Shari Lewis

Once again, it’s time for the stars to shine at the Academy Awards. Edith Head was an American costume designer who won eight Oscars for Best Costume Design. And nominated for 35 Oscars, she became the most awarded woman in the Academy’s history. She is considered to be one of the greatest costume designers in movie history. She designed Grace Kelly’s dress for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window,” the sarong dress for Dorothy Lamour in “The Hurricane,” and she received her final Oscar for work on “The Sting” with Paul Neuman and Robert Redford. She also worked in television, designing Endora’s clothing on “Bewitched.” She designed clothes for men too, including five films for John Wayne, Steve Martin in “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and Elvis in “Blue Hawaii.”

This guy has done it all. Actor, filmmaker, businessman and he’s even been involved with politics. But Arnold Schwarzenegger is best known as body builder and action movie actor. He was Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia seven times. His on-screen appearances included “Conan the Barbarian,” “Total Recall,” “Predator,”  “Twins,” and “Running Man.” “Terminator 2-Judgment Day” was the highest-grossing film of 1991. Arnold was governor of California from 2003 to 2011. In this podcast we talk about body building, drugs, and a most unusual experience.

This R&B singer was raised in Chicago, in the Cabrini-Green housing projects. He sang in the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers with Curtis Mayfield. Jerry Butler and Mayfield joined a group which later became the “Impressions.” A couple years later he left the group for a solo career. Jerry was a soul singer, musician, producer, and politician. He had over 55 Billboard Pop and R&B hits. Maybe you remember Tony Orlando and Dawn reviving his hit “He Don’t Love You Like I Love You.” This was a very short interview and I don’t remember why. Apparently, he called and I didn’t have much time left in the show. We did have time to talk about one of his hits that he was kidded about by many DJs around the country. Jerry is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Impressions. In my opinion, he should be in there as a solo artist.

On holidays my producers would often try to find interviews that would tie in with the special day. This particular Valentine’s Day they found a woman who would be without her lover on that day. She was fun and her boyfriend told me that she had a song that she liked and wanted me to play it for her. I admit that she had a weird taste for music. The second call was to a chapel in Loveland, Colorado. Many people from all over go there to get married on Valentine’s Day.

Many will remember Patty Duke, playing the part of Helen Keller in the movie “The Miracle Worker,” for which she received an Oscar. At the time, Patty was 16 and the youngest person to have received an Academy Award for Supporting Actress. But she also won two Golden Globe awards and three Emmys. And Patty had a top 10 hit on the Billboard charts. If you were around in the 60s, you probably watched the “Patty Duke Show” and who could forget Neely O’Hara in the “Valley of the Dolls?” Her part in this movie, as an alcoholic, drug-addicted singing star, almost ruined her career. The critics and audiences had a hard time accepting this all-American teenager playing a very adult role.

When we said we called the world, we called the world, even the guy who sold chickens for a living, and a good living I might add. By the way, did you know that the “Chicken Dance” was made popular was Bob Kames? He owned Kames Wonderful World of Music in Milwaukee. Bob called me and said that this song was going to become a popular record. I listened and disagreed. But after we played it on the air, the response was positive and it became a hit and a popular dance. Colonel Harland Sanders was best known for founding the fast-food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken.  He did it at age 65, using his $105 monthly Social Security check. Why is he called colonel? Sanders falsified his birth date to enlist in the U.S. Army, serving in Cuba. He received an honorary discharge and the Kentucky governor commissioned him an honorary colonel. He had an inspiring success story, which he will tell in this podcast.

“Veeeeery interesting.” That line made a lot of money for Arte Johnson. It was said by his character “Wolfgang,” the cigarette smoking German soldier hidden behind some tall weeds on “Rowen and Martin’s popular TV show, “Laugh-In.” He also played the part of “Tyrone F. Horneigh,” the white haired dirty old man in a trench coat, who tried seduce Gladys, the spinster, on a park bench. She would hit him with her purse causing him to fall off the bench. He kids about his brother being kicked out of many schools, but he and his talented writer brother won several Emmy awards while working on “Laugh-in.”  You’ll recognize some of the other programs Artie appeared on during his long career. At the end of this podcast you’ll hear a sample of some of his “Laugh-In” characters. (Laugh-In premiered Jan. 22, 1968.)

Today we talk with a multi-talented personality. Shari Lewis was a Peabody-winning ventriloquist, puppeteer, television host, singer, dancer, actress, and author. Remember her sock puppet Lamb Chop, a sock with eyes. She originally designed the little character for the Captain Kangaroo Show. Her puppets first got attention on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts TV show, where she won first prize.  Her Shari Lewis program replaced the Howdy Doody Show and ran for three years. Shari also wrote many books for children. She and Lamb Chop also did some singing.

Sometimes, stuff happens. And it did with this interview featuring Roger McGuinn. The end of our conversation suddenly disappeared. But I like the Byrds, so I didn’t want to ignore them just because a few minutes were gone. Hope you’ll enjoy the remains. McGuinn was best known as the leader of the popular folk/rock group. Roger is from Chicago. He became interested in music after hearing Elvis sing “Heartbreak Hotel.” His parents bought him a guitar and he started to imitate Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and the Everly Brothers. He performed in coffee houses doing folk music, and was hired by the Chad Mitchell Trio, Judy Collins, and the Limeliters. Bobby Darin had him playing guitar, singing backup and writing songs.

He bought a 12-string Rickenbacker guitar after seeing George Harrison playing it in the film “A Hard Day’s Night.” At the Troubadour Nightclub in L.A., Roger was doing Beatles songs in his act. He caught the attention of another Beatle fan Gene Clark. Together they formed the Byrds. He’ll mention their breakup. In the year 2000, McGuinn testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about artists not receiving royalties. The Byrds did not received any royalties for “Mr. Tamourine Man” and “Turn, Turn, Turn” they only received advances which amounted to a few thousand dollars for each band member.

This Canadian actor was most famous for his role as Montgomery Scott (Scotty), the chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise in the television and film series “Star Trek.” He did appear in other TV shows and movies, but was limited due to being typecast. James Doohan in real life was with a Canadian infantry division that landed at Juno Beach on D-Day. He was accidentally hit by six rounds of fire from the gun of a Canadian sentry. A bullet to his chest was stopped by a cigarette case given to him by his brother. One bullet hit his right middle finger, which had to be amputated. He would conceal that hand in the movies, sometimes using a flesh-colored glove. Doohan was part of a radio group, “The Neighborhood Playhouse” which included Leslie Nielsen and Tony Randall. Did James use an accent when he played Scotty? He’ll answer that question. Because of the engineer character he played on “Star Trek,” many students pursued careers in engineering. The Milwaukee School of Engineering presented Doohan with an honorary degree in engineering.