Welcome to Chicago, home of the Second City! This week marked the 50th anniversary of the theatre's first production, and hundreds of alumni flew in to reunite and reminisce. They were also here to support the alumni fund with a series of live benefit performances and panel discussions.We're celebrating this historic occasion with a two-part show featuring Second City's greatest discoveries, captured live on tape at the beginning of their careers. You'll hear them performing the original sketches and blackouts they created and made famous.
The first hour airs December 13 and covers the years 1959 to 1979. It starts with Barbara Harris performing on opening night, December 16, 1959, and goes through to the 20th anniversary show in 1979. Listen for Oscar-winning actor Alan Arkin as a University of Illinois student in "Football 202". Other highlights: Joan Rivers kvetches about "Unwanted Guests"; Avery Schreiber takes Jack Burns for a "Cab Ride"; Robert Klein tries to get into "Ripley's Believe It Or Not"; John Belushi tries to bluff his way through an "Oral Exam"; John Candy rebels against his father Dan Ackroyd in a "Canadian Play"; Jim Belushi visits the "White Horse Tavern"; Bill Murray hosts a political discussion on "Issues and Alibis"; and Martin Short asks "Why Are Jews So Funny?"
The second hour airs December 20 and covers the years 1979 to 1999. Listen for a montage of clips from "SCTV", including Count Floyd's favorite scary movie, "Dr. Tongue's 3-D House of Stewardesses". Other highlights: George Wendt tries to board a flight on "Segregated Airlines"; Mike Myers closes off Canada to American visitors as a "Canadian Border Guard"; Bonnie Hunt sings to strangers on the phone as an "On-Hold Entertainer"; Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch argue as "Mother and Daughter"; and Chris Farley debuts his character "Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker".
All of the sketches are available uncensored on CD in Sheldon Patinkin's memoir of Second City, which includes full color photos and fond recollections from former cast members. It's available from Amazon, and used copies are going cheap.
December 27 marks the birthday of kiddie TV icon Howdy Doody, and I'll be hosting an hour-long tribute featuring some of his rarest recordings from my collection. Happy holidays!
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