We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.

Anybody out there old enough to remember the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts or the Dean Martin Variety Show? No? How sad.

Dean Martin was one of the great entertainers of the twentieth century. Few singers could even approach the quality of his voice, and he did 264 episodes of his weekly variety show over a ten-year period—all without rehearsing. He would come in without preparation and just react to what was going on. How many performers do you think could pull that off? Yet the show was so good and received so well by the viewing public that it was renewed year after year.

Dean Martin did skits with numerous others throughout the years—other singers, comedians, movie stars. . . . He had some of the biggest names in show business as guests as well as honorees—Bob Hope, John Wayne, Don Rickles, Rich Little. The list goes on and on.

Among all the huge stars he rubbed elbows with, the man who always comes to my mind is a much less-known comedian: Foster Brooks. If you’ve never heard of him, play this trailer to see him at his best.

Foster Brooks always played a drunk, as far as I know. That’s the only role I ever saw him in. But he played it so well, he would crack you up every time. He had the voice down perfectly, but he also had the body language to go with it.

These days, it seems like stand-up comedy is a contest to see who can use the most four-letter words or the grossest descriptions of bodily functions. How much talent does that take. I long for some of the old-fashioned comedians like Don Rickles, Rich Little, Dom DeLuise, Carol Burnett, Victor Borge—but above all the rest, I miss Foster Brooks.

What entertainers from yesterday do you miss?

——————————————

For more information about David N. Walker, click the “About” tab above.

For more information about his books, click on “Books” above.

Contact him at dnwalkertx (at) gmail (dot) com or tweet him at @davidnwalkertx.