we loved Red

Red Skelton was a beautiful fellow.

Godspeed Cousin Cliff

One of my earliest post here at Boomerville, USA was about Cousin Cliff. Well, I just heard that Cousin Cliff Holman passed away earlier this week. I never met the man. I was too young to remember his trips to the Princess Theatre to see his magic shows. I heard that all a kid had to do for admission was bring a pocket full of bottle caps to gain entry. Maybe one of you older boomers from the area might post a memory of one of his visits. I do remember watching him after school - watching him do his tricks on television and showing Popeye cartoons. He seemed to be a sweet fellow from afar.

God bless you Mr. Holeman - God bless your family during this time.

Birmingham, Al - BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - “Cousin Cliff” Holman, a long time Birmingham, TV personality who entertained generations of children across central Alabama, has died at age 79. Holman died Monday at Shepherd’s Cove respite-care facility in Albertville. He was considered by many as Alabama’s version of Captain Kangaroo or Bozo the Clown. Holman rose to fame in the mid 1950s and 1960s with his show called “Cousin Cliff’s Clubhouse.” Funeral arrangements were incomplete. AP / MSNBC

Dick & Jane

LOOK DICK

LOOK AT SALLY

LOOK AT SALLY PLAY

LOOK AT SALLY WITH THE RED WAGON

FUNNY SALLY

SALLY IS PULLING SPOT

SALLY IS PULLING KITTY

BARK SPOT BARK

LAUGH JANE LAUGH

SALLY CAN PULL A WAGON FAST

WAGON WILL TIP AND HURT SPOT

FUNNY SALLY

FUNNY FUNNY SALLY

DICK, JANE, AND SALLY WILL TAKE SPOT TO VET

AND BURY KITTY

POOR SPOT

POOR KITTY

LIFE IS TOUGH JANE

WE WILL GET HURT SOONER OR LATER SAYS DICK

WE WILL ALL DIE SALLY, SAID DICK

ONE DAY WE WILL ALL DIE, SAID DICK

HOPEFULLY NOT ALONE SALLY

DON'T CRY SALLY, DON'T CRY

JANE COMFORTS SALLY

DICK SAYS HARD THINGS SOMETIMES

DICK CAN OFTEN BE A REAL DICK

Seriously, I liked Dick & Jane when I was a kid. Dick & Jane was the standard for beginner readers from the 1930's to the 1960's. It was Dr. Suess's quirky work that came along and broke the mold. As an illustrator, I Iove the simple bright colors and the wholesome innocence portrayed in the illustrations of Dick & Jane. Back in 2003, a hardbound collection was reprinted that I picked up at Walmart. I don't know if the book holds up for today's young readers. It reflects children from an era long gone. I remember that time - and I remember those kids.

the first family

Vaughn Meader was a young singer/pianist that said he discovered a voice he could do - that of President John F. Kennedy. He started incorporating it into his act and before you know it - he had an album out. The First Family was the fastest selling LP of it's time. JFK himself loved the parody album and even gave them as Christmas gifts. In fact, while greeting a democat national committee group - Kennedy announced that "Vaughn Meader was busy tonight so I came myself." Unfortunately, after Kennedy's fatal trip to Dallas - record stores across the United States pulled The First Family off the shelf and Vaughn Meader faded into obscurity.

I loved the album as a kid and Kennedy was among my first impersonations. Each of the skits were very strong and funny. If you ever get a chance to go back and listen to it - you'll find the jabs quite tame compared to today's political satire. Vaughn was a talented fellow and it was sad that his comedic career suffered from the tragedy of Kennedy's death. He was so closely associated with Kennedy that all of his work suffered. He vowed never to impersonate Kennedy again and kept that vow. He died in 2004 - keeping his vow. Rich Little recorded the album The First Family Rides Again back in the eighties - in which Vaughn was invited to participate in the parody of Ronald Reagan's administration.

There's a lot of political parody/satire out there today. Let's not forget Vaughn Meader. He's the grandfather of most of what you see and hear today on radio & television. I just browsed youtube.com hoping to find a cut or two from the album, but nothing was there to sample.

way out

original uncut opening of The Prisoner