Tag: Howard Morris

Movie Music Monday – The Nutty Professor

Happy 100th Birthday to comedian/actor/director Jerry Lewis!

Jerry became a household name when he teamed up with Dean Martin in 1946.

For ten years, they dominated the entertainment world. They appeared on radio, on televison and made 16 films together before ending their partnership in 1956.

There was plenty of speculation as to whether or not either could make it without the other. They each went on to prove that they most certainly could, as they both went on to have great solo careers.

Jerry continued to make movies for Paramount (where he and Dean made their films. He certainly made some very funny films: Cinderfella, The Bellboy, The Big Mouth, and many more. The one that stands out as a masterpiece is his take on the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – The Nutty Professor.

This was always my favorite Jerry Lewis movie. The cast also included the beautiful Stella Stevens, Kathleen Freeman, Del Moore and Howard Morris.

Long story short – Jerry plays the nerdy Professor Kelp who mixes up a concoction that truns him into the coolest swinger ever. The girls swoon over him and they guys think he’s cool too. It doesn’t take long for life to spin out of control for the professor.

The end of the film features a school dance. The entertainment is none other than Les Brown and His Band of Reknown. Les Brown and His Band of Renown, known for their tight, danceable swing, made it a staple in their repertoire during the 1940s, often highlighting the saxophone section’s ability to play fast, interlocking parts. Les and the band play his theme song, “Leap Frog,” which accompanies a very funny scene in the film.

“Leap Frog” is a swing-era instrumental standard composed and arranged by Joe Garland and was also associated with Louis Armstrong before becoming a staple for Les Brown. We never got to play it when I was in band, but the class after us did. I had one of the trumpet players make me a copy of the music, so I could play it at home.

As old as the recording is, I still think it sounds great. It bounces and it swings.

In honor of his 100th birthday, we have to watch Jerry dance …

Happy 100th, Jerry!!

Tune Tuesday

Today’s Tune Tuesday feature some silliness.

It was on this day in 1950 that the face of television changed forever and a blueprint for shows like Saturday Night Live was born. The first broadcast of Your Show of Shows happened 75 years ago.

The show starred Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. It featured Carl Reiner and the talented Howard Morris. It was a 90 minute show that was broadcast live every week. The show’s writers included Mel Brooks, Selma Diamond, Neil Simon, and Mel Tolkin (just to name a few).

The show has been featured in several lists of the greatest television series. Carl Reiner has stated that the time he spent on Your Show of Shows was the inspiration for The Dick Van Dyke Show. Most of the series has been preserved to some extent, but only some sketches have been released on home video.

The show featured several regular musical sketches. In 1955, Rock and Roll was hitting the radio. One of the musical sketches was the mock rock group The Three Haircuts (Caesar, Reiner, and Morris). They were a vocal trio who always sang in unison and usually bellowed the lyrics. After this bit aired on TV, RCA rushed the guys into the studio to record a studio version of You Are So Rare To Me and released it.

This clip is the first time You Are So Rare to Me aired. They follow it with an even crazier song called Flippin’ Over You. Sit back and enjoy the lunacy that was Your Show of Shows with The Three Haircuts.