Comedy Showcase: Bill Dana as Jose Jimenez teaches Shakespeare to Robert Ryan

During the course of his José Jiménez acts on The Steve Allen Show, Bill Dana (who was of Hungarian-Jewish ancestry, unlike the Bolivian character he played) took his character through various roles including elevator operator, sailor, and submariner until settling into the most famous occupation that José would hold: astronaut.

We previously posted his astronaut routine, and his portrayal of a submarine officer, interviewed by Steve Allen.

Here is another rare video from the Steve Allen Show, in which Dana, as a movie director named (what else?) Jose Jimenez, teaches actor Robert Ryan how to properly perform the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.
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 Comedy Special: Bill Dana as Jose Jimenez, Submarine Officer

During the course of his José Jiménez acts on The Steve Allen Show, Bill Dana (who was of Hungarian-Jewish ancestry, unlike the Bolivian character he played) took his character through various roles including elevator operator, sailor, and submariner until settling into the most famous occupation that José would hold: astronaut.

We previously posted his astronaut routine, but recently came across his portrayal of a submarine officer, interviewed by Steve Allen.

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 

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!

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.

 

Happy 92nd Birthday to Bill Dana (Jose Jimenez) - One of Our Favorite Jewish Comedians

Our best wishes go out this week to William Szathmary on his 92nd birthday. Who is William Szathmary? None other than Bill Dana, one of our favorite and funniest Jewish comedians.

Bill's main claim to fame is in assuming the character of Bolivian astronaut, karate expert, and Santa Claus instructor Jose Jimenez. As we reported last month, he also wrote the Sammy Davis Jr. script for All in the Family.

Last year we profiled Bill as part of our series on The Great Jewish Comedians. Because you liked them so much, we're repeating the videos of Bill explaining how he came up with the character and his distinctive accent in 1959.

Bill's birthday is prominent on his Facebook page this week. That's where we found the Jose Jimenez for President button. Considering the election shenanigans this year, we're thinking he might not be a bad choice.

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 Comedy Showcase: Sammy Davis Jr.'s Visit to Archie Bunker

 

One of the most celebrated episodes of All in the Family aired in 1972. It's the classic tale about the time Sammy Davis Jr. stopped by to visit the Bunkers.

It begins with a briefcase he left in Archie's cab and ends with the kiss of infamy. 

Very few people are aware that the writer of this episode was Bill Dana, who we all know as Jose Jimenez. Dana's appearances with Ed Sullivan and Milton Berle as an astronaut, karate expert, and Santa Claus instructor were legendary.

Last year we profiled Bill Dana as one of the great Jewish comedians. In the interview below he recounts the backstory of how he came to write the episode with producer Norman Lear. 

Just in case you're yearning to see the full 25 minute long Sammy's Visit episode that Dana and Lear wrote, you'll find it right below the Bill Dana interview.

Enjoy!





#Throwback Thursday, #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Bill Dana as Jose Jimenez the Astronaut

Throwback Thursday has become a weekly social media posting trend to let readers and viewers look back fondly on some of their favorite memories -- hence the "throwback" theme.
 
At Jewish Humor Central, on most Thursdays we've been posting a nostalgic video clip from a very old TV show or movie that brings back happy memories.

Today we're going back 55 years to 1961 when William Szathmary, better known as Bill Dana, had everyone laughing with his hilarious portrayal of Jose Jimenez, the astronaut. Unlike most of our posts, this one is not a video, but only audio. It was recorded at the Hungry i nightclub in San Francisco.

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.)

Jose Jimenez Revisited: How a Jewish Comedian Became a Bolivian Santa Claus Instructor

Last week we wrote about Bill Dana, the comedian who brought laughter to so many viewers while appearing on TV shows with Ed Sullivan, Milton Berle, Steve Allen, Danny Thomas, Imogene Coca, and Martha Raye.
 
We had a good reaction to the post and requests for more like it, so here's a follow-up. How did a Jewish comedian come up with the idea to invent a Bolivian character who spoke with a Spanish-like accent? 

We found the answer on YouTube. Before he gained fame as the reluctant astronaut in his most frequent role on TV and records, Dana was head writer for the Steve Allen Show. In 1959 he debuted the Jose Jimenez character in a skit as a sidewalk instructor teaching new Santa Claus recruits how to say "Jo Jo Jo" (Ho Ho Ho.)

In an interview 52 years later, Bill Dana revealed the origin of the Jose Jimenez character and explained the nuances of his accent.

Here's the Santa Claus instructor clip followed by the interview.

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.)