"I've got two words for you. James Earl Jones!"
Posted on 10/31/2008 5:08:00 PM PDT by jadedtom
Robert Redford
Wow. Those are wild! Nice to see them preserved in cyberspace! What year, do you know? Mid 1950s? Those must be from someone close to Andy’s family or the studio, you think? Very cool. And kind of scary!
“Andy’s Gang” was a sorry, low-budget show that was usually padded for at least 20 of the 30 minutes by a banal live-action movie. All told, there were 156 episodes of Smilin’ Ed and Andy’s long-running show!
Variety was unamused when Andy appeared. In a review by “Jose” on August 24, 1955 the paper complained about the filmed adventures and then the comedy: “Accompanying Devine’s contribution are bits of clowning with mechanical toys. Aside from this business being not too funny, Devine is much too big to be playing with dolls.”
However, on November 27, 1957, reviewer “Ron” (no relation!) praised the “dancing cat, flying hamster and magic gremlin...Froggy the Gremlin comes on to introduce cousin Harry, a live orangutang. Without use of animation Harry mimicks what’s being said or vice versa and the outcome is quite amusing...Devine is affable fun to look at and has the ability to make a pal of every young viewer...”
Most filmed adventures in the series featured the exploits of Gunga Ram (Nino Marcel) an Indian boy who was usually having trouble with elephant poachers or deadly scorpions. Nino also played “Little Fox” the Sioux Indian, but his elephant boy character seemed to be more popular. He even made a movie using the character: “Sabaka” (1955) co-starring Boris Karloff and Victor Jory!
For the Indian adventures, Nino’s sidekick Rama (no jokes about his last name being Lama Dingdong) was played by the beloved Vito Scotti, who often appeared live on the show in the guise of a chef, music conductor or some other eccentric lesson-giver.He’d politely lecture the kids...and Froggy would call out terrible suggestions that Vito would instantly repeat and follow...only to become enraged at how he’d been fooled!
Fascinating! Expectations of kids were so different then, it seems. I think the second reviewer was right. “Affable” is a good word for it. The one where he can’t keep from eating the cream puff is funny, and even the mouse on the motorcycle is funny — just paced to a much less rushed attention span! It was a different era.
Squeeky the motorcycle mouse was the best. The guy who had the bunk above me in basic training made a sound like Squeeky’s motorcycle every night. It’s tough not holding a grudge.
I was born in 1950..I even remember listening to the radio before we got tv...(just barely)
You win again, Roscoe! (Good to see you, by the way!)
I just watched Newman in Slap Shot — talk about the anti-hero! What a hilarious movie (love the Hanson brothers).
Good to see you too, RR :)
“At first we thought it was just another snake cult... But now their towers are throughout the land...”
From “Conan the Barbarian”
Born in 1951. One time my dad brought home a new small radio each for my brother and me. It was shaped like a rocket ship and had an alligator clip that you attached to the register. You would raise the antenna at the top of the nose cone. Wow. That was a long time ago, maybe 1958 or so.
Looks like Don Imus.
I would not classify Paul Newmans character in Cool hand Luke as a loser per say, The great thing about that movie was that we cared about what happened to him. Anti Hero comes to mind, but that might not be the proper term for what I mean. Another great actor is Steve McQueen, In Papillon and Sand Pebbels he was just too awesome. For a guy like me the Duke will always be at the top of my short list, But I still appreciate the other great actors of our past. That said, it disgusts me that over 90% of Hollywood is enamored with socialism and the “O”. I actually have more respect Danny Boanaduce, and Chuck Norris than I would ever have for most of these other Hollywood Libtards. I don’t go to movies, I buy the DVD, and my FRiends I’m telling you I’m not gonna buy Will Smiths Hancock.. Not because I hate him, or Robert Redford for that matter, I just don’t feel the need.
But then there are the real Libtards out there who are real idiots (like Canye West, Bono, J Fonda, etc) that think they are better, or smarter than the rest of us. (All three of which I do truly despise). Redford seems almost “puppyish” in comparison.
Hollywood:
Act, Sing, or whatever.. Don’t be dumb enough to assume you know more about politics than the average person.
Jon Voight is a hero. He told a CNN reporter it should be a crime for journalist and networks to be so partisan.
That'd be me. ...and your posts are cracking me up!
Mary Ann
...just sayin'
Or would you like
another one?
So many great lines. Hard to believe that GANDHI got the Oscar nod....
True. Heroism is not so much in some great act, but rather in acting in the face of danger or tyranny. Mr. Voigt acts in the presence of both - if he works at all from now on considering the locked-down fascism of Hollywood.
Wow! You are amazing! That takes me back fifty years to my childhood in Dayton. Thanks for the trip. I may just have to get one of those. I’m sure it wasn’t $80 fifty years ago though.
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