Some miscellaneous bits and pieces, while we wait for news from Sony...
November 2009, Infinity Entertainment released the 3-DVD The Best of Spike Jones Collection. The set collects several "best of" programs from the 1952 - 1957 period, that were released by Paramount on VHS and Laser Disc back in 1988. Joe Besser appears on the 1st disc, in a prison sketch with Spike & his orchestra and guest Eddy Arnold; from the Feb. 20, 1954 episode of Spike's 1/2-hour TV show.
The real standout in these shows is Billy Barty (SOUP TO NUTS), one of Jones' comic regulars. Billy was an extremely talented mimic (Liberace, Durante, Frankie Ray, others), as well as having a gift for physical comedy and pratfalls. Healy-replacement-stooge, and regular guest at the '90s Stooges conventions, Paul "Mousie" Garner shows up in a sketch on disc 2.
January 19, 2010, Warner Home Video is releasing Scooby's All Star Laff-A-Lympics Vol. 1, four 1/2-hour episodes of the 1977-1978 Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. Joe Besser is the voice of 'Babu,' a character he reprised from 1972's JEANNIE.
Update...
January 19, WHV will also release Scooby's All Star Laff-A-Lympics Vol. 2, as an exclusive in Target stores. Four more 1/2-hour episodes; it'll receive general retail distribution later in 2010.
December 2009, Infinity Entertainment released The Jerry Lewis Show Collection, thirteen 1/2-hour syndication-versions of his 1967-1969 1-hour variety show. Our friend Sylvia Lewis (BEDLAM IN PARADISE) was a regular on Jerry's show, as choreographer, dancer, and sketch performer. She turns up in several episodes, especially one knockout appearance in a bikini! Joe Besser joined Jerry's show in its 2nd season, but twelve of these DVD episodes are from the 1st year; he is not in the one 2nd season episode.
