"Is Everybody Happy Now," which reached #10 in March 1928, was the 49th of the 102 hits Ted Lewis racked up between 1920 and 1938. From 1920 to 1927 (his "hot band" period), only five of Ted's 43 hits had vocals. After that, though, he increasinly leaned on his tongue-in-cheek vocals to work their magic on his records -- and it sure worked! "Lady Luck," from the film "Show of Shows," reached #3 in November 1929.
Oh How I loved the great showman Theodore Leopold Friedman from the first time I saw him as a child in a triple feature at the Ideal Theater across from the famous Biograph Theater on Lincoln Ave in Chicago. What a thrilling and funny guy!! I never knew how famous he was in the 20's and 30's until You Tube.Thank You Desdemona202.The pride of Circleville Ohio and one of the unique and great stars of the 20th century!!
I first heard a song by Ted Lewis on the radio around 1982 when I was 24. It was DIP YOUR BRUSH IN THE SUNSHINE. In my naivete, because of the vocal delivery I thought at first that I was hearing W. C. Fields. I soon found out it was Ted Lewis, and have been a fan ever since. I've collected 78s, LPs, and CDs of his songs. I highly recommend two of his more serious songs, KING FOR A DAY and WHEN THE CURTAIN COMES DOWN, which prove him to be the vaudevillian equivalent of a Shakespearean actor.
"Is Everybody Happy Now," which reached #10 in March 1928, was the 49th of the 102 hits Ted Lewis racked up between 1920 and 1938. From 1920 to 1927 (his "hot band" period), only five of Ted's 43 hits had vocals. After that, though, he increasinly leaned on his tongue-in-cheek vocals to work their magic on his records -- and it sure worked!
That's why LT enquoted "early rappers," IDIOT. But it's more in the tradition of the ancient Greek rhapsode, who dramatically declaimed a poetic narrative, quasi acting the story out.
JudgeJulieLit Wrong MORON, you have no clue what you are talking about DUMBO. I suggest for future reference you sit down and shut your rotten mouth. Got it?
i dont know about anyone else -but i LIKE his over the top hokey brand of forced cheerfulness-elsewhere described as " bullsh*t" -and iv been looking all over for his version of Me And My Shadow-i seem to remember he danced ( or attempted to) with a little black kid imitating him-or is that perceived as racist today??-anyway-corny as he was i still find him a lot of fun to watch
Harry Levi looks just as young now as he did then... I didn't know the Thameside Mummers had such a big part and I never knew Dave Brown played clarinet! Well actually he doesn't, just dances around with it. 3min.43. They still charge the same now and are no better.
Lady Luck was good to hear at the end (not Ted Lewis's talk/singing of it). And get a load of Noah Beery hopping around! The better versions of that song were done by Smith Ballew and Scrappy Lambert.
Poor Ted He had to be the worst clarinetest in the history of recorded music. He did however put together some really good bands. As fas as "Lady Luck is concerned check out Smith Ballews version. It really rocks.
phredl well, at first he was horrible at it but overtime he got better at it...plus his real talent was in his showmanship and putting a band together.
