With all the intense politics and world events going on , I thought it would be a nice change of pace to watch a clip from back when TV was entertaining. In this case, an excerpt from NBC’s The Dean Martin show from the late 60’s.
Featured in this bit are Dino, Buddy Ebsen, Lee J. Cobb , Charles Nelson Reilly and Jackie Mason . Five classic entertainers in a dance number, –without profanity or vulgarity– bringing laughter and joy to a live audience.
I miss those classic variety shows like the aforementioned Dean Marin, as well as Jackie Gleason, and Carol Burnett. For all the channels and viewing options we have now, television was much more entertaining with just the three main networks and local independent channels. What made it all the more special were the shared experiences we had as a culture.
Most of you visiting this site are old enough to remember discussing the latest Happy Days, Gunsmoke , Dallas or Seinfeld, etc. at school, work or other function. Remember recounting a scene or joke without the worry of either of you not having the slightest idea of what the other was talking about?
I really believe the lack of shared experiences–that used to bridge racial, gender and religious lines– has helped to weaken our cultural cohesiveness.
What do you think?
One reply on “When TV was entertaining”
Dex, you brought a smile to my face when you remembered the Dean Martin Show!! What a great show, and the Gold Diggers dancing girls were superb. One in particular I remember very well was Brooke Fisher (Squires). She was married to a navy pilot and when I lived on Guam during the 70s, I was her paperboy. What a neat lady and talk about BEAUTIFUL! She had red hair and to a 13-year-old paperboy was the stuff of dreams, literally! She was also the model used for the roller-skating car hop on the American Graffiti album cover. OK I’ll stop there with the reminiscing. Thank you for the walk down memory lane and yes, hats off to when TV was ENTERTAINING!!