Hello Dear Readers! Lately I’ve found myself hanging out with a lot of really fun dead people!
You see, I’ve been surfing YouTube and watching clips of the old talk shows of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. These shows are a treasure trove of legendary showbiz types. Here’s a couple of people I have a new appreciation for thanks to YouTube videos.
Oscar Levant
“There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.”
Oscar Levant was a pianist, composer, humorist, actor and author and was famous for his witticisms in radio, television and the movies. He suffered from neurosis and hypochondria and he was frequently committed to mental hospitals by his wife.
When asked by Jack Parr what he did for exercise, Oscar Levant replied: “I stumble and then fall into a coma.“
Still, he was talented as all get out and had a sharp wit and boy oh boy could he play the piano!
“In some situations I was difficult, in odd moments impossible, in rare moments loathsome, but at my best unapproachably great.”
Oscar Levant died of a heart attack at age 65. His death was discovered by his wife when she went to get him for an interview with Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown) who was a photo-journalist at the time.
Oscar Levant wrote three memoirs: A Smattering of Ignorance, The Unimportance of Being Oscar Levant and the one I just ordered, The Memoirs of an Amnesiac.
Phyllis Diller
“I asked the waiter, ‘Is this milk fresh?’ He said, ‘Lady, three hours ago it was grass.”
“Housework can’t kill you, but why take a chance?”
We all remember Phyllis Diller as the wild-haired wife of Fang. But she was also an accomplished concert pianist and performed with orchestras all over the country as Dame Illya Dillya. She also loved to paint and many of her paintings have been bought by art collectors.
“My mother-in-law had a pain beneath her left breast. Turned out to be a trick knee.”
Phyllis Diller was the mother of six children, three of whom she outlived. One of her daughters suffered from schizophrenia and was institutionalized for most of her life.
After watching YouTube clips of her, I learned that she attributed her success in life to a book she described as life changing called The Magic of Believing by Claude M. Bristol. She talks about it here:
The Magic of Believing is free online. I found a free audio copy of it here: http://insideabundance.com/the-magic-of-believing-by-claude-bristol/
Well that’s all we have time for today, Dear Readers, I hope you enjoyed the very first installment of Dead People I Love.
Until next time . . . I love you
Linda Vernon Humor 
The book sounds like it should be presented to every student – not sure yet what age. But standing up for oneself and beliving in oneself is a wonderful messeage. As well as to be kind and happy.
Thanks.
I agree completely! I wish they would teach something like this in schools. I think it would be really helpful to kids. 😀
It’s amazing how many dead people are out there just waiting for someone to love them. Some of my favorites are grumpy old curmudgeons such as Mark Twain and WC Fields. I once did an blog interview with Ben Franklin to celebrate this 300th birthday. Unfortunately, he would not share any of his secrets on how to be a hit with women. Some of these dead folks are just plain uncooperative–you can’t get a word out of them.
Oh I love the idea of a blog interview with a dead notable. Good ol Benny — never without a girlfriend (mistress?) I’ve always loved WC Fields. I recently read WC Fields and Me written by his longtime girlfriend. There’s also a movie based on the book with Rod Steiger playing W.C. Fields. It’s on Netflix — it was really good.
wow i had no idea! very interesting!
Oh I’m glad you liked it!! 😀
you know it!
😀 😀 !!
There are an awful lot of dead people to love.
Some are more loveable because they’re dead.
And some are just missed, like Oscar and Phyllis.
Yes so true! 😀
Great!
Your humor and creativity are combining to form some unique, awesome and relevant skill. I enjoyed this so much! Looking foward to more editions! 🙂
Oh Teecee! I’m so glad you liked it! It was so much fun to write and since it’s something I don’t usually do it is so good to have your feedback! Thank you so much! 😀
You are always welcome!
I was going to say I love Phyllis Diller, but then I realized I was thinking of Carol Channing. They are pretty much the same, no? I guess you tell how deep my love flows…
Ahahahaha!! To the naked eye there’s really not much difference between the two Melissa, so I can understand your confusion!! HA! 😀
Thanks for these clips mom! I find it interesting that both comedians were very musically accomplished. I hope you upload another list soon!
I will do some more. It is interesting that humor and music often go together. I can’t think of very many famous comedians who aren’t musically inclined too. Interesting isn’t it?
[…] until next we meet, enjoy these… First, thanks to Linda Vernon for reminding of Phyllis […]
I wish you would make this a series on your blog; totally enjoyable, great tributes and so many more to go. Loved it!
Oh I’m glad you liked it Ronnie. I’ll have to put more of these together — there are so many more!! 😀
What a marvelous post, my lovely. It was exactly what I needed. 🙂
Oh thank you Miskaytkins! So glad you liked it!! 😀
I just love learning something at the same time I am entertained!! What an excellent memory refresher!!!
🙂
Oh thank you BuddhaKat! I’ll have to do some more of them. I think most of my favorite celebrities are dead! 😀
well, they sure aren’t makin’ ’em like they used to, that’s for sure!
🙂
Haha! You are so right! 😀 !