We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Two of my early childhood TV favs have stars on Hollywood Blvd. Andy Devine, sidekick to Roy Rogers and others, also had the Andy Devine Show, Andy's Gang, with puckish star Froggy, my example.
And, heeeeere's Froggy:
Another early TV fav was recycled vaudeviller Pinky Lee. Hello It's Me...
Pinky Lee, jeez, Pinky Lee. I haven't heard that name in decades. I recall raptly watching his TV show as a kid when my family moved from the Sticks to Southern California in the late 50s, and discovered there was more than a single TV channel. One of my faves was Engineer Bill (Stula) with his "Red Light, Green Light" milk drinking game. Happy highball, engineers!
#1
Mike Anderson
(Link)
on
2019-09-04 07:28
(Reply)
Didn't he die on set? And wasn't he a famous pedophile?
In 1955, Lee collapsed on camera due to an infection. His normal antics were so energetic that apparently the cameraman and the show's director assumed the fall an ad lib part of his performance. The "Peanut Gallery", an audience usually composed almost entirely of pre-adolescent children who were coached by a staff member, continued their enthusiastic cheering and applause from the on-stage bleachers. After as much as ten seconds of writhing by the stricken Lee, the camera abruptly panned to the still-cheering audience. The following afternoons Pinky Lee was not present. This effectively ended his leading role on the show, which continued without him until 1956. Rumors that he had died of a heart attack, prompted by the incident, persisted for decades. Occasionally, newspaper items mentioned the "late" Lee—even though he was performing at a dinner theater in the same city as one of the reporting newspapers. The incident also spawned rumors that Lee had been institutionalized after going insane on live television.
In 1957, Lee hosted The Gumby Show, the original appearance of that claymation character. In 1964, Lee attempted a return to kids' TV, hosting a local children's comedy program on KABC-TV in Los Angeles. This series was nationally syndicated for the 1964–65 TV seasons, but the program fell prey to creative interference from the show's producers and station management. Lee fought the interference, but his efforts were for naught. The Pinky Lee Kids TV Show went off the air after one season. One episode was released on DVD/VHS by Shokus Video, and a DVD with two episodes was released by Alpha Video.
From IMdB:
One of the hardest-working men in TV, Pinky collapsed live on the air in 1955 in what appeared to be a heart attack, but was later discovered as a severe sinus attack. When he regained his health and attempted to return, the TV networks were not receptive and his career went downhill fast. They were afraid he might once again collapse in front of thousands of children on THEIR station.
But do you have an autographed picture of Andy Devine? Or a pencil thin mustache (the Boston Blackie kind) or two-toned Ricky Ricardo jacket for that matter?
#3
Another guy named Dan
on
2019-09-04 11:01
(Reply)
Another Parrot Head calls back to "Living and Dying in 3/4 Time." Nice.