It's hard to express just how huge an achievement it was when Van Cliburn won the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow in the chilly depths of the Cold War. Staggering.
This clip is an absolute hoot!! Van had the panel convinced he was some distiguished actor. The look on Arlene and Allen face when Van's identity is finally revealed is priceless!! Good show, Van.
Thanx for posting this classic, which you posted during the Van Cliburn Piano Competition season of 2009.
1964 was the year that Dorothy Kilgallen enjoyed her best stretch of good health and conditioning in the 1960s. Notice she looks great, especially compared to her anorexic addictions period in 1962. She attended EVERY broadcast and taping session of 1964. I am surprised, though, that she didn't ask one of her trademark questions about music. That would have focused everyone.
This Cliburn performance stands in stark contrast to his appearance as a WML panelist in the late 1950s when he suffered a bad case of what-do-I-do-now?
Van Cliburn illustrates just how hot the Cold War really was in that a guy from Texas became an International Superstar overnight literally by winning a Russian classical piano competition in Moscow. He probably would have not made the same stir had he won in Rome. Or Fort Worth.
When the great classical pianist, Van Cliburn, signed in I was fully expecting a series of rather lackluster yes-no answers. The man has a personality in spades and an honest-to-goodness sense of humor. I ENJOYED this one!
If Cliburn had a desk with a name plate on top, it would read: Van Cliburn, American Badass
schmuckenheimer9 1 month ago
Was fantastic! Thank you. Was not expecting this.
Gracealma1 3 months ago
BRILLIANT!!!!!
gerardbedecarter 6 months ago
Do you have the other clip in whch he was on. That was even funnier!
1122DLAN 7 months ago
Comment removed
1122DLAN 7 months ago
wow, this is a unique man
PavelSoviak1 8 months ago
THANK FOR POSTING THIS!!!!!!!!!! OMG! If he could know how much I love him!
sarrapianist 8 months ago
That voice sounds like it hurts.
uUUu314 9 months ago
What a pity Glenn Gould didn't appear on the show. Or did he?
flaggerify 11 months ago
w00t on the Interlochen plug at the end, well done.
thanks for sharing.
ksrucin 1 year ago 2
It's hard to express just how huge an achievement it was when Van Cliburn won the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow in the chilly depths of the Cold War. Staggering.
aurelius54 1 year ago 2
Van Cliburn !!! BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO!!!!!!!!!
chesnok9 1 year ago 2
I'd never seen him like this. Wonderful!
pfeyraud 1 year ago 2
Brilliant...I could listen to his Rachmaninov's 2nd forever.... This is fantastic! thank you!
FriendofRamblinJack 1 year ago
What a absolute gem of a clip! Thank you for posting this.
PatinPDX 2 years ago 7
This comment has received too many negative votes show
He sounds like the beastly toothless creature that swallowed my dick last night...
brassmonkeyjew 1 year ago
very funny and charming !)
Van Cliburn is a great and wonderful person and artist !^^
nocturne163 2 years ago 2
This clip is an absolute hoot!! Van had the panel convinced he was some distiguished actor. The look on Arlene and Allen face when Van's identity is finally revealed is priceless!! Good show, Van.
sbutler0727 2 years ago 3
Absolutely charming. I was on Van Cliburn Way in Fort Worth just today. Texas does once in a while produce a true renaissance man and he was one.
chucknyc123 2 years ago 2
thats amazing haha cause im leaving tomorrow morning to go to this school, for a summer program there. but it is now 80 years old!
ps-josh groban went to this school!
joesuf821 2 years ago
You may have noticed how tall Van Cliburn is. His hands can spread over 13 keys. Thanks very much for posting.
13loomisst 2 years ago
oh my ~
bunnyoneedge 2 years ago
One of the great things about WML is the opportunity to see glimpses of geniuses.
bigred997 2 years ago 4
i wonder what he's doing tonight
bitterchew 2 years ago 2
Thanx for posting this classic, which you posted during the Van Cliburn Piano Competition season of 2009.
1964 was the year that Dorothy Kilgallen enjoyed her best stretch of good health and conditioning in the 1960s. Notice she looks great, especially compared to her anorexic addictions period in 1962. She attended EVERY broadcast and taping session of 1964. I am surprised, though, that she didn't ask one of her trademark questions about music. That would have focused everyone.
soulierinvestments 2 years ago 2
This Cliburn performance stands in stark contrast to his appearance as a WML panelist in the late 1950s when he suffered a bad case of what-do-I-do-now?
Van Cliburn illustrates just how hot the Cold War really was in that a guy from Texas became an International Superstar overnight literally by winning a Russian classical piano competition in Moscow. He probably would have not made the same stir had he won in Rome. Or Fort Worth.
soulierinvestments 2 years ago
When the great classical pianist, Van Cliburn, signed in I was fully expecting a series of rather lackluster yes-no answers. The man has a personality in spades and an honest-to-goodness sense of humor. I ENJOYED this one!
wmlfan9 2 years ago 18