Obscurity factor: 7
Yesterday's post (The Beatrice Arthur Special [1979]) featured Madame, and it reminded me of this series, which ran for one season in syndication. It centered around Madame and her life at home and at work as a talk show host. She was always dealing with cost-cutting producers, inept booking agents, ditzy relations and nosy neighbors with her frank, witty retorts. There was a rushed quality to these episodes, perhaps because they were producing for the voracious animal of daily syndication - the show was on 5 days a week.
Above is the pilot episode, cut down to about 14 minutes and uploaded to YouTube by SailorsDreamHouse. The show has yet to be released on DVD, but unofficial copies can be found on sites like iOffer.com. You can also watch quite a few more minisodes like the one above on YouTube.
Obscurity factor: 7 (Remembered by fans, not on DVD, available on YouTube)
Showing posts with label Wayland Flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wayland Flowers. Show all posts
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Bea Arthur, Rock Hudson & Madame in The Beatrice Arthur Special (1979)
In what amounted to arguably, perhaps the most over the top hour ever on television Bea Arthur starred in this musical review featuring Rock Hudson, Melba Moore and the risque Madame. They performed numbers, like the one below, did some wacky comedy and changed clothes a lot. There are quite a few clips available on YouTube, though the show is obscure enough to have been overlooked by IMDB.
Here, the entire ensemble shares the gospel with an appreciative crowd. This show has never made it to commercial DVD, though you can get unofficial versions on sites like iOffer.com.
Obscurity factor: 10 (not on DVD, available in parts on YouTube, not even on IMDB)
Here, the entire ensemble shares the gospel with an appreciative crowd. This show has never made it to commercial DVD, though you can get unofficial versions on sites like iOffer.com.
Obscurity factor: 10 (not on DVD, available in parts on YouTube, not even on IMDB)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Wayland Flowers & Madame in Madame in Manhattan (1984)
Obscurity factor: 8
I looked and looked for a gay themed cartoon to post today but couldn't find one (that was suitable for the whole family, anyway). So I decided to post the next best thing. This 1984 production was released as a home video and is primarily Madame's nightclub act with some ancillary footage. For those of you who know Madame from her television appearances, this will be a little shocking. She's very raunchy, in a truly delightful way. You'll hear Madame sing a bit and tell some very funny stories and you'll meet several of Madame's friends, including Shirley, Madame's Yiddish dresser and Crazy Mary, who is really indescribable - someone you have to see to believe. Also making cameo appearances are Henny Youngman and Alice Ghostly.
Madame in Manhattan was originally produced for VHS and copies can still be found. You can also find DVD rips of it on sights like iOffer.com. A good portion of it has been uploaded to YouTube, though there are segments missing. Part one is above, uploaded by pvpentertainment2010.
Obscurity factor: 8 (largely forgotten, can be found on VHS and DVD rips, available on YouTube)
I looked and looked for a gay themed cartoon to post today but couldn't find one (that was suitable for the whole family, anyway). So I decided to post the next best thing. This 1984 production was released as a home video and is primarily Madame's nightclub act with some ancillary footage. For those of you who know Madame from her television appearances, this will be a little shocking. She's very raunchy, in a truly delightful way. You'll hear Madame sing a bit and tell some very funny stories and you'll meet several of Madame's friends, including Shirley, Madame's Yiddish dresser and Crazy Mary, who is really indescribable - someone you have to see to believe. Also making cameo appearances are Henny Youngman and Alice Ghostly.
Madame in Manhattan was originally produced for VHS and copies can still be found. You can also find DVD rips of it on sights like iOffer.com. A good portion of it has been uploaded to YouTube, though there are segments missing. Part one is above, uploaded by pvpentertainment2010.
Obscurity factor: 8 (largely forgotten, can be found on VHS and DVD rips, available on YouTube)
Monday, June 20, 2011
Redd Foxx & Pearl Bailey in Norman, Is That You? 1974
Obscurity factor: 7
Dry cleaner Ben Chambers (Foxx) isn't having a good day. His wife Beatrice (Bailey) has left him for his brother and he's come all the way from Phoenix to LA on the bus to commiserate with his son Norman. When he arrives he's shocked to find out that Norman has lavender drapes, a water bed and is shacked up with a man.
Norman, Is That You is one of the first films to address the subject of homosexuality in a positive light. While some of the characters reactions to being gay are prejudiced, the overall message of the film is that it's okay. It was based on a play of the same name (the family was Jewish instead of African American) which flopped on Broadway but found success in regional theater. The film was produced by George Schlatter, the force behind Laugh In. Look for Wayland Flowers and Madame in their first film role.
This film has yet to be released on DVD. A VHS was put out in the late 90's and can still be found on Amazon. You can also find some footage of the film on YouTube, including a great segment of Wayland Flowers and Madame performing in a club.
Obscurity factor: 7 (known in some circles, not on DVD, available on VHS)
Dry cleaner Ben Chambers (Foxx) isn't having a good day. His wife Beatrice (Bailey) has left him for his brother and he's come all the way from Phoenix to LA on the bus to commiserate with his son Norman. When he arrives he's shocked to find out that Norman has lavender drapes, a water bed and is shacked up with a man.
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| MoviePosterShop.com |
Norman, Is That You is one of the first films to address the subject of homosexuality in a positive light. While some of the characters reactions to being gay are prejudiced, the overall message of the film is that it's okay. It was based on a play of the same name (the family was Jewish instead of African American) which flopped on Broadway but found success in regional theater. The film was produced by George Schlatter, the force behind Laugh In. Look for Wayland Flowers and Madame in their first film role.
This film has yet to be released on DVD. A VHS was put out in the late 90's and can still be found on Amazon. You can also find some footage of the film on YouTube, including a great segment of Wayland Flowers and Madame performing in a club.
Obscurity factor: 7 (known in some circles, not on DVD, available on VHS)
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