1960s Timeline

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Lenny Bruce Obscenity Underway in Chicago

Jan. 29, 1963 - Dan Sorkin, a disc jockey, and Nelson Algren, a novelist, were called as witnesses in a hearing today on revocation of the liquor license of the Gate of Horn, a Chicago nightclub on 1036 North State Street. The hearing grew out of charges that Lenny Bruce (pictured in 1960), a comedian and entertainer at the club, gave an obscene performance. Sorkin and Algren defended Bruce’s performance before John F. Cashen Jr., conducting the hearing for Mayor Richard J. D

Dec 19, 2022

Bob Hope to Entertain Troops Once Again

Dec. 19, 1962 - Bob Hope (pictured in Korea in 1950) and a troupe of Hollywood entertainers left this morning on Mr. Hope’s 11th Christmas USO tour for troops overseas. Soldiers in Korea will see a closed-circuit telecast on Christmas night of the Hope show with such stars as Lana Turner, Anita Bryant, Janis Paige, Jerry Collona, Pete Leeds, and Les Brown’s band. #tv #classictv #1960s #hollywood #comedy #military

Dec 19, 2022

Jackie Gleason Banters with New York Studio Audience

Dec. 19, 1962 - During the taping of Jackie Gleason’s weekly television shows, the entertainer enjoys bantering with the New York studio audience between takes while new sets are being prepared. Recently, a lady in the audience asked Jackie if he was on a diet. “Oh, sure,” he replied. “I’ve just lost 30 pounds — but that’s just an ear lobe for me.” Warming to the subject, Mr. Gleason went on: “I have three sets of suits at home — a 270-pound set, a 220-pound set which I’ll be

Dec 18, 2022

Movies: “It’s Only Money” with Jerry Lewis

Dec. 18, 1962 - Jerry Lewis’s newest comedy, “It’s Only Money,” produced and directed by Frank Tashlin, opens today. Lewis plays a screwball TV repairman who dreams of becoming a private eye. Co-starring in the film are Jack Weston, Joan O’Brien, Zachary Scott, and Mae Questal. #hollywood #1960s #OTD #movies #comedy

Nov 20, 2022

Comedian Woody Allen On the Rise

Nov. 20, 1962 - A steadily rising comic in New York City is a slight, bespectacled, unhappy-looking man of 26 named Woody Allen (pictured). He has hunched shoulders, an air of harassment, a carefully cultivated nebbish quality, and a line of patter that, for a change, makes no reference to President Kennedy and his family. Having successfully furnished material for such performers as Sid Caesar, Art Carney, and Garry Moore, Mr. Allen has now decided to become his own spokesma

Oct 5, 2022

Lenny Bruce Arrest on Drug Charge

Oct. 5, 1962 - Comedian Lenny Bruce (pictured) and Robert Coogan, brother of former child star Jackie Coogan, were arrested in North Hollywood today on suspicion of possessing heroin. This was not the first drug arrest for Bruce, a native New Yorker but now a Hollywood resident. On September 29, 1961, he was arrested at the John Bertram Hotel in Philadelphia for possession of amphetamine. Those charges were later dropped. A week later, on October 4, the comedian was arrested

Sep 7, 2022

Lenny Bruce Banned in Sydney

Sept. 7, 1962 - Lenny Bruce (pictured), American comedian, opened at the Aarons Hotel last night in Sydney, Australia, and closed this morning. The Sydney police announced that they were investigating charges that the act was obscene. The Daily Mirror said that Mr. Bruce gave a blasphemous account of the Crucifixion and “a steady stream of dirty words.” The Sydney Sun said, “Sydney has never seen a public performance of such blasphemy and obscenity.” Mick Devery, manager of t

Sep 3, 2022

Zero Mostel To Deliver Televised Lecture on Comedy

Sept. 3, 1962 - Zero Mostel, who lectured humorously on the art of comedy at Harvard University last May, has obtained a booking for his monologue on an educational T.V. station in New York. The Harvard lecture, with a few cuts to reduce playing time, will be presented as part of the premiere program over WNDT (Channel 13) on Sept. 16. Mr. Mostel, now starring on Broadway in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” said today he would tape the lecture on Wednesday at

Aug 28, 2022

Burnett Signs Long-Term Contract with CBS

Aug. 28, 1962 - Carol Burnett (pictured with Rod Serling) has signed a long-term, exclusive TV contract with CBS. Hubbell Robinson, senior vice president in charge of network programs, said that under the agreement, the performer would appear as a guest on four Garry Moore shows this season. Miss Burnett had quit as a permanent member of the Moore TV family last season to devote herself to stage and personal appearances. Mr. Robinson said that a regular weekly series for Miss

Aug 26, 2022

Burnett Declines Offer of Hour-Long Weekly Program

Aug. 26, 1962 - Carol Burnett (pictured with Richard Chamberlain), the comedienne who resigned from the Garry Moore show last season, declined an offer last week to star on an hour-long weekly program on NBC-TV during the 1963-64 season. “I was concerned about over-exposure,” said Miss Burnett in Las Vegas, where she is appearing at the Sands Hotel. “I don’t think I have had enough experience to be the star of a weekly television program. I really want to do something on Broa

Aug 14, 2022

TV: CBS’s “Calamity Jane” with Carol Burnett

Aug. 14, 1962 - Carol Burnett will star next season in a 90-minute musical comedy, “Calamity Jane,” on CBS-TV. No date has been set for the telecast. The show, based on the 1953 Warner Brothers feature film with Doris Day, was presented on stage in Kansas City last year with Miss Burnett in the title role. The television version will be adapted from Charles K. Freeman’s stage book and will include the original score by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster. #tv #classictv #1960

Jul 8, 2022

Comic Troupe Satirizes Kennedy Administration

July 8, 1962 - While President Kennedy and his family relaxed on Squaw Island on Nantucket Sound, an improvisational troupe of actors called The Compass was satirizing the Administration twice nightly for delighted audiences at the Yachtsman Hotel in Hyannis, Mass., about a mile and a half away. Some of the loudest laughter has come from the White House entourage, whose members have been dropping in at performances. At a mock news conference conducted from the stage at one pe

Jun 6, 2022

George Burns Partners with Carol Channing in Comedy Show

June 6, 1962 - George Burns (pictured with Ann-Margret) and Carol Channing won critical acclaim at the premiere of their comedy show at the Orpheum Theatre in Seattle. The pair had never worked together before. “A little more touring vaudeville like the Burns and Channing brand could kill television,” Louis Guzzo of The Seattle Times reported. Mr. Burns, 66, thus performed for the first time with anyone other than his wife, Gracie Allen, who retired in 1958. Miss Channing, at

Jun 2, 2022

TV: ABC Documentary on Contemporary Comedians

June 2, 1962 - ABC recently sent film crews into American nightclubs and cabarets to obtain material for a documentary on new trends in comedy, with an emphasis on political and social satire. A half-hour program entitled “The New Comedians” will be televised on “Close-Up” on June 12 at 10 p.m. Comedians to be seen include Dick Gregory (pictured) and Mort Sahl and two groups of satirists billed as Second City and the Uniquecorns. #classicmovies #1960s #OTD #comedy #classictv

May 24, 2022

Soupy Sales to Guest-Host "Tonight" Show"

May 24, 1962 - Soupy Sales (pictured right with Tony Curtis), television’s foremost target for pie throwers, is coming to New York to be the host of “Tonight” on NBC-TV for one week beginning June 4. The question arose whether viewers of the show, accustomed to oral darts, could expect pie throwing, too, when Mr. Sales appears. “Undoubtedly there will be some of that, but that’s not the purpose of putting Soupy on our program,” said Perry Cross, producer of the show. “We will

Nov 1, 2021

Movies: "Bachelor in Paradise"

Nov. 1, 1961 - “Bachelor in Paradise,” an MGM comedy with Bob Hope and Lana Turner, will open at New York’s Capitol Theatre on Nov. 16, following the current “Back Street.” Janis Paige, Jim Hutton, and Paula Prentiss are also in the production, which was directed by Jack Arnold. A bachelor author (Hope) of sleazy books moves to a family-oriented subdivision, where he becomes an unofficial relationship advisor to unhappy local housewives — to the dismay of their respective hus

Sep 27, 2021

TV: "The Joey Bishop Show," 8:30 p.m. on NBC

Sept. 27, 1961 - Tonight on "The Joey Bishop Show," Joey expects to be doing publicity work for Marilyn Monroe, but his new client is a chimp who recently appeared in a film. Joey manages to get the chimp on the "Tonight" show with Jack Paar. But, when the trainer doesn't show, Joey must join his new client before the cameras. 8:30 p.m. on NBC. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy #entertainment #podcast

Sep 20, 2021

TV: "The Joey Bishop Show" Series Premiere Tonight on NBC

Sept. 20, 1961 - Tonight marks the series premiere of "The Joey Bishop Show," to be televised at 8:30 p.m. on NBC. Storylines during the season will revolve around Joey's misadventures concerning his public relations job and problems with his colorful family. Bishop began his career as part of a stand-up comedy act with his older brother, Maury. He has appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dinah Shore Show, and many other variety programs. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #s

Sep 17, 2021

TV: "Car 54, Where Are You?" Debuts Tonight on NBC

Sept. 17, 1961 - On tonight's "Car 54, Where Are You?" pilot episode, Officers Toody (Joe E. Ross) and Muldoon (Fred Gwynne) are desperate to go fishing. But after shift-swapping with the entire precinct and avoiding any issuance of tickets (to avert court duty), will they actually go? 8:30 p.m. on #NBC. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy

Sep 14, 2021

TV: "The Donna Reed Show" Fourth Season

Sept. 14, 1961 - On tonight's Season Four premiere of "The Donna Reed Show," Mary's careless driving leads to an unexpected romantic evening with a young pop singer (James Darren, left with Shelley Fabares) followed by heartbreak when he leaves for the army. 8 p.m. on #ABC. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy