This is the first I'm seeing of Randy Allen. I'm used to the late Charles Pierce's impersonation of Bette. As one commenter said below, this capture's Bette's final years very well.
OMG ! I didn't have very high expectations...it's TH-cam alright! Well...let me tell you that as a B.D. die-hard fan, Randy did the absolute best impersonation I've ever seen and I'm from Las Vegas where Bette Davis impersonators are a dime a dozen....let me tell you! Too GREAT!
THANKYOU! Saw Randy do this act years ago when I was “house boy” in Provincetown. Have never forgotten him and until tonight could not find any footage. Awesome - thank you. Hilarious and brilliant.
Joan Rivers looked GREAT at this time. Chic & stylish. Cannot imagine why she apparently disliked her looks so much that she underwent the ultra-extreme surgical makeover of her later years.
He nailed PS Bette Davis so perfectly! I loved that era of Bette actually on the talk shows she was always dressed like a star and smoked heavily and could still be bitchy.
...."I've often been asked...."Would Joan Crawford sleep with someone to get a part in a movie?" "Joan would sleep with someone to get a part in her hair!" HaHa!!!!
Damn good. Most of these impersonators focus on a younger Davis of undetermined age. This one focuses on how Davis is last remembered, excellent. I might only add a hat. In those last years Bette was so layered and camouflaged to take your attention away from her knareled face, limping gate, a skeletal appearance.
Right look and enunciation of Davis. But voice is all wrong. The pitch is much higher. If we could put Jimmy James' voice on this one's body we'd have the perfect impressionist. Sadly James has gotten so big it overshadows any impression coming out of his mouth. Hard to concentrate on the voice of a small woman when Ursula from Little Mermaid's standing in front of you.
This is in poor taste. I mean why do an impersonation of a woman after her having suffered a stroke? It’s hard enough watching Bette Davis in actual interviews in that period, when she was flogging her book ‘This’n’That’. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy good impersonations of Davis but only from her heyday, when she was vital and well. Surprised Joan Rivers went along with this charade when she had interviewed Bette not long after her illness; seems tacky.
The show was called P.S. Bette Davis, as in post-stroke. I got to see it live in cabaret in Provincetown, there the illusion was much more controlled than here in glaring studio lights in front of large audience, live show was that face & voice intimately lit with small, supportive, knowledgeable, aware, loving, appreciative audience, as was the performer & his performance, it was a tribute. Davis herself was not only still working post stroke, she was fulla (Boston) beans, watch the clip elsewhere on TH-cam of her taking down Martin Short on Carson's Tonight Show when he imitates her. Davis had been a star for half a century by that point, not only could she dish it out she could take it, after all, she was her own best drag tribute in All About Eve. Randy Allen was remarkable performer, taken far too soon, as so many were in the '90's. He also prepped a show as Marilyn, resemblance was STUNNING, that 1 performer could nail 2 such polar opposite icons in his appearance & performance is tribute to all 3 stars. This is neither in bad taste nor tacky, to say so is an attempt to censor a salute to remarkable talents. Thank you for inviting him on, Joan. Miss you all & grateful these memories are preserved here. If you don't support it, don't watch it. Simple as that, personal choice aka freedom. To remember. & be grateful. ❤ 🌈 🍾 🌟
She was more beloved after the stroke than before it and this is how most people remember her as a person (as opposed to the roles she held in her earlier pictures).She would have approved.
Yes, let's pretend it didn't happen! Bette herself continued working as long as she could, what poor taste. If only she had become a recluse, like Crawford, Garbo & Dietrich. But no, Davis carried on, & how!
I think Bette would have loved it. After all, she did the talk show circuit, looking and sounding like this, when a lesser person would have stayed home. Bette had guts!
This guy did a great job of Bette in her last years,amazing impersonation and I love Bette Davis.
So glad that this is captured for others to see. We were fortunate enough to see Randy in P-town about 25 years ago. Loved his impression of Bette.
This is the first I'm seeing of Randy Allen. I'm used to the late Charles Pierce's impersonation of Bette. As one commenter said below, this capture's Bette's final years very well.
His one man show was fabulous, Randy off stage was a sweetheart glad we became friends in Atlantic City..he is so missed.
OMG ! I didn't have very high expectations...it's TH-cam alright!
Well...let me tell you that as a B.D. die-hard fan, Randy did the absolute best impersonation I've ever seen and I'm from Las Vegas where Bette Davis impersonators are a dime a dozen....let me tell you! Too GREAT!
Uncanny! I wish Randy Allen were still with us.
Very good impersonation of Bette after stroke! Amazing!
Kid did a hell of job impersonating the older LaDavis!
It was like, Bette came back just to do this one last interview. Randy nailed it to a T.
That is some amazing acting!! Really amazing.
THANKYOU! Saw Randy do this act years ago when I was “house boy” in Provincetown. Have never forgotten him and until tonight could not find any footage. Awesome - thank you. Hilarious and brilliant.
Wow... P-Town houseboy....😍
Yes Randy was theabsolute best I've ever seen including Las Vegas...
What’s a houseboy
@@SerenityRidge1 A young man kept for intimate company
I've seen those interviews and dude has nailed it.
Love it! He nailed it!
Joan Rivers looked GREAT at this time. Chic & stylish. Cannot imagine why she apparently disliked her looks so much that she underwent the ultra-extreme surgical makeover of her later years.
He has her down from the voice to the facial expressions to the wit!
He nailed PS Bette Davis so perfectly! I loved that era of Bette actually on the talk shows she was always dressed like a star and smoked heavily and could still be bitchy.
...."I've often been asked...."Would Joan Crawford sleep with someone to get a part in a movie?" "Joan would sleep with someone to get a part in her hair!" HaHa!!!!
Beautiful... Dark... Genius!
Absolutely spot on
Absolutely marvelous! Thank you for making me laugh!
Damn good. Most of these impersonators focus on a younger Davis of undetermined age. This one focuses on how Davis is last remembered, excellent. I might only add a hat. In those last years Bette was so layered and camouflaged to take your attention away from her knareled face, limping gate, a skeletal appearance.
wow, he is the best.
Randy is my mom’s cousin. I loved spending time with him we had the best times.
3:16 i loled so hard i peed a little
I saw him , this act, in P town,, was hilarious many years ago now
❤😂🎉❤ Nice.
Great impersonation.
Excellent
And they somehow have Estelle Getty in the front row
Haa haaa haaa!! SPOT ON!! Uncanny!!
Spot on ...
He could do Mick Jagger
Great job.
Saw Randy live. Ballroom. I thought he was terrific. Sadly. I believe he passed away soon after from complications of Aids. Horrible. ...
Sad 😥
WoW loved him
Whos that next to randy? Cher?
A little exaggerated but very well done.
👍👍❤️
Is he still around doing this impersonation?
Sadly no, he died of AIDS in 1995.
🤣
Grotesque
MEH! Great Crawford Shoulders Though!
Nope.
Right look and enunciation of Davis. But voice is all wrong. The pitch is much higher. If we could put Jimmy James' voice on this one's body we'd have the perfect impressionist. Sadly James has gotten so big it overshadows any impression coming out of his mouth. Hard to concentrate on the voice of a small woman when Ursula from Little Mermaid's standing in front of you.
plutorama shade....
I think that's more of a read.
Shade is much more subtle.
well said.
Such a bitch attitude!!
This is in poor taste. I mean why do an impersonation of a woman after her having suffered a stroke? It’s hard enough watching Bette Davis in actual interviews in that period, when she was flogging her book ‘This’n’That’. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy good impersonations of Davis but only from her heyday, when she was vital and well. Surprised Joan Rivers went along with this charade when she had interviewed Bette not long after her illness; seems tacky.
The show was called P.S. Bette Davis, as in post-stroke. I got to see it live in cabaret in Provincetown, there the illusion was much more controlled than here in glaring studio lights in front of large audience, live show was that face & voice intimately lit with small, supportive, knowledgeable, aware, loving, appreciative audience, as was the performer & his performance, it was a tribute. Davis herself was not only still working post stroke, she was fulla (Boston) beans, watch the clip elsewhere on TH-cam of her taking down Martin Short on Carson's Tonight Show when he imitates her. Davis had been a star for half a century by that point, not only could she dish it out she could take it, after all, she was her own best drag tribute in All About Eve. Randy Allen was remarkable performer, taken far too soon, as so many were in the '90's. He also prepped a show as Marilyn, resemblance was STUNNING, that 1 performer could nail 2 such polar opposite icons in his appearance & performance is tribute to all 3 stars. This is neither in bad taste nor tacky, to say so is an attempt to censor a salute to remarkable talents. Thank you for inviting him on, Joan. Miss you all & grateful these memories are preserved here. If you don't support it, don't watch it. Simple as that, personal choice aka freedom. To remember. & be grateful. ❤ 🌈 🍾 🌟
Her illness?
Her life.
Davis was a fighter & a survivor.
She was more beloved after the stroke than before it and this is how most people remember her as a person (as opposed to the roles she held in her earlier pictures).She would have approved.
This is in the worst possible taste.
Yes, let's pretend it didn't happen! Bette herself continued working as long as she could, what poor taste. If only she had become a recluse, like Crawford, Garbo & Dietrich. But no, Davis carried on, & how!
I think Bette would have loved it. After all, she did the talk show circuit, looking and sounding like this, when a lesser person would have stayed home. Bette had guts!
No no no no let’s not go there. Wrong on so many levels . I hate it.
Not good.
lol.. it was excellent. let's see your impersonation of Davis at that age??
Pathetic impersonation, please don't do this to our much beloved Bette Davis, RIP.
LIFE did this to our much beloved Bette Davis & she carried on, this is a tribute to her talent, personality & tenacity.
Not good