Here's to Adam West, who understood that heroes were funny, and to Frank Gorshin, who understood that villains were sad. Both great wits and underrated actors.
I remember Gorshin came up here to my city c. 2001 or so. I was a little busy and I thought, "I'll see him next time". He never came back, and died a short time later. A great regret of mine. I wish I would have went that night to see Frank Gorshin. He was a great star.
In 1989 in Windsor, the Canadian city across the Detroit River Gorshin was working rapid fire because both Frank and the great old Supper Clubs (like the Top Hat) aimed at Americans were coming to an end. Frank loved the fact there was still few spots to tour. He could always pick up a quick $3500 doing a Canadian Network TV guest spot plus the Royal York in Toronto for a tidy $15,000. Notice him picking on the Tigers empty seats. Gorshin works so fast there no time for laughs and his impersonations were getting weak. Windsor after a law change was most profitable legal casino in the world for a few years until Michigan changed the laws. This is rare footage.Gorshin mentions his next booking .....doing corporate convention shows......Adios career.
For the record, Jim... you, yourself, are a marvel. I've never seen another impressionist bridge from one character into another with such speed and accuracy.
This was kind of sad. What were there, maybe ten people out there? In Gorshin's heyday, Rich Little couldn't touch him. I never did understand why Little went on to be the big star. Everything he did sounded like Rich Little pretending to be somebody else.
Yes indeed this was sad. In his hey day he was up there with the best. I also thought that Little was extraordinary in his own right, however he didn't age well as one can see in clips up here. I love all the great impressionists but David Frey is my all time favorite.
AGREED! Not only are Little's attempts at impressions bad, George Burns told Little that when Little does Burns, he holds the cigar in the wrong hand.... and Little never changed the way he does it!!!! Gorshen was the Master. He did brilliant impressions AND can sing, dance, and act!
Little's jimmy Stewart, Jack Benny and Cary Grant were excellent, spot on. His Bogart is maybe the finest I've ever seen. If you haven't seen him doing the Cain Mutiny speech its really good. His Carson was very good too. I read someone said that it was always Rich Little doing a whoever impression. Gorshin simply BECAME the person for a moment. There's probably some truth in that. And maybe that is the reason that Little became a bigger name or star in his own right. Just my opinion.
Here's to Adam West, who understood that heroes were funny, and to Frank Gorshin, who understood that villains were sad. Both great wits and underrated actors.
I saw one of his shows at the Top Hat and enjoyed meeting this true talent. RIP Frank.
wish there was much more of Frank Gorshin on youtube, he was a brilliant stand up comic.
I remember Gorshin came up here to my city c. 2001 or so. I was a little busy and I thought, "I'll see him next time". He never came back, and died a short time later. A great regret of mine. I wish I would have went that night to see Frank Gorshin. He was a great star.
Even Lancaster couldn't do himself as good as Gorshin.
One of the best impersonators. It took me a while to realize that the Rice Krispies act is Boris Karloff.
No, it's Walter Matthau.
A fantastic performer. One of the best.
He's fantastic as Walter Matthau. If you listen Gorshin without watching him, you would say is Matthau the one who's talking
hands down, one of the very best ever!
plinqth I think, The Best ?
one of the best if not the thee best impersonator that ever lived
+Batleth69 ABSOLUTELY!
Thanks very much for posting. someone did a great job filming this.
back then it wasn't so easy. but i'm glad they did , this is a gem!
In 1989 in Windsor, the Canadian city across the Detroit River Gorshin was working rapid fire because both Frank and the great old Supper Clubs (like the Top Hat) aimed at Americans were coming to an end. Frank loved the fact there was still few spots to tour. He could always pick up a quick $3500 doing a Canadian Network TV guest spot plus the Royal York in Toronto for a tidy $15,000.
Notice him picking on the Tigers empty seats. Gorshin works so fast there no time for laughs and his impersonations were getting weak.
Windsor after a law change was most profitable legal casino in the world for a few years until Michigan changed the laws. This is rare footage.Gorshin mentions his next booking .....doing corporate convention shows......Adios career.
Adios career in 1983 I think your mistaken
The funniest out of control machine gun that ever lived
His 'Rodney Dangerfield' made me laugh out loud. Pure talent.
I think he continued to work on it because I saw a video where he was spot on. Here it wasn't as good as another video where he did Rodney.
The one and only Riddler... RIP sir.
I wish I had never of seen this. One of my favorite performers ever who should have just retired.
I don't think he could have lived on residuals from Batman....cause there weren't any.
Wow. He really worked. What a pro.
For the record, Jim... you, yourself, are a marvel. I've never seen another impressionist bridge from one character into another with such speed and accuracy.
just going through the motions here
His 'Rodney Dangerfield' was the best I've ever seen -
This was kind of sad. What were there, maybe ten people out there? In Gorshin's heyday, Rich Little couldn't touch him. I never did understand why Little went on to be the big star. Everything he did sounded like Rich Little pretending to be somebody else.
Glad to know it wasn't always me who thought so! Same question too, how'd Little get so big? Parrumpump!
+Jaime Acosta Nicely done
Yes indeed this was sad. In his hey day he was up there with the best. I also thought that Little was extraordinary in his own right, however he didn't age well as one can see in clips up here. I love all the great impressionists but David Frey is my all time favorite.
AGREED! Not only are Little's attempts at impressions bad, George Burns told Little that when Little does Burns, he holds the cigar in the wrong hand.... and Little never changed the way he does it!!!! Gorshen was the Master. He did brilliant impressions AND can sing, dance, and act!
Gorshin, David Frye,John Byner, George Kirby, all faded out, but Little got huge!
Tough crowd. Frank was having a bad night.
His Brando looks like vigoda
I guess I'll never know what that thing in her nose was. I know it wasn't a diamond.
Rich Little has Nothing on Frank
Little's jimmy Stewart, Jack Benny and Cary Grant were excellent, spot on. His Bogart is maybe the finest I've ever seen. If you haven't seen him doing the Cain Mutiny speech its really good. His Carson was very good too. I read someone said that it was always Rich Little doing a whoever impression. Gorshin simply BECAME the person for a moment. There's probably some truth in that. And maybe that is the reason that Little became a bigger name or star in his own right. Just my opinion.
Windsor Ontario Canada ...that audience sucked
Jimmy Capone
He's funnier now than then.