Bea Lillie "I Apologize" Tallulah Bankhead Fred Allen Live "The Big Show" 1951

Beatrice Lillie live in London on Tallulah Bankhead's "The Big Show" radio show in 1951, bantering with her and Fred Allen's wife Portland Hoffa (a rare mingling of three comediennes), then singing - well sending up - the standard "I Apologize", made famous by Bing Crosby, and later by Aretha Franklin and others. Amazing it survived after Bea's rendering. Meticulously cleaned and edited from the complete live tape. This particular show cuts off at just under an hour (the other surviving "Big Shows" are complete); anyone having the missing half hour, please contact me.

[@stephenwilliams1269]

The days when entertainment was just that. I really enjoy Tallulah's shows.

[@scotnick59]

"Oh, mother your favorite actress Italian Blockhead was in the new movie at the theatre" my dad as a little boy to my Grandma in the early thirties.

[@sapphicladylove4735]

Lovely Tallu.

[@randysills4418]

Yes, Miss Bankroll! LOL!

[@nmuphelps1]

brilliant beyond words

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Crazy!

[@fromthesidelines]

The complete 90 minute show DOES exist....and will be released soon.

[@jonthesYT]

Barry I. Grauman Please notify me when it is. Love to hear the rest of it.

[@larrymartin7479]

Hilarious!

[@seethevolcane]

Hilarious...

[@fromthesidelines]

Billy Eckstine originally made "I Apologize" a hit in 1950.

[@jonthesYT]

Barry I. Grauman Well, Bing Crosby recorded it in the 1930s. I used it in a production of Cocteau's "The Human Voice".

[@pampauly9599]

There will never be anyone like them again ! Lol

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Miss Lillie and Bankhead should wrestle in mug. The soprano would defeat the baritone.

[@unclealand]

Tallulah slurs as if she had too many downers.