Sunday, December 28, 2008

Birthday Cake Polka

You can't say I was cheap this Christmas. Here is a FINE gift from me to you- the actual sheet music for the unforgettable song Birthday Cake Polka. Sometimes called Put Another Candle On My Birthday Cake, this was sent to me by Sheriff John himself. Just print this out and whip out a copy when those goons at the Red Lobster try to sing some funky, generic dirge to celebrate your natal day- and DEMAND they sing this instead.
You're welcome.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Merry Christmas From The Haunted Mansion

Merry Christmas To All- And To All A Good Fright!
Here's me at my organ again, deep in the heart of the Happiest Place On Earth. Oh, yeah- don't forget- Happy Boo Year!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Dear Abby

Here's my letter to Dear Abby. I figured that she would use my letter if I included a crappy pun at the end. Was I right?

Friday, November 14, 2008

FIRESIGN THEATRE: Phil Proctor

Portrait of the Artist as a Purple People Reader.
The colors are fading, but this is Phil Proctor in a candid moment- taken during the recording sessions for In The Next World, You're On Your Own. I shot this at the Burbank Studios.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

FIRESIGN THEATRE: More Sugar!


Here are some wonderful Firesign Theatre images I dug out of my archives. These are completely at random- just to make an easy post.
Trust me- it HAS been 'Many years of fun'!

Phil Proctor sent me some of the photos on this post. Here's a great sample of Nick Danger stationery. Why doesn't Hallmark carry this??

Here we are in the TV studio. Phil Proctor, Peter Bergman, Ron Petke, Glen Banks and the late John Craig (love ya, Johnnie Boy!)


Phil Proctor, John Craig, Glen Banks and Peter Bergman on the set.



This is an interesting curio for hardcore fans. This is the breakdown/guide sheet for the final Firesign radio broadcast at KPFK: The Martian Space Party. I picked this up after the show was over. It was the end of Dear Friends and the end of an era in radio comedy.




Friday, October 31, 2008

The Luer Spaceship

This is the front cover of the comic book that was handed to the kids after disembarking from the Luer Spaceship. The ship made an appearance at a local market and featured Engineer Bill with the Big Whistle, too! Inside the ship I can recall that we watched a beautifully animated film on a rear-projection screen located on a forward bulkhead. The film had a similar look to the artwork on the comic book cover. The seats would vibrate on landing and takeoff- it really was an embryonic version of Star Tours.


LOST IN SPACE!



Alas, we find the rusting hulk as it is today, alone in the desert.


Fire up those afterburners!




Here she is in her her heyday, the way I remember her. THIS is what a spaceship should look like!





Saturday, September 27, 2008

Firesign Theatre: Eat Or Be Eaten

Eat Or Be Eaten- the cult fave LP/CD from Firesign Theatre.



Look closely in the credits- Glen Banks (that's me) playing keyboard.


Did David get replaced by a sheep?


Here's me on the set of Eat Or Be Eaten. I played a Dendrolator in the film. My favorite memory was sitting around on this couch at 2 AM with the Firesign Theatre and the other castmembers- swapping scary ghost stories. I'm holding the legendary Book Of Me (written by Dr. Me) and you'll notice a menacing sprig of koodzoo vine lurking on the cushions. On the coffee table is the photo of the vine taken in 1936 when the plant went berserk and completely covered the town.



Me and Phil Proctor- bonding- with a couple of bottles of Wino Brothers wine- "in the bottle shaped like a paper bag!" (Photo by Henry Diltz)




Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Happy Birthday, June Foray!

June Foray's birthday is this month so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUNE!
If you don't know who June Foray is, there is little hope for you.
Where would one start? Granny, Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha, Nell, her amazing radio performances with Stan Freberg.....
She is a legend. And a very sweet, personable lady. This shot was taken in our TV studio. From the left, John Craig, June Foray and Glen Banks



Here's June and Uncle Glen. This snap was taken at June's home. Hard to see but in her den the walls are adorned with wonderful memorabilia from her storied career. Not to mention the life-size Bullwinkle Moose who sits on her couch. (I told you not to MENTION THE MOOSE!)




This is last year's Christmas card from June. She is a national treasure and a wonderful lady. Much love to you, June!

Monday, September 15, 2008

Robert Morse in "Scrooge, The Stingiest Man In Town"

Robert Morse publicity photo


You probably remember Robert Morse as the gap-toothed musical hero of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. I did a show with him in Santa Monica one Christmas season. These are scans from the program. As usual I was playing the piano for the show. This particular version of the Dickens classic was adapted from a 1950s original TV broadcast featuring Basil Rathbone.




Here's Robert Morse's Bio from the show program...




And here I am in the credits right next to Anthony Perkins of Psycho. It was a lot of fun working with Mr. Morse. I'm not sure why, but I forgot to ask for an autograph. Go figure....






Saturday, August 30, 2008

The Credibility Gap: Vote 'Til It Hurts!

The Woodschtick logo

Harry Shearer, David Lander and Michael McKean

This audio track could be considered to be a great lost Credibility Gap artifact. I found it years ago on a Public Service Announcement LP entitled Vote '72. Though it sounds like it's merely a vocal placed on top of a pre-recorded pre-licensed music bed, it's still a lovely example of lyric writing and patriotic ennui. Introduced by Harry Shearer, the identity of the vocalist is a mystery to me. This advice is still just as timely as it was in 1972.
Click on the title and enjoy VOTE 'TIL IT HURTS.


Sunday, August 24, 2008

The Firesign Theatre

You say you don't know who Firesign Theatre is? Don't insult me. Head for Google or Wiki and start learning. The American Monty Python? The Beatles of Comedy? The greatest comedy aggregation since the Marx Brothers- for my money. Here's the cover of (arguably) their greatest LP.

Click on the Post Title to hear Firesign perfoming Forward Into The Past.


Proctor and Goodman. I took this shot at UCLA. I really like this one.


Here we are in the studio during the Boom Dot Bust recording sessions.
Back row: Phil Proctor, David Ossman. Front row: Peter Bergman, Glen Banks, Phil Austin


Glen Banks, Phil Proctor, Peter Bergman. This was taken at a promotion for the DVD release of J-Men Forever. The newspaper was a prop used in the film.


I took this nice photo of Phil Proctor quite recently. Phil and I were appearing courtesy of the Antaeus Theatre Company in Tonight At 8:30. It was a performance of all Noel Coward's one-act plays. I played the piano and Phil (among other things) was cast as the Butler. I will always have fond memories of providing the music for Phil's wonderful rendition of Don't Put Your Daughter On The Stage, Mrs. Worthington.



Sunday, August 17, 2008

Sheriff John: Birthday Cake Polka




I was sure mighty pleased when these photos arrived in the mail. Sheriff John is the all-time king of Kiddie Shows, along with Engineer Bill, Jimmy Weldon and Webster Webfoot, and Tom Hatten.

His most famous song is posted here for you to enjoy: "The Birthday Cake Polka"!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Engineer Bill: Cartoon Express Coloring Book


For 25 cents you could get this amazing coloring book from Engineer Bill. This one is in pretty good shape for being 50 years old. Get the kids hopped up on Ovaltine and Sugar Pops, open up a fresh pack of Crayola Crayons and watch out for FUN!