Uncle Glen Goes To Disneyland!

Periodically we'll be featuring photos from Uncle Glen's legendary trips to Disneyland. Here's the first in a series of candid portraits- a tender moment with Glen and his unidentified friend. The friend doesn't look at all well in this shot. But at least he died with his boots on.

NBC - WE'RE LOUD!

I guess when you're hanging around all day, stuck in a studio with artificial lights, recording jingles and promos, you end up desperate to have a bit of fun. That's what these session people did, and here's the wonderful result: NBC - WE'RE LOUD!

Nice lyrics.

Click on the title to hear this snappy spot!

Laurence Juber On Talk Of The Town

Talk Of The Town with the legendary John Craig as host. Set the Wayback Machine for 1994. It was our Tribute To The Beatles. We decorated the studio with some fine collectibles- you can see some original lunchboxes, an authentic Butcher Cover and the fabulous Beatles record player.

Off in the left corner- there's Laurence Juber on guitar. Best known perhaps for playing in Wings with Paul McCartney- somehow I was very impressed that he played on the first Alan Parsons LP.

Click on the title at the top of this post and hear Mr. Juber performing live in the studio- Martha My Dear.

I'm A Green Chicken

We've had some interesting people drop by the old TV studio over the years. In general, I never knew who the guests were until I met them in the Green Room. In this case, the Green Chicken Room. Too bad we didn't actually have the talking parrot- but we did have the next best thing, two gentlemen who started up a record label devoted to the listening pleasure of animals. Gorillas, parrots and dogs from far and wee were thrilled. This is the single they presented to me and we played it on the air. Here for your enjoyment is "I'm A GREEN CHICKEN"!

Just click on the Title of today's Blog above the picture and listen to Carla!

Chucko The Birthday Clown

Chucko was a local LA TV kiddie show staple for many years. A contemporary of Engineer Bill, Webster Webfoot and Sheriff John, among others. Here are some nice graphics of Chucko. A friend of mine appeared on the TV show for his birthday and for these many years has cherished the hat that Chucko gave him. He was gracious enough to allow me to photograph it- but for some reason wouldn't LOAN it to me!

Ringo Starr and Fats Waller in Liverpool

One rarely thinks of Fats Waller and Ringo Starr in the same proximity. But Ringo's first solo album had a cover of this wonderful song by Fats and this is the sheet music. I had long been fascinated by the building on the front- The Empress Pub. When I visited Liverpool, we found a local who knew where it was (the Pub, not Liverpool). That's me in the doorway ala Mr. Starkey, M.B.E. (Photo by Rob Conlin)

Buddy Ebsen

Possibly the worst photograph of anyone ever taken- but this is yours truly hanging out with legendary hoofer Buddy Ebsen. Buddy was at our TV studio promoting his book, and he did a one-hour interview for us. I didn't have any Beverly Hillbillies items so I had him autograph a laserdisc of The Wizard Of Oz.

Steve Allen

Steve Allen turned up one day at our OTHER studio- the one for Public Access where a friend of his was producing a show and where Steve made an appearance. Here's one of my souveniers of the day.

Santa's Village: Come Lose Your Heart

Today we poke about through the nether recesses of Uncle Glen's record collection. Today's offering is a nifty 78 RPM single sold at Santa's Village, Skyforest, California. The graphics on this disc set a high standard for theme park ephemera. Maybe I'll get around to posting the audio at some point. To help complete the mood, there are some additional photos of Santa's Village over which you may wax nostalgic.

Ah- Kiddie Records and Theme Parks....(Sigh)

*****

Side Two

http://www.supload.com/music/Santas-Village-A-Trip-To-Santas-Village-2-ringtone-download-GZ32Z8AKXR1Q.html

*****

Side One

http://www.supload.com/music/Santas-Village-A-Trip-To-Santas-Village-ringtone-download-LVP9BWLO06R4.html

Betty Garrett

This was a great evening. Perhaps you remember Betty as Mrs. Edna Babish-DeFazio from Laverne and Shirley. She was certainly unforgettable as Brunhilde Esterhazy in On The Town (1948). Her bubbly, energetic performances are a mirror to her wonderful, outgoing persona in real life. She appeared on our TV show as well and when I run across more photos of Betty I'll be sure to post them for you to enjoy.

And how did I end up in the credits? No one is certain......

Meet Webster Webfoot - and Jimmy Weldon!

We're going to spend a little time with Uncle Jimmy Weldon and Webster Webfoot. There's a LOT to say about them- and we may have to split this up into several posts in order to share all of it. Back when I was a young whelp and we rode dinosaurs to school, Webster Webfoot was my TV hero. I worshipped that wonderful little duck and wanted more than anything to crawl inside my Packard Bell set to meet him. How was I to know that an innocent dream like that could ever come true? Jimmy and Webster made several memorable visits to our studios and I'm happy to say that those incredible moments were well documented by the fans and crew.

Many of you will remember Jimmy as the voice of Yakky Doodle, the Hannah-Barbera animated duck.

Webster and Jimmy- WE LOVE YOU!!

Yarmy's Army!

I tell ya- we had FUN making TV back in them days! And look at this group. You could learn a thing or two about comedy from THESE guys. Ron Petke, our Producer, adjusts the lav mike on Tom Poston. Continuing clockwise, we have Howard Storm, Shelley Berman, Sam Denoff and Ronnie Schell. At the host's desk, the late and much-beloved John Craig. God, I wish I had taken more pictures that day.....

Spike Jones Radio Life

Here's another of my heros. Spike Jones was a musical genius who played his last gigs at Disneyland. I met his wife, Helen Grayco up in Hollywood at the Roxy. I was there auditioning for the part of 'piano player' for Spike Jones, Jr. She was beautiful and gracious. After the show, an argument erupted among the band members (about money) and the upshot of the whole debacle was that the Band disBanded - and I never managed to audition for Spike Jr. So near, and yet- so far.

I think I found this magazine at the swap meet but I don't recall for sure.

Someday I'll trot out my Doodles Weaver Radio Encounter story.

Enjoy the article!

What Can It Mean?

Yes- this blog shall be my Magnum Opus, my Raison d'Outre. We will delve into vintage images, Disney flotsam and jetsam and Old Time Radio.

Along the way- meet Webster Webfoot, Emitt Rhodes, Firesign Theatre and the Bonzo Dog Band.

The Lounge Party Lives On

I'm Uncle Glen. I pause now to let the world say "So What." For the past 12 years or so I have been inflicting myself upon a hapless public in the form of local cable TV programming. Charter Communications' "Uncle Glen's Lounge Party". Before, during and since that time my fascination with disposable American Pop Culture (and therefore music) has always driven my skewed vision of The Past. It is this vision that I share with you. These ViSiOnS will appear in no particular order- I will be free-associating. Today's first entry is a photo of me with George Carlin. George came down to our TV studios in Long Beach, California and did an intimate 1-hour interview. Here is my snapshot from that day.