From 1950 to 1954, American television viewers were treated weekly to the immense talents of Sid Caesar in Your Show of Shows. Featured players included Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris.

The show was a live sketch comedy powered by brilliant writers such as Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Carl Reiner and Larry Gelbart. Mel Brooks of course went on to write and star in many of his own comedic offerings, Neil Simon became a playwright who brought us The Odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park, Carl Reiner’s experience on the show inspired the wonderful sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show and Larry Gelbart of course, brought us the immensely popular series M*A*S*H*.

But it was the chemistry and camaraderie of this troupe of players that made Your Show of Shows so popular and so funny.

Unfortunately, most of the kinescopes were discarded by NBC and so few copies of the show survive. However, I have found video of a few sketches on YouTube that you can view by clicking the links.

The Clock Watch this hilarious sketch as Sid, Imogene Coca, Howard Morris and Carl Reiner act out the parts of clockwork figures that start to go haywire.

The Three Haircuts Sid, Howie and Carl in a send-up of 50s rock n’roll. Watch the antics as each of the three takes center stage to dance during the second song. It’s So Rare and Flippin’!

Progress Hornsby Carl Reiner interviews Progress Hornsby (Sid Caesar), a modern jazz musician who is very “cool”.
Carl: Progress, how do you get your barber to cut your hair that way?
Sid: I insult him.

Gina Lollobrigida has been dating the same man for 22 years. Javier Rigau, 45 and Gina, 79, met at a party in Monte Carlo more than two decades ago and have been together ever since.

Gina and her beau, 34 years her junior, were set to wed until recently when pressures from the media together with sizzling stories and gossip began to fly. Both Gina and Javier have threatened legal action against the press, but for now, the wedding is cancelled.

December 11

Betty Grable had been working in Hollywood for nearly a decade, starting as a chorus girl and dancing for $50 a week. She had nearly given up on the dream of success. But after ten years of hard work, Betty finally got some breaks and made some news. One of these breaks came on December 11, 1939.

It was on this day in 1939 that Life Magazine featured Betty Grable and her million dollar legs on its cover.

In 1943, this photo of Betty Grable made its way into the hands of millions of GIs fighting WWII and became for them the symbol of “back home”. Wholesome and beautiful but sexy, for them she represented what they were fighting for.

Antonio Benedetto is a true American legend both as a singer and as an example of the American Dream. The son of a grocer and a seamstress who grew up in Astoria, Queens, he first started singing in the Army military band under the name Joe Bari. After his army stint he continued honing his vocal style even while waiting tables. Pearl Bailey spotted him and asked him to open for her. It was at this show that Bob Hope first heard Joe Bari and advised him to use a simplified version of his real name. It was 1949 and Antonio Benedetto became Tony Bennett.

Tony’s style and phrasing resembled musicians more than other vocalists, he sang as if his voice were an insrument he was playing.

Tony had a string of successes in the 50s and even early 60s but when rock arrived with the British Invasion, Tony found young people didn’t want to listen to his kind of music.

In the 80s it was Tony’s son who resurrected his career and Tony reached a new audience and generation. He didn’t compromise on the style or the music, yet his popularity soared amongst young listeners. He’s been going strong ever since.

Although he left art school as a teen to help support his family, Tony never lost his love of art. Today his paintings hang in such prestigious places as the Butler Institute of American Art and The National Arts Club.

Now in his 80th year, Tony Bennett is embarking on a 20 city tour to promote his new album Duets: An American Classic. Tony is teaming up with AARP on this road show and details on cities and dates can be found at their site as well as some interviews with guest stars who appear on the album with Tony.

Also at the AARP site is a gallery of paintings by Tony Bennett, which he signs with his real name “Benedetto”. Included is an amazing and warmly personal portrait of bandleader Duke Ellington.

The tour will include cities from Boston to San Francisco and 18 spots in between. Check out dates and times for a city near you.

AARP presents Tony Bennett and The Best is Yet to Come Tour