Monday, May 18, 2009

HARPO MARX & MILTON BERLE: Kraft Music Hall (January 14, 1959)

Video and original comments courtesy of Gary Kaskel



Harpo Marx clowns with Uncle Miltie on The Kraft Music Hall starring Milton Berle broadcast January 14, 1959. Billy May conducts the orchestra. May also wrote and conducted the music on all the early Capitol Records' Bozo the Clown albums.

When I first saw this at the Museum of Television and Radio in NYC I was floored by Harpo's "Shiner-esque" gestures intimating alchohol, cocaine and heroin use in 1959! And keep an eye on Uncle Miltie's left hand after Harpo plays the clarinet, as he prompts Harpo's final prop in the scene.