Chaulk up another brick in the wall - Are You Popular - Random’s Cut, a bizarre yet lovely addition to the growing video library we call Funky Shorts. If you like weird - you’ll love this 6 minute short - Are You Popular - well are you punk! More
Yes - you might recognize Hal Smith as the actor who played Otis Campbell, the town drunk in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show - but if you think about it for just a minute, you will remember Hal Smith for what he is really known for. Got it? Yep - His VOICE! Hal Smith was one of the most familiar cartoon voices in the history of animation, right up there with another great, Mel Blanc. Hal worked for many years as the “go to” voice for countless Hanna Barbara cartoons. Did you know Hal was also the voice of Goofy for many years, the dorky dog from Walt Disney? He was the voice of Owl in Winnie The Pooh, the voice of Santa in Casper’s First Christmas and also on the Flintstones as Santa. For Warner Brothers, he sometimes was the voice of Elmer Fudd. He was Peter Potamus and Yapee. Did you know he was also the voice of Mr. Magoo after Jim Backus. Speaking of Jim Backus, who palyed Judge Stevens, the guy who was married to Joan on I married Joan… Hal Smith was on that show too, as Charlie. We could go on and on… Hal Smith was a legend. But here’s a clip from LikeTelevision’s video vault you might have missed - Hal Smith on a very bizarre 1960s game called Tight Squeeze. Really folks - this is MUST SEE LikeTelevision, you are not going to believe this game ever existed. We are certain it caused at least a few dozen marital spats with good folks who used to be good neighbors. hahhaha… watch the clip and you will understand. Who the heck thought up this game? You can also check out Hal Smith as Otis Campbell in one of the best Andy Griffith episodes ever made - Loaded Goat.
Today - we remember Hal Smith because it is his birthday. He was born August 24, 1916 in Petosky, Michigan. He died of a heart attack on January 28, 1994 in Woodland Hills, California.
Yesterday, August 19, 2004 - the world lost one of the greatest names in music, that i regret - not many people even know his name. Elmer Bernstein (no relation to Leonard Bernstein) was one the greatest film composers in Hollywood’s history. With about 200 films to his credit - he was not only a great composer, but obviously prolific as well. Perhaps his best known work is the incredible jazz score for Otto Preminger’s The Man with the Golden Arm, starring Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, Eleanor Parker, and Darren McGavin, about a heroin junkie (Frank Sinatra as Frankie Machine) trying to go straight by being a drummer. If you’ve never seen the film - by all means check it out. Or if time is short, check out Frank Random’s terrific FREE preview that will give you a taste of Bernstein’s genius.
Bernstein’s gifts also took center stage on another classic film - To Kill A Mockingbird, starring Gregory Peck and based on Harper Lee’s novel. Bernstein was challenged by the film and finally decided to come up with a brilliant score that was based on a very simple musical line, often played by a single note on the piano. His style here was meant to reflect upon the beauty and innocence of a child - and how a child might perceive the hatred of racial prejudice. In a totally different style - another work of musical genius. Watch the movie - or check out another great FREE Preview by LikeTelevision’s resident genius, Frank Random.
And Bernstein did it again - with the rousing upbeat Western score for the Magnificent Seven (the Marlboro Man theme back when cigarette makers advertised on television). And in case you didn’t know - The Magnificent Seven was based on an earlier work by Akira Kurosawa - Seven Samurai. And yes - another terrific FREE Preview.
Other credits include: National Lampoon’s Animal House, Ghostbusters, Birdman of Alcatraz, The Great Escape, The Great Santini, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and True Grit - to name but a few. Elmer Bernstein was a major talent, a legend and a musical genius.
He was also known for his liberal political views - which got him in trouble during the Communist Witch Hunts in the 1950s. He was hauled before Congress, and asked to name names - which he refused to do. Though he was not blacklisted - he still couldn’t find any decent work until he was hired by Cecil B. DeMille to score The Ten Commandments.
Bernstein was born April 4, 1922 and died peacefully in his sleep at his California home on August 19, 2004.
Kudos to LikeTelevision’s massive marketing department - for a getting a boatload of marketing air time - for nothing. While it is true - you usually get what you pay for it, in this case we actually got a lot for no cost. In July, LikeTelevision was contacted by a very nice fellow named Mike Goldfein, who has a cool TV News segment for Belo called Tech Files. (you can google it and learn more). Anyway - Belo owns a ton of media assets including a couple dozen broadcast tv stations in many different major markets including Charlotte, New Orleans, St. Louis, Phoenix, Seattle etc etc… basically their tv stations reach about 20% of the US market. So - to make a longer story short, we talked briefly with Mr. Goldfein and about a month later we started getting all kinds of additional phone traffic from all across the US. And then we watched the story about LikeTelevision on WNCW, Belo’s Charlotte NBC affiliate. WOW, finally - my kids were impressed! And we also got a nice bump in traffic and sign-ups. (which allows us to get more nifty content for our subscribers). Anyway - check it out if you missed the story on television. But hey.. you can still catch it at LikeTelevision.
On August 16th, 1977 - Elvis Presley dies in his home in Memphis Tennessee. Like most, i was always a fan of Elvis - so why not do a search of the media library for Elvis related videos. Also - search for other blog entries. Finally - go to google and do an advanced search for elvis (and for the domain selection - Only at liketelevision.com - as the filter) - and you get over 110 pages. And so - even in 2004 - the search for Elvis continues.
Just in time for the weekend - one of the best - bizarre sci-fi movies ever made - The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. It’s 1962 and a mad doctor, scientist & surgeon named Bill Cortner has big plans. This campy classic is even more weird given medical advancements over 40 years. Don’t miss the FREE PREVIEW.
I always loved Grant Wood’s classic painting on wood called American Gothic. The wife’s look was just too perfect, don’t you think? So imagine my surprise - when i saw this Kelloggs tv commercial for a new cereal - called NEW Country Corn Flakes - where the characters from the painting come to life - and start singing a jingle for New Country Corn Flakes. HA! The tune really has the authentic feel of a rustic rendition - complete with a Jew’s Harp twanging in the background. Of course over time, this cereal wasn’t new anymore - so they lost the new AND the country - to become good old Kelloggs Corn Flakes.
Next up - The Brain that Wouldn’t Die - an all time classic. Considered by many experts to be one of the worst films ever made, every bit as bad as Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space. Oh - those Wood boys - Grant and Ed are two American Classics, though i doubt many bring them up in the same paragraph. It will be ready to view over the weekend - but till then, make sure you check out Frank Random’s preview - featuring the original Bessie Smith version of I ain’t got nobody. Watch the preview - she ain’t got nobody either.
Holy smokes - we’re working like dogs adding more fun stuff. Check out this 4 pack of classic tv commercials - a personal favorite, Noxzema Medicated comfort Shave. Take it off - take it ALL off. Or watch this old Heinz lady say shove it when a restaurant has soggy pickles. Wanna check out Charlotte Rae, before Facts of Life - acting psycho in a shower? And top it off with a brewski and enjoy a cold colt 45.
Do you remember the David Lee Roth song - I ain’t got nobody… well, long before Dave was in diapers, Bessie Smith did a killer version of the song. Anyway, Frank Random thought it really worked for a new movie coming up next called The Brain That Wouldn’t Die, coming real soon. Watch a preview now. Gotta get back to work.
Here’s a three pack to keep you going through the weekend. Coffee, Coke or Krispies. First up - coffee - with Virginia Christine, better known as Mrs. Olson easing some backyard BBQ tension between spouses with some Mountain Grown Folgers. Next up - Willie Mays, Arnold Palmer and other great names in sports line up for a classic coke commercial. Finally - how about a Fleischer Studio animated Cereal Classic from 1938. Featuring the debut of Snap, Crackle and Pop for Kelloggs Rice Krispies. Have a great weekend.
Oh no - how could we give you just ONE Alka Seltzer commercial… just a plop? i don’t think so. So ladies and gents - here’s a pair of Alka Seltzer classics, PLOP and Plop. (sorry, neither tv commercial has the classic jingle - Plop Plop Fizz Fizz, oh what a relief it is… but I know you will love them.
First up, the Tummy Poke - where a myriad a mid-sections are marked, a plethora of pot bellies are poked… and even some taught tummies are touched. My favorite shot is the jiggling belly running a jack hammer. This one is a classic.
The next Alka Seltzer commercial is terrific - and a tongue in cheek tribute to another Hall of Fame tv Commercial. (the answer is below… but test yourself and see if you can figure it out for yourself first. The spot features a professional pie eating content… where the players go to the medicine cabinet for some relief. Yes… it looks like cherry pie, but in fact, it is blueberry - or so they tell you. Anyway… as promised - the commercial is offering tribute to another commercial - yep, the Mean Joe Green, the kid and the bottle of Coke. Think about it… it was right in front of your nose… i missed it too, and then it came to me in a flashback. When the ad aired - the Mean Joe Green Coca Cola commercial was getting all kinds of Kudos. I wonder if it was the same agency? Any advice from our users and guests would be appreciated. And in case you were wondering - the fellow who bumps the vet is indeed Curly Joe, the final third stooge of the three stooges. His stage name was Joseph DeRita and his real name was Joseph Wardell. He was born July 12, 1909, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died on July 3, 1993.
