Thursday, June 28, 2007

Dean Martin and Phil Harris


Just for fun, here's a neat video clip from the old Dean Martin Variety Show featuring Dean having "tea" with guest, Phil Harris. Both these guys had a reputation as boozehounds, though this was more of an act than reality. (Dean claimed the "booze" in his glass during Rat Pack Vegas performances was really apple juice.)

Phil Harris is famous to animation fans for being the voice of Baloo the bear in "The Jungle Book", of course, and the character had so much of his persona that the result was one of the most charismatic characters created during that era. Enjoy!

11 comments:

  1. awesome stuff mr emslie. lookin' forward for next year =)

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  2. I can't believe how much that looks like him... AND Baloo at the same time.

    Good on ya, Pete, I love it!

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  3. fantastic caricature of one of my favorite voices!! great work as always!

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  4. dude, your stuff is incredible! way glad i found your blog...I especially love the "Curb" post.

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  5. Peter its amazing how you're line has matured so nicely! So sculptural. Like the lines are digging in and out of the paper to bring out the right feeling to bring that specific personality to life!!
    I get the same feeling when I look at Hirschfeld's work.
    Keep up the great work my friend!
    Alvaro

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  6. Some interesting things about the live clip. Harris in spots reminds me of Jackie Gleason and I wonder if he was influenced by him. There's a clip of Gleason doing a Gallagher and Shean routine with Grouch Marx and Al Shean was Marx's uncle.

    Also, the effeminate humour seems to have been a Dino standard at this time. There's a clip on Youtube of Martin, Orson Welles and Jimmy Stewart under hair dryers acting like housewives.

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  7. "Also, the effeminate humour seems to have been a Dino standard at this time. There's a clip on Youtube of Martin, Orson Welles and Jimmy Stewart under hair dryers acting like housewives."

    Maybe Dean just didn't want frequent guest star Paul Lynde to feel out of place?

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  8. Pete, this one is a killer. The ripple in his bottom lip, which is reinforced by the subtle dimple in his wide chin--the space in the back of his mouth where the teeth end--the bulbous cheeks and the wavy hair...these are so confidently and perfectly organized...and of course it looks just freakin' like him!

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  9. I'm a big Dino fan and man oh man - I was grinnin' ear to ear during that whole performance. Thanks for posting it.

    The caricature of course, is wonderful.

    - Corbett

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  10. Big Pete!!!

    Glad I found your blog! You DON'T miss with any of your wonderful caricatures!!! You would'a made T.Hee proud!

    Hope you're well?!!

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  11. Wonderful blog. I want to link in with you! Cartoon mania is pure nostalgia and that is what I am all about. Have you ever seen the youtube clip of Foster Brooks doing a roast of Don Rickles? Now that was back in the day when entertainers were truly entertaining and talented. I just put it on my weblog yesterday. Thanks for the blog!

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