Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Alan King on Married Life in 1965

Some of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Today we continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines by iconic comedians on Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.

Alan King (1927-2004) was synonymous with classic Jewish comedy during his career which lasted about 50 years starting in 1955. He had roles in many movies, but we remember him most vividly for his stand-up comedy routines in the Catskills and on television.

King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews. King's style of comedy changed when he saw Danny Thomas performing in the early 1950s. He realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response. King changed his own style from one-liners to a more conversational style that used everyday life for humor. His comedy inspired other comedians such as Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Robert Klein, and Bill Cosby.

In one of his earliest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965, with his wife and two sons in the audience, King talks about married life.

Enjoy! 

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: The Barry Sisters Sing "Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard" in1965

For almost half a century, from the 1930s to 1976, The Barry Sisters, Claire and Merna, were the voice of Jewish jazz in recordings, nightclub acts, and television appearances on The Jack Paar Show, The Tonight Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show.

Born in the Bronx to Yiddish speaking immigrants from Kiev, Clara and Minnie Bagelman started out in show business using their real names as The Bagelman Sisters, but after awhile, Clara became Claire, Minnie became Merna, and Bagelman became Barry. They performed songs in nine languages.

Looking glamorous and sparing no expense for their orchestrations, they sang to a full house at the Concord and other Catskills resorts.

In this Throwback Thursday special, Claire and Merna perform "Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard", on The Ed Sullivan Show. The song was written by Jule Styne and Bob Hilliard. It was featured in the 1954 movie Living It Up.

Enjoy!

 

  #Throwback Thursday        #TBT

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: An Early (1969) Performance by Rodney Dangerfield

Some of the best standup comedy was on TV shows in the 1960s. Today we continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines by iconic comedians on Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.

Born Jacob Cohen and initially going by the stage name of Jack Roy, the 19-year old Rodney Dangerfield ventured into the world of stand-up only to find disappointment.  After nine years of going nowhere, he completely dropped out of showbiz and, to support his family, sold household aluminum siding.  Twenty-five years later, at the age of 45, Rodney decided to give comedy another try, appearing in clubs at night while still selling siding during the day.  He ultimately found success, due to luck, persistence and his enormous comedic talent.  

On March 5th 1967, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.  Having seen what the show had done for other comics like Richard Pryor on The Ed Sullivan Show and Joan Rivers on The Ed Sullivan Show, Rodney knew that he was finally getting somewhere.  Luckily for viewers, Dangerfield had twenty-five years worth of pent-up comedy when he finally “made it.”  He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show a total of 17 times between 1967 and 1971.   Audiences loved his stand-up routines and related to his famous catchphrase, “I don’t get no respect! No respect at all…” His self-deprecating style of comedy, ranging from childhood stories to shopping trip tales, to problems with his wife always resonated with middle America.  

Here's a classic performance by Rodney Dangerfield on the The Ed Sullivan Show in 1969.  

Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Joel Grey Sings "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Grand Old Flag" in 1968

Today we turn the clock back to 1968 when Joel Grey and the cast of the Broadway musical George M performed two of the hit numbers from the show on The Ed Sullivan Show.

George M was based on the life of George M. Cohan and covered the period from the late 1880s until 1937. It focused on Cohan's life and show business career from his early days in vaudeville with his parents and sister to his later success as a Broadway singer, dancer, composer, lyricist, theatre director and producer.

Joel Grey, born Joel David Katz in 1932, and son of comedian and musician Mickey Katz, is an American actor, singer, dancer, photographer, and theatre director. He is best known for portraying the Master of Ceremonies in the musical Cabaret on Broadway and in Bob Fosse's 1972 film adaptation. He has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award for his performances in the Cabaret stage musical and film. He earned the Lifetime Achievement Tony Award at the 76th Tony Awards in 2023.

Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Alan King on Doctors in 1964

Alan King (1927-2004) was synonymous with classic Jewish comedy during his career which lasted about 50 years starting in 1955. He had roles in many movies, but we remember him most vividly for his stand-up comedy routines in the Catskills and on television.

King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews. King's style of comedy changed when he saw Danny Thomas performing in the early 1950s. He realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response. King changed his own style from one-liners to a more conversational style that used everyday life for humor. His comedy inspired other comedians such as Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Robert Klein, and Bill Cosby.

In this video clip from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, Alan King tells stories about the frustrations associated with doctors' offices, waiting rooms, and the indignities suffered while waiting to see the doctor.

Enjoy!

   

    #Throwback Thursday          #TBT

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: The Barry Sisters Sing "Nevertheless" in 1961

Today our Throwback Thursday time machine takes us back 64 years to 1961 when the Barry Sisters appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show to sing the ballad Nevertheless, written in 1931 by Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar.

Born in the Bronx to Yiddish speaking immigrants from Kiev, Clara and Minnie Bagelman started out in show business using their real names as The Bagelman Sisters, but after awhile, Clara became Claire, Minnie became Merna, and Bagelman became Barry. They performed songs in nine languages.

Looking glamorous and sparing no expense for their orchestrations, they sang to a full house at the Concord and other Catskills resorts.

 Enjoy!

  

  #Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme Sing a Big Medley on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967

Today we're turning the clock back 58 years to 1967 when Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme sang a medley of songs too many to count on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Gormé was born in the Bronx to Sephardic Jewish parents Nessim Hasdai Gormezano and Fortuna "Fortunee" Gormezano. Both her parents were born in Turkey. The Gormezanos spoke several languages at home, including Ladino (also referred to as Judaeo-Spanish). Due to its close relationship with Castilian Spanish, Gormé was able to speak and sing in Spanish. She was distantly related (by marriage) to Neil Sedaka.

Eydie and her husband and singing partner Steve Lawrence (born Sidney Liebowitz) have been among our favorite singers for many decades. Eydie died in 2013 and Steve in 2024. We miss them both but we still enjoy their duets and solos thanks to YouTube.

Enjoy the flashback!

 

   #Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: Allan Sherman Sings Parodies on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1966

Allan Sherman dominated the world of song parody during the 1960s and recorded eight albums, starting with My Son the Folksinger.  

Listening to or reading his lyrics is a crash course in pop culture of the 1960s, with Sherman taking satiric swipes at summer camp, psychiatry, fad diets, Hadassah ladies, school dropouts, and upward mobility.

The popularity of his parodies got him many guest appearances on TV variety shows.

We just came across a rare video of Sherman on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1966 singing a medley of takeoffs on classic popular songs including Auld Lang Syne, Aura Lee, On Top of Old Smoky, Charmaine, Too Young, Coming Through the Rye, and Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home.

Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Joel Grey Sings and Dances "Honey Bun" 72 Years Ago

Joel Grey has had many roles as actor, singer, dancer, director, and photographer. He is best known for portraying the Nazi Master of Ceremonies in the Kander & Ebb musical Cabaret, as well as in the 1972 film adaptation. He has won an Academy Award, Tony Award, and Golden Globe Award. 

Most recently he has won praise for his direction of the Yiddish version of Fiddler on the Roof. 

Today's Throwback Thursday musical showcase goes way, way back 72 years to 1952 when Joel Grey performed Honey Bun from South Pacific in a song and dance routine on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Eydie Gorme Sings "If He Walked Into My Live" in 1967

Today we're turning the clock back 57 years to 1967 when Eydie Gorme sang If He Walked Into My Life on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Gormé was born in the Bronx to Sephardic Jewish parents Nessim Hasdai Gormezano and Fortuna "Fortunee" Gormezano. Both her parents were born in Turkey. The Gormezanos spoke several languages at home, including Ladino (also referred to as Judaeo-Spanish). Due to its close relationship with Castilian Spanish, Gormé was able to speak and sing in Spanish. She was distantly related (by marriage) to Neil Sedaka.

Eydie and her husband and singing partner Steve Lawrence have been among our favorite singers for many decades. Eydie died in 2013 and Steve 8 months ago. We miss them both but we still enjoy their duets and solos thanks to YouTube.

Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Henny Youngman Delivers One Liners on Ed Sullivan Show in 1969

It's been awhile since we've posted a collection of Henny Youngman jokes, so we think Throwback Thursday is a good opportunity to share another bunch with you. 

Youngman, a British-American Jewish comedian and violinist, was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, with many appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and on Laugh-in.

His stand-up comedy stood out from that of his fellow comedians in that he only told simple one-liner jokes, a format that was picked up years later by Rodney Dangerfield.

Henny explained the origin of his classic line "Take my wife, please" as a misinterpretation: in the mid-1930s he took his wife to a show and asked the usher to escort his wife to a seat. But his request was taken as a joke, and Youngman used the line countless times ever after.

This video clip goes back 55 years to 1969. Enjoy!

  

   #Throwback Thursday        #TBT

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Ed Ames Sings "Son of a Travelin' Man" on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1969

Ed Ames (Edmund Urick) (1927-2023) was a pop singer and actor. He was also part of the popular 1950s singing group with his siblings, the Ames Brothers.

Best known for his singing career with three of his brothers as The Ames Brothers, and his acting in the role of Mingo, a Cherokee tribesman in the TV series Daniel Boone, Ames was a committed Zionist and president of the California chapter of the Zionist Organization of America.

In this video from the Ed Sullivan Show 55 years ago, Ames sang his 1969 hit song "Son of a Travelin' Man".

Enjoy!

 

   #Throwback Thursday      #TBT

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 Musical Showcase: Robert Merrill and Roberta Peters Sing "Will You Remember" from "Maytime"

Robert Merrill (born Moishe Miller) and Roberta Peters (born Roberta Peterman) were stars of the Metropolitan Opera and were briefly married. Today we're turning the clock back 72 years to their appearance in 1952 when they sang the duet Will You Remember on the Ed Sullivan Show.

The song was from the operetta Maytime by Sigmund Romberg and Rida Johnson Young.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  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 Musical Showcase: Danny Kaye Sings "You" on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970

Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; 1911-1987) was an American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and rapid-fire novelty songs.

Kaye was born to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, the youngest of three boys for Jacob and Clara Nemerovsky Kaminsky. He was the only son born in the United States.

Kaye starred in 17 movies, notably Wonder Man (1945), The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), The Inspector General (1949), Hans Christian Andersen (1952), White Christmas (1954), and The Court Jester (1956). His films were popular, especially his bravura performances of patter songs and favorites such as "Inchworm" and "The Ugly Duckling". He was the first ambassador-at-large of UNICEF in 1954 and received the French Legion of Honor in 1986 for his years of work with the organization.

Here is Danny Kaye singing "You" in a performance on the Ed Sullivan Show in November 1970.

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 Musical Showcase: Ed Ames and Dinah Shore Sing "Sunrise, Sunset" on the Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show was a television variety program that aired on CBS from 1948-1971. For 23 years it aired every Sunday night and played host to the world's greatest talents. The Ed Sullivan Show is well known for bringing rock n' roll music to the forefront of American culture through acts like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. 

The entertainers each week ranged from comedians like Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield, to Broadway stars Julie Andrews and Richard Burton, to pop singers such as Bobby Darin and Petula Clark. It also frequently featured stars of Motown such as The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. The Ed Sullivan Show was one of the only places on American television where such a wide variety of popular culture was showcased and its legacy lives on to this day. 

Let's turn the clock back 56 years to February 25, 1968 when singers Ed Ames and Dinah Shore sang Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Ed Ames (Edmund Urick) was a pop singer and actor. He was also part of the popular 1950s singing group with his siblings, the Ames Brothers. Dinah Shore (Frances Rose Shore) was an American singer, actress, and television personality, and the chart-topping female vocalist of the 1940s. They both grew up in Jewish families, Ames' parents from Ukraine and Shore's from Russia.

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 Musical Showcase: Jan Peerce Sings "Because" on the Ed Sullivan Show

Today we're turning the calendar way way back 72 years to 1952 when Jan Peerce appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to sing Because, a song that was a regular part of most weddings.

Peerce, who was born Yehoshua Pinkhes Perelmuth in New York, was an accomplished performer on the operatic and Broadway concert stages, in solo recitals, and as a recording artist. Peerce became the brother-in-law of fellow American tenor Richard Tucker when Sara Perelmuth, Peerce’s only sister, married Tucker, who was then a part-time cantor, in 1936.

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 Musical Showcase: Lainie Kazan Sings "What Now My Love" on the Ed Sullivan Show

It's another Throwback Thursday and today we're turning the clock back 58 years to 1966 when Lainie Kazan appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to sing What Now My Love. 

Kazan was born Lainie Levine in Brooklyn. She is of Ashkenazi Jewish and Sephardic Jewish descent with Russian and Turkish roots.Some of her grandparents lived in Jerusalem before moving to Manchester, England and settling in Brooklyn.

In 1966 she was primarily a singer, but she is best known as an actress who has appeared in many Broadway musicals and TV shows. Most recently Kazan played Maria Portokalos, the mother of Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise. She also played Aunt Freida on The Nanny.   

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 Musical Showcase: The Barry Sisters Sing "King of the Road" on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1965

For almost half a century, from the 1930s to 1976, The Barry Sisters, Claire and Merna, were the voice of Jewish jazz in recordings, nightclub acts, and television appearances on The Jack Paar Show, The Tonight Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show.

Born in the Bronx to Yiddish speaking immigrants from Kiev, Clara and Minnie Bagelman started out in show business using their real names as The Bagelman Sisters, but after awhile, Clara became Claire, Minnie became Merna, and Bagelman became Barry. They performed songs in nine languages.

Looking glamorous and sparing no expense for their orchestrations, they sang to a full house at the Concord and other Catskills resorts.

In this Throwback Thursday special, Claire and Merna perform "King of the Road" in a 1965 appearance 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.

  

 #Throwback Thursday       #TBT

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme Sing a Beatles Medley on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970

It's another Throwback Thursday, so come with us on a nostalgia trip back to 1970 when Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show to sing a medley of love songs by the Beatles.

Included in the medley are All You Need Is Love, With A Little Help From My Friends, When I'm 64, And I Love Her, Michelle, Ob La Di, and All My Loving.

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