Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Totie Fields Sings "Put on a Happy Face" to Ed Sullivan 58 Years Ago

Totie Fields was born Sophie Feldman in Hartford, Connecticut. According to Wikipedia, she started singing in Boston clubs while still in high school, taking the stage name of Totie Fields. The name "Totie" was a childhood nickname, a baby-talk pronunciation of the name "Sophie"

Fields gained fame during the 1960s and 1970s. Ed Sullivan gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at the Copacabana in New York. She made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Merv Griffin Show, as well as a fifth season episode of Here's Lucy starring Lucille Ball.

Here's a video clip of Totie singing Put on a Happy Face from Bye Bye Birdie to Ed Sullivan on his variety show in 1966.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)   

 

  #Throwback Thursday       #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Sid Caesar Plays French Waiter Serving Ed Sullivan and Shirley Bassey

In 1971 Sid Caesar played the role of a waiter in a French restaurant serving Ed Sullivan and Shirley Bassey who want to order a quick dinner while on a break from rehearsing the Ed Sullivan Show.

With only a half hour for dinner, they start to order hamburgers and soda pop, but the waiter keeps insisting that they order chateaubriand, duck a l'orange, or pheasant under glass, with an appropriately paired wine.

When the waiter (a young Sid Caesar) brings the order into the kitchen, the French chef is insulted by the order and takes it out on Caesar. It's a very funny bit of sketch comedy.

Enjoy!

 

  #Throwback Thursday   #TBT 

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Jack Benny Asks Ed Sullivan How Much He Earns

In 1967 Jack Benny was a guest on the Ed Sullivan Show and they struck up a conversation with Benny asking Sullivan exactly what he did on his show. 

After confirming that Sullivan didn't sing, dance, act, or tell jokes, but just introduced the acts, he asked him how much he was paid for each appearance.

The answer, $800,000, would be $7.1 million in today's dollars. Not bad for introducing acts.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.  

 

  #Throwback Thursday      #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Milton Berle Teaches Ed Sullivan How to Get Laughs

In the 1970s Milton Berle was the host of the Texaco Star Theater. One night Ed Sullivan appeared as a guest on the show with a complaint -- he likes to tell jokes but nobody laughs at them. Berle is quick to offer solutions -- each one funnier than the previous one.

The skit continues with Berle performing his usual shtick, showing Sullivan how to get big laughs.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

  #Throwback Thursday       #TBT           

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Jackie Mason Holds Nothing Back on the Johnny Carson Show

It's another Throwback Thursday and we're turning the calendar back to 1988 when Jackie Mason made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. 

Jackie held nothing back in that session, cracking Carson up with his staccato delivery and his unique accent. 

Topics included his Broadway show, his films and records, why he never got married, soup vs. sex, cars as status symbols, and New York vs. Hollywood.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

  

 #Throwback Thursday      #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Jackie Mason Does His Ed Sullivan Imitation on the Ed Sullivan Show

Today we're continuing our tribute to legendary comedian Jackie Mason, who died two weeks ago. While his humor didn't appeal to all, and made some people uncomfortable, there's no denying that he was funny and topical in his political incorrectness. 

Mason had a special insight into societal trends, attitudes and actions that defied common sense. His matter-of-fact observations played out to large appreciative audiences on highly rated TV shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show.

His appearance on the show almost cost him his career when he gestured to Sullivan in a way that Sullivan interpreted as obscene. But two years later they reconciled and Mason appeared on the show to give an inspired impersonation of Sullivan strutting around the stage.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Another Rodney Dangerfield Routine From The Ed Sullivan Show

It's Throwback Thursday again and we're going back 54 years to get another dose of Rodney Dangerfield explaining why he "don't get no respect."

Born Jacob Rodney Cohen on Long Island, Dangerfield (he took the name from a character in a skit on the Jack Benny Show) had a career that went beyond standup comedy to the movies and to his own comedy club, Dangerfield's, in Manhattan.

In this video clip from The Ed Sullivan Show in June 1967, Dangerfield delivers monologues and tosses out one-liners about being thin, his New York neighborhood, and his wife.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.  

 

#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Myron Cohen on School Rivalries and Divorce

It's too bad that so few videos of Myron Cohen's witty and clean stand-up comedy survive and have surfaced on the internet. Cohen, who started out as a salesman telling jokes to his customers, became one of the most frequent guests on The Ed Sullivan Show, where his Yiddish-accented observations delighted general audiences. 

Of course he appeared in the Catskills, which gave a boost to his career and that of so many Jewish comedians. 

Here's a video clip of a Myron Cohen routine on the Sullivan show in 1964.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

The Great Jewish Entertainers: Ventriloquist Rickie Layne and Velvel

Rickie Layne (1924-2006) was born Richard Israel Cohen in Brooklyn. He was an actor and entertainer, but he was best known for his ventriloquism. In 2002 he received the Askins Award for lifetime achievement from the International Ventriloquist Association.

Layne began entertaining at age 9 doing impersonations of Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, and other stars but his act took on a new twist after an uncle gave him a ventriloquist's dummy.

Nat 'King' Cole was so impressed with Layne and his dummy Velvel that he urged Ed Sullivan to put the act on his popular Sunday night variety show and if Layne bombed, Cole said he would appear on the show himself at no charge. Layne went on to appear in 48 of Sullivan's shows.

Layne's dummy was originally named Willie, but while performing in the Catskills, he gave the dummy a Yiddish accent and changed his name to Velvel.

Here's a rare video clip of Ricky Layne and Velvel kibitzing with Ed Sullivan in 1956 (Velvel always called him "Solomon."

Enjoy!

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Throwback Thursday Comedy/Music Special: Sophie Tucker's Last TV Appearance

The last of the Red Hot Mamas, the great Sophie Tucker is seen here on her final network television appearance originally broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show in October 1965 in color.

Sophie lived until February of the next year. By this time, her voice was not what it used to be, so she talk/sang her songs, but her showmanship was unsurpassed.

With their photos set in frames on the studio's grand piano, Sophie sings the most popular songs of Ted Lewis, Fannie Brice, George M. Cohan, Eddie Cantor, Maurice Chevalier, and her own special song, Some of These Days.

So take a 54 year stroll down memory lane and enjoy!

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#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Remembering Bill Dana (Jose Jimenez) and His Many Characters

Last week we lost one of our favorite Jewish comedians, Bill Dana. Bill, who passed away last week at the age of 92, was born William Szathmary to Jewish-Hungarian parents.

A character actor and script writer who adopted a variant of his mother's name Dena as his surname, Bill was most widely known in his role as Jose Jimenez, the Colombian-accented hapless astronaut, bellhop, and karate expert.

We've featured Bill a few times on Jewish Humor Central, including an interview in which he explained the origin of the Jose Jimenez character.

Today we're sharing one of his original appearances in 1968 on The Ed Sullivan Show as Jose Jimenez the astronaut. Enjoy!

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Comedy Flashback: Rich Little Roasts Jack Benny at Friars Club

The Friars Club has been conducting celebrity roasts since 1950. A typical roast has many entertainment industry greats delivering funny tributes to the annual honoree. We'll be running a series of videos showing some of the funniest roasts at the Friars Club.

Comedian Jack Benny was roasted by the Friars Club in 1963 and 1970. In this video clip, Jack is roasted by Rich Little impersonating Jack, George Burns, and Jimmy Stewart.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

The Great Jewish Comedians - Totie Fields on The Ed Sullivan Show

Totie Fields was born Sophie Feldman in Hartford, Connecticut. According to Wikipedia, she started singing in Boston clubs while still in high school, taking the stage name of Totie Fields. The name "Totie" was a childhood nickname, a baby-talk pronunciation of the name "Sophie"

Fields gained fame during the 1960s and 1970s. Ed Sullivan gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at the Copacabana in New York. She made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Merv Griffin Show, as well as a fifth season episode of Here's Lucy starring Lucille Ball.

Here's a video clip of one of her standup comedy appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)  

The Great Jewish Comedians - Myron Cohen on The Kate Smith Evening Hour

Myron Cohen (1902-1986) was a top nightclub headliner in the 1950s and a frequent guest performer on The Ed Sullivan Show. 

He became famous as a stand-up comedian specializing in jokes told in a heavy Jewish dialect. But offstage, he spoke perfect, cultured English. Unlike many star performers of his time, he was very affable and approachable in public.

His path to comedy started in New York City's garment district, where he worked as a salesman. When calling on customers, before showing his samples, he would tell a joke to put everyone at ease and establish a friendly mood. Cohen’s jokes were often more popular than his garment samples, and his customers urged him to become a professional comedian.

Here's a selection from Cohen's 1952 appearance on The Kate Smith Evening Hour. Enjoy!

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Remembering Anne Meara With a Video Clip on Computer Dating

Anne Meara, the comedy actress wife of Jerry Stiller and mother of Ben and Amy Stiller, died in Manhattan last Saturday at the age of 85.

As the Irish Catholic half of the comedy team of Stiller and Meara, she made many appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and other TV programs.

A lot of their humor focused on their different religious backgrounds, but actually Meara converted to Reform Judaism six years after marrying Stiller.

According to the biographical website NNDB,

She has long stressed that her conversion wasn't at Stiller's request, but because "Catholicism was dead to me", and she simply came to prefer the more "lively" character of Jewish culture. And she took the conversion seriously, studying the faith in such depth that her born-Jewish husband quipped, "being married to Anne has made me more Jewish".

Here is a video clip of Stiller and Meara in a skit about computer dating when it was first introduced.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)  


(A tip of the kippah to Meyer Berkowitz for bringing this to our attention.)