outstanding is Jack Cassidy as the defense lawyer -- those who know him only as a Columbo villain may be surprised by the emotional depth of his performance (he got an Emmy nomination for his work here).
William Shatner
Jack Cassidy and Richard Basehart
Shortly after the end of the Civil War Captain Henry Wirz, Confederate commandant of Camp Sumter (aka Andersonville Prison) in Georgia where 14,000 Union prisoners died, is captured and put on trial for crimes against humanity. He insists he was only following orders...
An all-star cast highlights this TV production of Saul Leavitt's 1959 play, directed by George C. Scott (who appears briefly in an introduction). The parallels with the Nuremburg trials are inescapable.
William Shatner is the army prosecutor (the character played by Scott in the Broadway original) in perhaps the best role he ever had, with the great Richard Basehart as Wirz. Many other notables appear including Buddy Ebsen, Cameron Mitchell, and a young Martin Sheen. Especially outstanding is Jack Cassidy as the defense lawyer -- those who know him only as a Columbo villain may be surprised by the emotional depth of his performance (he got an Emmy nomination for his work here).
William Shatner
Jack Cassidy and Richard Basehart
Posted on 2/11/17 at 1:37 pm to Kafka
Basil Wolverton - "The Eye of Doom" (1951)
Posted on 2/11/17 at 3:34 pm to Kafka
Great thread Kafka.
Posted on 2/12/17 at 3:54 pm to Kafka
Universal Horror (1998)
Classic documentary on the horror films produced by Universal Studios in the '20s and '30s, which made icons of Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and Boris Karloff as well as "stars" of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, et al... Especially interesting for its thesis that the horror boom of the '20s was a direct result of WWI.
Classic documentary on the horror films produced by Universal Studios in the '20s and '30s, which made icons of Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and Boris Karloff as well as "stars" of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, et al... Especially interesting for its thesis that the horror boom of the '20s was a direct result of WWI.
Posted on 3/11/17 at 9:16 am to Kafka
Toccata for Toy Trains (1957)
quote:
Toccata for Toy Trains is a 1957 short film by Charles and Ray Eames, one of several films (including Powers of Ten, made many years later) the husband-and-wife design team made during their career.
quote:
The film features mostly antique toy trains moving within fanciful settings to a toccata. Other antique toys, such as dolls (representing passengers and townspeople), automobiles and horse-drawn carriages are featured.
quote:
Most of the toys come from a mix of museum and private collections, including that of the Museum of the City of New York, and apparently date from before the 1920s. The film is shot from a toy's-eye-view, as if the viewer is following the journey of trains from two cities, beginning with the busy activity of the departure train station and surrounding downtown neighborhood, traveling across the countryside, and ending with trains pulling into the arrival station.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 2:05 pm to Kafka
My all time favorite documentary series:
Hollywood: A Celebration of American Silent Film
Hollywood, produced in the '70s by the great British film historian Kevin Brownlow, is a "celebration of American silent film". Narrated by James Mason, it contains great clips as well as interviews with many silent film stars, directors, writers, and even stuntmen, some of whom died before the series aired; Brownlow was able to record their stories in the nick of time.
It's full of fascinating detail, such as how the chariot race in Ben-Hur was shot, and how stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Harold Lloyd filmed their thrilling stunts. The episode devoted to stuntmen is especially memorable, as it contains interviewees recalling how some of their colleagues were killed doing stunts for films.
I believe most if not all Hollywood episodes are on YouTube (one episode is sometimes taken down due to copyright issues). All the episodes are great, but if you can only watch two, make them "Comedy: A Serious Business", and "Hollywood goes to War", of special interest during this centennial of WWI.
Kevin Brownlow
Hollywood: A Celebration of American Silent Film
Hollywood, produced in the '70s by the great British film historian Kevin Brownlow, is a "celebration of American silent film". Narrated by James Mason, it contains great clips as well as interviews with many silent film stars, directors, writers, and even stuntmen, some of whom died before the series aired; Brownlow was able to record their stories in the nick of time.
It's full of fascinating detail, such as how the chariot race in Ben-Hur was shot, and how stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Harold Lloyd filmed their thrilling stunts. The episode devoted to stuntmen is especially memorable, as it contains interviewees recalling how some of their colleagues were killed doing stunts for films.
I believe most if not all Hollywood episodes are on YouTube (one episode is sometimes taken down due to copyright issues). All the episodes are great, but if you can only watch two, make them "Comedy: A Serious Business", and "Hollywood goes to War", of special interest during this centennial of WWI.
Kevin Brownlow
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:53 pm to Kafka
That is a bit of wonderful, Kafka. Thanks.
Posted on 3/22/17 at 4:26 pm to Kafka
Twelve O'Clock High - "The Mission" (1965)
A US airbase in England c. 1943. While preparing for a top priority mission, Gen. Savage replaces a sick crewman with hotshot gunner Joe Waller. Gen. Savage discovers too late that Waller is a washed-out pilot trainee who has a negative attitude because he is blamed for the deaths of his previous crew. Waller takes out his resentment on his fellow crew members and the resulting friction threatens the success of the mission.
A mid '60s TV series based on the famous 1949 film. It deserves to be better known -- not quite on the Combat level, but well-done.
This episode is notable for the fact that over two thirds of the running time takes place within the confines of the airplane -- a cinematic challenge for the director that gives it the feeling of a mini-movie.
A US airbase in England c. 1943. While preparing for a top priority mission, Gen. Savage replaces a sick crewman with hotshot gunner Joe Waller. Gen. Savage discovers too late that Waller is a washed-out pilot trainee who has a negative attitude because he is blamed for the deaths of his previous crew. Waller takes out his resentment on his fellow crew members and the resulting friction threatens the success of the mission.
A mid '60s TV series based on the famous 1949 film. It deserves to be better known -- not quite on the Combat level, but well-done.
This episode is notable for the fact that over two thirds of the running time takes place within the confines of the airplane -- a cinematic challenge for the director that gives it the feeling of a mini-movie.
Posted on 3/30/17 at 8:30 pm to Kafka
Mr Sears Catalog (1989)
One of my favorite American Experience documentaries. Ostensibly a biography of Richard Sears, this is actually the story of how the "Wish Book" brought the world to isolated rural farmers around the turn of the last century. The Wish Book and The Bible were often the only two books in some farm homes.
Oh, poor Mr. Roebuck...
Richard Sears
Read the 1902 Sears catalog online
Sears catalog houses
Wiki article
One of my favorite American Experience documentaries. Ostensibly a biography of Richard Sears, this is actually the story of how the "Wish Book" brought the world to isolated rural farmers around the turn of the last century. The Wish Book and The Bible were often the only two books in some farm homes.
Oh, poor Mr. Roebuck...
Richard Sears
Read the 1902 Sears catalog online
Sears catalog houses
Wiki article
Posted on 4/15/17 at 5:28 pm to Kafka
Easter extra:
"Give Us Barabbas!" (Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1961)
Barabbas, a career criminal and would-be anti-Roman rebel, is freed in place of Jesus by Pontius Pilate. After the crucifixion he is determined to learn the reason why.
Well-done version of the story, with a surprisingly full-blooded performance in the title role by James Daly, who usually played buttoned-down executive types. Broadway musical star Dennis King is very effective as Pilate.
Believers will get the most out of it, but even skeptics should find it worth watching as character study.
"Give Us Barabbas!" (Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1961)
Barabbas, a career criminal and would-be anti-Roman rebel, is freed in place of Jesus by Pontius Pilate. After the crucifixion he is determined to learn the reason why.
Well-done version of the story, with a surprisingly full-blooded performance in the title role by James Daly, who usually played buttoned-down executive types. Broadway musical star Dennis King is very effective as Pilate.
Believers will get the most out of it, but even skeptics should find it worth watching as character study.
Posted on 8/15/17 at 6:30 pm to Kafka
The War Lord (1965)
In 11th century Normandy, knight warrior Chrysagon de la Croux takes possession of a peasant village. But Frisian raiders, his own brother's ambition, and the ancient Druid wedding ritual of "Droit du seigneur" lead to war, betrayal, and tragedy.
One of the great films of the '60s, which brought a new grittiness to the epic genre. Everything from Conan The Barbarian to Game of Thrones has been influenced by it. The spectacular siege section takes up almost half the film and features impressive work from Hollywood's top stuntmen.
Director Schaffner and star Heston would later team up for Planet of the Apes. The superb photography is by Russell Metty (Spartacus); the evocative musical score is by the brilliant Jerome Moross (The Big Country).
In 11th century Normandy, knight warrior Chrysagon de la Croux takes possession of a peasant village. But Frisian raiders, his own brother's ambition, and the ancient Druid wedding ritual of "Droit du seigneur" lead to war, betrayal, and tragedy.
One of the great films of the '60s, which brought a new grittiness to the epic genre. Everything from Conan The Barbarian to Game of Thrones has been influenced by it. The spectacular siege section takes up almost half the film and features impressive work from Hollywood's top stuntmen.
Director Schaffner and star Heston would later team up for Planet of the Apes. The superb photography is by Russell Metty (Spartacus); the evocative musical score is by the brilliant Jerome Moross (The Big Country).
Posted on 8/29/17 at 8:33 pm to Kafka
Let us celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Greatest TV Show Of All Time
A half-century ago, ‘The Fugitive’ farewell set a precedent for series conclusions
A half-century ago, ‘The Fugitive’ farewell set a precedent for series conclusions
quote:
Fifty years ago, "The Fugitive" stopped running. The end of the pursuit also gave TV its first lesson in figuring out how to say goodbye.
The ABC series starring David Janssen as Richard Kimble, the physician wrongly convicted of killing his wife, was one of the best-loved of the 1960s and the basis of the hit 1993 theatrical feature featuring Harrison Ford
quote:
Before the finale of "The Fugitive," watched by a then-record audience of 78 million viewers on Aug. 29, 1967, there had never been a big planned send-off to a popular network TV show that provided a massive communal experience for fans.
quote:
"The day the running stopped," as the show's omniscient narrator, William Conrad, described it, had become world news.
Part 2 of "The Judgment" was seen in 72 per cent of the homes using television on the night it aired against scant competition on CBS and NBC. The audience size remained a Nielsen record until November 1980, when it was topped by the "Who Shot J. R.?" episode of "Dallas."
Posted on 9/7/17 at 4:21 pm to Kafka
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This post was edited on 9/7/17 at 4:22 pm
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