Very generous of you, my dear. No worries. We have La Channing's autograph as a proud part of the collection on our wall already - but what a sublimely camp thing that postcard is! Jx
Fascinating that you didn't know who he was. I adored his wife. She was brilliant & he always said their success was because of her. As he got older, he became a kind of American avuncular uncle. (When he did Vegas with Carol would've been an in-between time for him). The 70s brought him a second act, he played God in "Oh God" with John Denver. He was also a decent foil to Walter Matthau in "The Sunshine Boys" which Jack Benny was supposed to do, but dropped dead.
I love that you have her autograph! I saw her here in Mpls quite a few years ago & she was good. Her newer husband was in the audience. I'd hoped to be able to say "hi" & give her an old greeting card which referenced "Dolly" but they whisked her into the limo. I suppose I'm glad I never got to give her the card because I still have it. I did snap a photo, but this was pre-cell phone days. The photo isn't good.
Her memoir was, if I remember correctly, a bit off. Fitting, I suppose.
Oh dear. Of course I know who George Burns was - he was popular here as well as in the US. Mr Newton, on the other hand, never crossed the Atlantic as far as I am aware... Jx
As I Canadian, I see what's popular in both the United States AND in the UK. It's amazing how many top names (whether they're good or not) on each side of the ocean never make it across the pond.
Indeed. Status Quo, Blur, Slade, Robbie Williams, The Jam/Paul Weller, Stone Roses, The Move, Manic Street Preachers, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Kinks - none of them made a dent in the US charts. Even Sir Cliff never broke Stateside. "National treasures" like Victoria Wood, Cilla Black, Tommy Cooper, Barbara Windsor, Ant and Dec, Bruce Forsyth, Kylie Minogue, Lenny Henry, Esther Rantzen, Alison Steadman, Jo Brand [the list is endless] would probably raise a shrug of bewilderment. None of the UK's soaps ever made it across the pond (and in return, neither did the bulk of those - the daytime variety especially - that are/were popular over there ever get airtime here). Most of our most famous sitcoms (and even some drama series) were completely remade for US audiences, rather than broadcast the original.
And yet two words unite us in our complete disdain and confusion - James Corden. Why? How? WTF is he so successful? Jx
Jon: Some of those names gained a foothold in Canada but many of them would, as you said, "raise a shrug of bewilderment."
I've actively sought out British entertainment for decades, and I generally enjoy British content more than most of what the U.S. entertainment industry has on offer. Of course the UK has some real stinkers like anywhere else but generally, UK entertainers are more my style.
My tastes seem to run to British authors over everyone else, as well. Rule Britannia.
Jon, as you say, many of those names are unknown to me, but I knew Cilla Black as a kid. 'You're My World' was a tune I liked a lot so they must've been playing it on AM radio. The Kinks were also definitely a thing here, the lead singer with the curly lip.
I don't watch late night TV much so my experience with Corden is limited. I have enjoyed his singing in the car with the famous, but otherwise don't understand his appeal.
You're My World - one of my favourite songs ever (and originally an Italian composition) - was indeed Cilla's only US hit. Apparently The Kinks were banned from performing in the US between 1965 and 1970 (which affected their radio airplay, too) because one of the band punched a scrote working for Dick Clark, so a large part of their hit repertoire over here was unavailable to the US at the peak of their powers.
To us in the UK, James Corden is mainly known as being "that irritating fat bloke who thinks he's funny", but he seems to have struck a chord with Americans. Bizarre. [Although I did like his part in Gavin & Stacey]. Jx
Over a decade ago, I ran a "Guess the Brits" compo on Infomaniac. Only Americans were eligible to guess.
I posted photos of several Brits, and awaited everyone's best guesses because yes, most of them were just that: guesses.
Hilarity ensued in their replies. For example: A photo of Ant and Dec was thought by one person to be, “More poofters. I bet they have a tv series that involves antiques.” And another person responded with, “A guy with a moderate case of hydrocephaly and Michael J. Fox.”
To be fair, I also did a “Guess the Americans” compo; open only to anyone from abroad.
One of the photos I posted was of news anchor, Anderson Cooper. At that time, he wasn’t as well-known outside of the USA as he is today. Guesses included, ““Dunno - but I don't trust him...looks shifty......too smooth” and “A store mannequin.”
Someone else said of all the photos that I posted, ““I don't know who the fuck any of them are, but they all look like cunts.”
"...as well-known outside of the USA as he is today"? Is he well-known? Not too sure about that. I think he's that gay silver fox one, isn't he? Dunno what he's famous for, mind you. Jx
PS Are you sure that second response wasn't from me?
I would love this postcard (Waynette or no Waynette)!! Jx
ReplyDeleteIf you must have it, I can go back & buy it.
DeleteVery generous of you, my dear. No worries. We have La Channing's autograph as a proud part of the collection on our wall already - but what a sublimely camp thing that postcard is! Jx
DeleteWaynette? Is that Wayne Newton's drag name?
ReplyDeleteWith his yanked & pulled face, he'd probably look better as Waynette.
DeleteJust looked him up, as I had no idea who he is. Oh! The horror... Jx
DeleteFascinating that you didn't know who he was. I adored his wife. She was brilliant & he always said their success was because of her. As he got older, he became a kind of American avuncular uncle. (When he did Vegas with Carol would've been an in-between time for him). The 70s brought him a second act, he played God in "Oh God" with John Denver. He was also a decent foil to Walter Matthau in "The Sunshine Boys" which Jack Benny was supposed to do, but dropped dead.
DeleteI love that you have her autograph! I saw her here in Mpls quite a few years ago & she was good. Her newer husband was in the audience. I'd hoped to be able to say "hi" & give her an old greeting card which referenced "Dolly" but they whisked her into the limo. I suppose I'm glad I never got to give her the card because I still have it. I did snap a photo, but this was pre-cell phone days. The photo isn't good.
Her memoir was, if I remember correctly, a bit off. Fitting, I suppose.
I AM SUCH A MORON.
DeleteI just realized you didn't know who Wayne Newton was.
Never mind.
Oh dear. Of course I know who George Burns was - he was popular here as well as in the US. Mr Newton, on the other hand, never crossed the Atlantic as far as I am aware... Jx
DeleteAs I Canadian, I see what's popular in both the United States AND in the UK. It's amazing how many top names (whether they're good or not) on each side of the ocean never make it across the pond.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Status Quo, Blur, Slade, Robbie Williams, The Jam/Paul Weller, Stone Roses, The Move, Manic Street Preachers, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Kinks - none of them made a dent in the US charts. Even Sir Cliff never broke Stateside. "National treasures" like Victoria Wood, Cilla Black, Tommy Cooper, Barbara Windsor, Ant and Dec, Bruce Forsyth, Kylie Minogue, Lenny Henry, Esther Rantzen, Alison Steadman, Jo Brand [the list is endless] would probably raise a shrug of bewilderment. None of the UK's soaps ever made it across the pond (and in return, neither did the bulk of those - the daytime variety especially - that are/were popular over there ever get airtime here). Most of our most famous sitcoms (and even some drama series) were completely remade for US audiences, rather than broadcast the original.
DeleteAnd yet two words unite us in our complete disdain and confusion - James Corden. Why? How? WTF is he so successful? Jx
Jon: Some of those names gained a foothold in Canada but many of them would, as you said, "raise a shrug of bewilderment."
DeleteI've actively sought out British entertainment for decades, and I generally enjoy British content more than most of what the U.S. entertainment industry has on offer. Of course the UK has some real stinkers like anywhere else but generally, UK entertainers are more my style.
My tastes seem to run to British authors over everyone else, as well. Rule Britannia.
"Britannia, rule the waves"!!! Jx
DeleteJon, as you say, many of those names are unknown to me, but I knew Cilla Black as a kid. 'You're My World' was a tune I liked a lot so they must've been playing it on AM radio. The Kinks were also definitely a thing here, the lead singer with the curly lip.
DeleteI don't watch late night TV much so my experience with Corden is limited. I have enjoyed his singing in the car with the famous, but otherwise don't understand his appeal.
You're My World - one of my favourite songs ever (and originally an Italian composition) - was indeed Cilla's only US hit. Apparently The Kinks were banned from performing in the US between 1965 and 1970 (which affected their radio airplay, too) because one of the band punched a scrote working for Dick Clark, so a large part of their hit repertoire over here was unavailable to the US at the peak of their powers.
DeleteTo us in the UK, James Corden is mainly known as being "that irritating fat bloke who thinks he's funny", but he seems to have struck a chord with Americans. Bizarre. [Although I did like his part in Gavin & Stacey]. Jx
Over a decade ago, I ran a "Guess the Brits" compo on Infomaniac. Only Americans were eligible to guess.
DeleteI posted photos of several Brits, and awaited everyone's best guesses because yes, most of them were just that: guesses.
Hilarity ensued in their replies. For example: A photo of Ant and Dec was thought by one person to be, “More poofters. I bet they have a tv series that involves antiques.” And another person responded with, “A guy with a moderate case of hydrocephaly and Michael J. Fox.”
Ha! Jx
DeleteTo be fair, I also did a “Guess the Americans” compo; open only to anyone from abroad.
DeleteOne of the photos I posted was of news anchor, Anderson Cooper. At that time, he wasn’t as well-known outside of the USA as he is today. Guesses included, ““Dunno - but I don't trust him...looks shifty......too smooth” and “A store mannequin.”
Someone else said of all the photos that I posted, ““I don't know who the fuck any of them are, but they all look like cunts.”
"...as well-known outside of the USA as he is today"? Is he well-known? Not too sure about that. I think he's that gay silver fox one, isn't he? Dunno what he's famous for, mind you. Jx
DeletePS Are you sure that second response wasn't from me?
Except Anderson does look like a mannequin!
DeleteYes, Anderson Cooper's the gay silver fox. No, the second response wasn't from you, Jon, but it certainly COULD have been.
DeleteHa@Norma.
I would have LOVED to have seen that show. With or without Waynette, dammit.
ReplyDelete