Who's on first?

William Alexander Abbott: October 2, 1897-April 24, 1974

Louis Francis Cristillo: March 6, 1906-March 3, 1959

Without a doubt, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello were one of the greatest comedy teams in the history of show business. They would meet each other while both were performing on the burlesque circut, and would become an official team in 1936. They would soon after become very popular on the circut, and it would land them a gig on the Kate Smith Radio Hour. After performing their classic signature skit "Who's on first" Bud & Lou were on their way to stardom and, on their way to Hollywood!

They would sign to Universal Studios in 1939, and were crowned the new "Kings Of Comedy". Their special comedic style and talents would gain them box office after box office hits, including: "Buck Privates," "In The Navy," "Hold That Ghost," "Naughty Nineties," "Time Of Their Lives," and their 1948 monster classic "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein." Even today, that classic film remains a favorite among fans, as well as an international cult masterpiece.

During the 40's, Bud & Lou did more than their part for the war effort, and raised $89 million in just three days on a War Bond Drive. They even paid for the tour out of their own pockets, and both (deservingly so) would be honored for that gracious effort, on the steps of New York's City Hall by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.

With the country still settling down from the war in the1950's "The Abbott & Costello Show" debuted in 1952, and would run for two seasons on CBS. One of my all time favorite episodes was a rendition of their classic Susquehanna Hat skit, which was so popular during their days in burlesque. They had so many hilarious skits it's hard for me to pick a favorite from all of them.

Abbott and Costello would split up in 1957, after troubles with the IRS that forced both men to sell off their large homes and the rights to some of their films. In 1991, the United States Postal Service paid homage to them by enlisting them as part of their "Comedy Legends" commemorative stamp booklet.

 Jerry Seinfeld, would have this to say about this great comedy team, "If it weren't for Abbott & Costello, many of the wonderful burlesque routines which are a part of the American fabric would have been lost forever. They were giants of their time, who truly immortalized burlesque forever. Maybe that art form is largely lost, but I try and keep it alive in my own show."

Janis Lyn Joplin

January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970

Mercedes Benz

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a color TV ?
Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until three,
So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a color TV ?

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town ?
I’m counting on you, Lord, please don’t let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round,
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a night on the town ?

Everybody!
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends,
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz ?

That’s it!

"Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got." - Janis Joplin

I remember the first time hearing that gal from Port Arthur, Texas, singing Mercedes Benz. Thinking to myself: If I wasn't in love with you before, I'm in love/lust with you now, Janis!  I mean... her singing that song in "a cappella" made the hair stand up on the back of my neck (and I had a lot of hair back then!). I also remember thinking that, Big Brother & the Holding Company, should have kissed (her ass!) the ground she walked on!

Janis, (in my opinion) was among the many elite musicians that were decades ahead of their time. Her stage performances were not only described as being raw, but were considered uninhibited, and intense! Powerful, to say the least (sadly, I never seen her live in concert). Also, there was no mistake in recognizing her voice and vocal style. That rough, gritty, and powerful voice was perfect for belting out the blues... and could she belt out the blues!!!!? No question about it!

It is said that in her school years, she found herself drawn to the beat poet movement, and soon became interested in jazz and blues: influenced by blues singers like Bessie Smith, Odetta, Big Mama Thornton and Leadbelly. Janis received ridicule at school for her tom-boy appearance, and for her unorthodox views (guess they didn't know a genius when they saw one!?).  

Anyway. After college, Janis moved to San Francisco. Her apartment was near the North Beach district (back then, a mecca for beat poets - famous for the City Lights Bookstore, Kerouac, and Ginsberg). It was also there that Janis would begin as a folk singer, and would soon attract attention as the lead singer of the San Francisco band, Big Brother & the Holding Company.

Janis Joplin, undoubtably, could have went on to be so much more successful, credited and revered; sadly, only her legacy remains... but, the hair on the back of my neck still stands up whenever I listen to her sing her songs, especially,  Mercedes Benz.

*There were tons of pictures of Janis to choose from. Is it just me, or can you feel the emotions that pour out of this Joplin photo? 

Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery

April 15, 1933 - May 18, 1995 

Although, she's probably best remembered for her role as Samantha in the situation comedy Bewitched...  Elizabeth's talents went far beyond that of being a nose twitching witch (which she refused to ever do again for her many fans after Bewitched had went off the air).

I loved her as a good natured witch, but I have to admit she had me spellbound when she played the part of Lizzie in The Legend of Lizzie Borden. Another film character that was so unlike her Samantha role was that of a nurse who terrorized her patients in the 1985 film, Amos. Elizabeth was truly a talented actress, whether in a  comedic or a dramatic role. Her show, Bewitched, also featured many other (to name a few) funny and talented actors: Dick York, Dick Sargent, Agnes Moorehead, David White, Alice Ghostley, Marion Lorne, and (one of my favorites) Paul Lynde.

Elizabeth's father, Robert Montgomery, was a fine actor/director in his own right. Elizabeth made her television debut on his show: Robert Montgomery Presents. She would make her film debut in 1955 in the film:  The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell (which is also one of my favorite Gary Cooper flicks). Montgomery died in 1995 at the age of 62, from colorectal cancer. Her father had died of cancer as well. It's still hard to believe she's gone, but I take comfort in watching re-run after re-run of her silly little beautiful twitching nose.  

"Faster than a speeding bullet!"
Sorry! That was some other radio/television/movie hero.
However, bullet was Roy Rogers' dog.
What I'm talking about here is: The Lone Ranger!

"A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust
and a hearty hi-yo Silver! The Lone Ranger! With his
faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful
masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order
in the early West. Return with us now to those thrilling
days of yesteryear, the Lone Ranger rides Again!"

That show was a Saturday afternoon main staple on my old black & white TV set, when I was a kid. I'd be crunching down on a bowl of "Jets," wearing my six shooters, white hat, and humming along to the William Tell Overture.
But, there was one thing that always bothered me about (Clayton Moore) The Lone Ranger. Just how in the hell did he get away with bolting into a strange town, stirring up a big ass cloud of dust, and wearing a black mask?
I know he always explained that he was on the "right-side-of-the-law!" But, it wasn't always so, right-a-way!
Anyway! Just try going into a liquor store today with a black mask on, and then saying you were there to prevent a hold-up. Yeah, you'd be holding up alright... overnight, at the county jail!
I always did kinda feel sorry for the Ranger's Indian companion, Tonto. He was pretty much Clayton Moore's go-fer. I can't count the times that Tonto was sent off to "Scout" the town out for all the bad-guys. Not to mention... counting the many times he'd be found out, and end up getting his ass tied up by them!
Now, either Tonto didn't like talking very much (except, for an occasional grunt, or a quick: "Yes, kemo-sabe."). Or, the guy that wrote the script didn't like Indians too much. Okay, but civil-rights wasn't exactly an enforced issue at that time.
However, one of my favorite things that Tonto (Jay Silverheels) did say in a interview, many years later after becoming a horse breeder and racer; and, after being asked if he would ever consider racing Scout?
Jay, had replied: "Heck, I can beat Scout."

Clayton Moore died on December 28, 1999 in the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital. He was 85. According to a hospital spokesman, Clayton died as the result of a heart attack.
Jay Silverheels, was a full-blooded Mohawk Indian from the Six Nations Indian Reservation in Ontario, Canada. Jay passed away March 5, 1980. He was 62 years old. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over the Six Nations Reservation.