Its true, they don't, but so what? They don't have to. Its ours and we are the custodians of these memories. That in part is the beauty of it. Exclusivity. Its O.K. Hell even after you went out to ride your bike or walk with a friend to the corner store for GLASS bottles of pop, you would have this music stuck in your head as some would hum and blurt it out loud. Good good kid fun.
You are correct sir!, to quote ole Ed... I was born in '64 and grew up with this. I have so much more appreciation for Chuck Barris and TGS these days. What a gem the whole show was, and Gene was just icing on the cake!!! It's very sad that Gene lost both his legs to diabetes. Gene passed in 2015 at 82... may you rest in peace, and know you brought joy to millions, Thanks Mr. Patton
Ha! Great description. It was so odd for the time (and that's saying something when you're talking about the 70s) that you just couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. Chuck was like the anti-host of game shows. If I was anyone involved in that show I would have been really nervous thinking that we could go out there and pull that show off in front of an audience or studio executives.
We watched this show as kids with our dad eatting tomatoe soup and grill cheese sandwiches. Every time Gene Gene the dancing machine came on we would all jump up and do the dance, we still dance like this today. Only is old timers know the dance.
My sister and I would have lunch ready for our dad, we'd all sit and watch the Gong Show. Dad would say, "this is a stupid show", but he couldn't stop watching it. We kids loved it, especially Gene Gene.
An era so devoid of entertainment that any combination of moderate talent and unexpected whacky-ness somehow became "raw, unfiltered and uproariously funny" You can easily find stuff like this on YT by the boatload, nothing about it is special; you're just nostalgic for your youth. And that's ok.
Read Confessions of a Dangerous Mind if you wanna know just how crazy he really was... or better yet they made a movie out of it. And yes, cocaine is a hell of a drug.
This is what Gene Gene the dancing machine did in our world. As we were 12 & 10, my brother would dance like Gene and I would dance like Chuck Barris. My aunt would laugh so hard she cried sometimes, she sometimes called my mom at work or would ask us to dance like that when we all got together. Too bad we didn't have DVR back then. I miss the times I had with my aunt. He filled us with joy and laughter every time he came on. RIP Gene and God bless your family.
Entertainment, real entertainment, and preserved on youtube for millions more to enjoy. I always hated it if I missed a broadcast of that show. I even bought Chuck Barris's book which was a little like the show; you couldn't tell which parts of the book were true or if any of it was true...
Gene's theme song was actually Count Basie's "Jumpin' at the Woodside". I worked Sundays at a radio station in my teens and my friend there had received a promotional 45RPM (on red vinyl!) of " Theme Theme for Gene Gene". He gave it to me mainly because I love big band music. So, there actually was a record made back then!
Gene (Gene Patton) actually worked as a stagehand on the Gong Show and was later a stagehand for the Tonight Show. He lost both legs to Diabetes about 10 years ago but is still alive
@@clavididk1236 You only like it because you were told to by someone you like. If a random asshole told you to check this amazing thing out, you know for a fact you'd wonder how anyone could like this. Deny it all you want, but its true.
I was 16 when this aired. There will never be another time like the golden age of network television, which ended in the 90's. Goes to show how much the internet changed everything. Even TV programming. RIP Chuck Barris and RIP Gene Patton. Also, for those of you who were/are not aware, that dancing song is Count Basie's jazz classic "Jumpin' At The Woodside".
Loved this show when I was a little kid, and yes, the entendres & the fact that Chuck Barris was higher than a kite went right over my head. That just makes it even better.
Its amazing the broad smile that came to my face upon seeing this for the first time in over 30 years. I had a pretty rough pre-adolesence in middle school and this show was one of the few things that made me smile and laugh in those days. Among my few fond memories of this period was my father and I laughing at this. If Chuck Barris is reading this, thank you fro bringing much needed joy to a lonely and confused 12-14 year old in the late 1970s
I remember one time they dropped a HUGE boulder on Gene’s head. He just kept right on dancing. Very few things on television make me laugh as hard as I did that day.
I really can't remember the episode when they first started throwing stuff at him, but it took the comedy of the act up another level...you started looking for the type of stuff to become more outrageous until the stuff being thrown became just as much of a star as Gene.
Gene Gene, the Unknown Comic, Larry and His Magic Xylophone, Scarlett and Rhett...... the greatest recurring characters. The celebrity panel! Thanks Chuck Barris for a simpler time
LOVED this silly show. My parents are in their 80's, and will yell Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine! and start dancing around the house. DAA da da-da-da!
Whether they were loaded or not, this show was sooo flippin funny. The chaos is what made it great. Everyone moved around the stage, they laughed, howled, and were as edgy as they could possibly be. The acts were outragious..... guys, remember the two young girls licking popcisles as their "talent?" The censors must have been off that day. Just looked like they were having a crazy dance party.
we will all go nuts and throw pillows at each other it was a great time to be a kid in the 70s this show was huge and I missed it was fun times as a kid and teenager thanks for all the great memories Gene Gene and Chuck Barris rest in peace my friends
NBC at noon, Monday through Friday. Didn’t miss it. Gene had his stick, it made hearts glad, and went down in television history as one of the corniest yet entertaining acts ever. RIP Gene and Chuck.
As a kid The Gong Show was my reality TV. I remember watching every week hoping Gene would be on. To the Patton family, know he brought many of us so much joy. RIP and God bless you, Gene Patton
Damn this brings back memories ... The best times for sure Dancing in front of the tv going crazy this would light up the hole family Dancing and laughing . Thank you Chuck Barris and Gene Gene the dancing machine👍
Gene, Gene shuffled his way into a lot of us American's hearts. May his legend live on. He almost became the "Gong Show" personified. I remember when he first was on and I believe got Gonged. He was like the Phoenix rose from the ashes and helped make Chuck Barris a rich man. When Gene is on .. "gag the Gong."
I Loved This Show!! This was so awesome great memories of happier times . I would always watch this before going to work we when I used to to work 3rd shift. Gene Gene and The Unknown Comic were my favorites!! RIP Chuck and Gene!! Love you guys!!
Man I loved The Gong Show & Match Game in the 70s!!! I used to watch them in the 70s when I was growing up in Dothan Alabama. The Gong Show...Chuck Barris, Gene Gene, Jamie Farr, Jaye P Morgan, Artie Johnson, Pat McCormick, & Rip Taylor. Match Game...Gene Rayburn, Brett Sommers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Nipsey Russell, Richard Dawson, & Alabama's own Fanny Flagg!!! This was REAL GAME SHOW ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS BEST!!! Much love from Mobile Alabama!!!
Absolutely insane! I watched this show as a kid. Back when you could act like a complete idiot and it was not only accepted, but cool. An overload of good times.
Yeah guess what kids? F****** Chuck Barris was a major Coke head! No wonder he was touching his nose all the time. He had to check to see if it was still there because it was so damn numb. But more power to him he made a lot of money and he could afford the best s***
@@julialaw6471look around right now and realise that there is more that exists in this world than your pathetic life, other people have feelings and you SHOULD work to be a more empathetic person. PC culture isn't real you just made up a boogeyman to justify not learning to care about others. Also I fucked your mother
I remember being in the hospital for 4 months and every day at lunch we would watch the Gong Show. Always loved when Genre came out. Made me laugh when I needed it.
One of The Greatest Off The Charts Shows ever made. The Gong Show, Barris and of course "Gene Gene The Dancing Machine". Where has the time gone. R.I.P. Big Guy.
I grew up with this show, never forgot the name,never forgot all the energy, regardless on how they got it.happy memories are important in our day and age,as we experience this deadly pandemic, rest in peace to all who have left us, you are now with Chuck & Gene.
R.I.P Chuck! I loved you and Gene. I still bust out laughing every time I watch the Gong Show. Also love Count Basie and Jumpin at the Woodside. Never grows old!
I remember this dude named Dr. La Noza who dressed up in a surgical outfit and played a really mean guitar! Next to the late Roy Clark, he was one of the greatest guitar players I ever saw. His act, Gene Patton, and all the other acts they had were absolutely tremendous. Compared to all the bullshit they pass off as TV today, this is priceless.
Gene Gene the Dancing Machine was always a show stopper and became Legendary in his own right. "The Gong Show" was hillariously silly and laugh out loud funny. Thanks for sharing.
I swear I could watch reruns of this fantastic show until the day I die. "Chucky Baby" was PERFECT for this show. The way he wore his cap over the bridge of his nose reminded me of Beetle Bailey. This gem of a closing theme was quite the snappy toe-tapper and YES Gene Gene was awesome too. Smiles all around. Anyone in Tv programing with half a brain needs really needs to bring this classic back, even in reruns-don't forget there was also the night version hosted by Gary Owens-and why not a new incarnation??? Do it now!!!!!
Was putting the dishes away in my kitchen when Gene’s dance music just popped into my head. Had to scratch that itch immediately. Some of the crazier parts of childhood you just never forget. Long live Chuck Barris, The Gong Show and Gene Gene!
What would the old classic tv show like the GONG SHOW be without Gene Patton aka Gene Gene the Dancing Machine RIP CHUCK BARRIS AND GENE PATTON Thanks for those memories of the 70's decade.
