Thursday, March 20, 2008
ART OF THE FUNNY WALK
Don't you just love a good walk? Walk acts were a whole genre in vaudeville. They were considered a type of "eccentric dancing." Cagney was good walker, so was Buddy Ebson, but I'll bet the best walkers were names nobody would recognize anymore. Here's a great one that Mike turned me on to (above): Dean Martin's uncle Leonard. Sheer bliss to watch!
Another great walk (above) by a guy named Wall. Holy Cow! It makes you want to burn your Preston Blair (well, sort of....)!
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What? And no mention of the Ministry of Silly Walks?
What? And no mention of the Ministry of Silly Walks?
I was thinking exactly the same. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if any of the above walks were inspirational to John Cleese.
I was downtown a few weeks ago, when a man came along doing a spot-on impression of John Cleese's Silly Walk. It was hilarious for one second -
And then I realized that he was severely handicapped and making his way along as best as he could.
So there I was, trying not to stare, doing my best not to snicker - But Jeez, it was a funny walk.
Hey pallie Eddie, gotta admit that Dino's uncle Leonard Barr is cool...but have you watched out Dino's moves on the Dinoshow...no one walks cooler then the King of Cool.
That was Leonard Barr and he really was Dean Martin's uncle. His act played like a funnier version of Abe Vigoda. Abe Vigoda is still alive.
Great stuff.
Walk acts. That's a new one on me!
Hey, Eddie, I know this is off-topic, but I am reading Neal Gabler's biography of Walt Disney. What do you think of it? I know Michael Barrier detests it, and so does Disney's daughter. But, though Gabler is no intellectual (a fact that puts him in sharp contrast with Barrier), so far it doesn't seem too bad.
Lester: I haven't read Gabler's book yet, probably because I didn't like the way Gabler called cartoons "animations" on TV interviews. Gabler didn't seem to understand the soul of this undustry. I still intend to read the book when I'm able.
Gabler also put me off by appearing to have a story that all the information had to fit into. It must be tough to write biographies. If you don't have a story then the history lacks drama, but if you do have a story you have to edit the facts to fit the story. What a dilemma!
Gabler wrote a biography of Walter Winchell that I might take a look at first. I'm skeptical about Gabler's ability to be objective but I'll give it a shot.
Anon: I looked up Abe Vigoda on YouTube and only found a rock band. is the original Vigoda on the net anywhere?
Nick, Benjamin, Steve: I didn't mention Cleese because I'd already done something about his walks, probably more than a year ago.
Well, I'd mention John Cleese, but someone already did.
- trevor.
Abe played Fish on Barney Miller and he played Sal Tessio in the godfather.
Silly Walk rules all!!!
Gabler pulled off the impossible by writing the only DULL book about Walter Winchell. Michael Herr, Bob Thomas and even the late Lyle Stuart wrote far better bios of the man. And you can see a couple of clips of the real Abe Vigoda on You Tube in the Rob Reiner NY Friars Roast. Too bad the band stole all of its namesake's screen time left on earth.
Eddie - speaking of silly walks, here's a good one I think you'll like, actually it's a dance Jackie Gleason does as Reggie Van Gleason.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RtxrHWUu6sE
Possibly a post on Gleason sometime?
Al "Rubber Legs" Norman. Check out his work in Paramount on Parade (Dancing to Save Your Sole segment), The King of Jazz (Happy Feet segment), or Good News. All on YouTube.
Eddie, What you say about Gabler's book is true. His theme seems to be that Walt spent his life trying to create a perfect world to "escape" into -- and that its perfection consists in the fact that he is completely in control. And he doesn't seem to realize that this undermines and reduces Walt to some kind of sick puppy. Biographers do that a lot nowadays. Still, there's a lot of information in it!
Best thing I've seen all week-fantastic!
If Uncle Leonard had a Walking Corner blog I'd visit every day!
It would appear Gabler already had a book in mind when he decided to write the Disney biography. Diane Disney Miller doesn't care for it, and I found the book lacking in many areas.
Of course, Gabler never met Walt Disney so I guess it wasn't an easy job. Heck, I worked with Walt and I can't say that I knew the man. But, he sure ain't the guy in Gablers book that's for sure.
"Animations?" Puh-leeeeze!
Lester, Floyd: If Gabler really said that, that's a pity. It sounds like Gabler thinks the quest for perfection comes from neurosis, which is an odd thing to say. i
Eddie, if you want to read a really fascinating biography, check out John Adams by David Mccullough. It's a Pulitzer Prize winner and an incredible feat of research and storytelling. Makes one damn proud to live in a country founded by such great men and women! Too bad we have strayed so far from the original intent of the founding fathers :(
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