It's a shame Allen didn't make the switch-over to television as did Jack Benny and others. He is unjustly forgotten today, remembered only by old time radio aficionados,
Fred DID try to appear on TV on a somewhat regular basis- as one of the rotating hosts of "THE COLGATE COMEDY HOUR" in 1950. It didn't work out, and he appeared sporadically as a guest on other programs for the next three years. He filmed the original "TWO FOR THE MONEY" pilot in 1952, but his doctor advised against doing it on a weekly basis because of his high blood pressure [Herb Shriner was finally chosen as host].....however, he DID appear weekly on "JUDGE FOR YOURSELF" in the 1953-'54 season (acting as "emcee", and conducting interviews). And then came "WHAT'S MY LINE?", where he could easily be a panelist without too much stress or exertion.....
was said, " in 1956 'Fed Allen] died suddenly (he had been suffering from hypertension for many years - there wasn't much they could do for high blood pressure back then). STOP eating Meat, Dairy and Oil.
BP I think Allen might have had a problem with his dry, satirical /political wit on tv in the 1950's...Satirical /political wit on the radio ("ALLEN'S ALLEY") might not have transferred so well to television in a time period when many of the 1950's comedians'' shows were about slapstick and farcical situations...Totally agree with you his wit was sorely needed....Lastly, dealing with the tv executives would not have helped his hypertension...
Just re-read "Treadmill to Oblivion". The long hours Allen put into writing his shows are incredible. He lived for that show bar one night a week for dinner and a movie with Hoffman.
At the time, Fred appeared on NBC's Sunday night schedule at 8:30pm(et), following Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy [for the same sponsor, Standard Brands- Bergen sold "Chase & Sanborn" coffee; Fred, "Tender Leaf" tea and "Blue Bonnet" margarine]. The "Les Miserables" sketch is the same one Fred and Orson did on "TEXACO STAR THEATER" in October 1942..
I'd love to be able to have or purchase an MP3 of the DeMarcos' song interlude, Atlanta, GA, and You Won't Be Satisfied, if whomever posted this clip could provide it.
Johnny Carson idolized Allen, as demonstrated by his ability to take a nothing punchline and make it funny. And Carson was as fast on his feet with ad-libs, or hardly at a loss for a comment, as Allen was.
