This is so cool. I SAW this. I was six years old. The scene of Eugene walking toward us, then turning around and having the wall right behind him was absolutely mystifying. Over time, the memory of that scene somehow became linked to another bit done by Terry-Thomas--totally unrelated; well, both have mustaches, did one man sketches and are very funny. Glad to know at last this is Ernie Kovacs. Thank you, Rolko52.
Ernie was a surrealist from the Felix the Cat School of Pat Sullivan - whom see elsewhere on the grandest medium of the century - if not the Millennium: YOUTUBE!
I think that Mr.Kovacs work in his last tv comedy special comes much closer to the cartooney surrealisim of Buster Keaton than to the pathos like work of Charlie Chaplin.
@143AC Perhaps, but Chaplin could also perform similarly comedic scenes with equal ease. Ernie will be known for his broad comedy, but some of his sketches did attempt a more serious and "film noir" appearance.
I wonder if there is any "official" name or term assigned to Ernie's technique of drawing images on the background "flat" and have then suddenly animated. That would also include cutting the flat to make the doorways, wall safes, etc that he illustrated in many of his blackouts and sketches.
I was only firve years old when this was produced, but I still remember it. I am as fascinated with it now as I was 53 years ago. He was the true original "special effects" genius of TV.
@spacart1 - About the same with me. I was getting ready to celebrate my 10th birthday (January 27, 1962) when I saw this show. I think there was only one more show of EK's before they stopped coming on TV (due to his death, of course), and at the time wondered what happened to him. Thank the stars for YouTube!
@143AC Thank You very much for identifying the background music! My knowledge of classic works is not a great as a would like it to be, so i appreciate any info from our Kovacs fans.
This is so cool. I SAW this. I was six years old. The scene of Eugene walking toward us, then turning around and having the wall right behind him was absolutely mystifying. Over time, the memory of that scene somehow became linked to another bit done by Terry-Thomas--totally unrelated; well, both have mustaches, did one man sketches and are very funny. Glad to know at last this is Ernie Kovacs. Thank you, Rolko52.
JeffW77 1 month ago
Love the tickle scene at 9:00
Madhatter1903 1 month ago
What a wonderful way to honor Ernie..to watch him at his most inventive and funniest in this surreal pantomime tv show.
4thekidsTV 1 month ago
I find Ernie's work funnier and more inventive that Keaton..He was a truly unsung sight gag and pantomimic genius.
TheStanbabe 8 months ago
Ernie was a surrealist from the Felix the Cat School of Pat Sullivan - whom see elsewhere on the grandest medium of the century - if not the Millennium: YOUTUBE!
pylgrym 1 year ago
I think that Mr.Kovacs work in his last tv comedy special comes much closer to the cartooney surrealisim of Buster Keaton than to the pathos like work of Charlie Chaplin.
143AC 1 year ago
@143AC Perhaps, but Chaplin could also perform similarly comedic scenes with equal ease. Ernie will be known for his broad comedy, but some of his sketches did attempt a more serious and "film noir" appearance.
rolko52 1 year ago
I wonder if there is any "official" name or term assigned to Ernie's technique of drawing images on the background "flat" and have then suddenly animated. That would also include cutting the flat to make the doorways, wall safes, etc that he illustrated in many of his blackouts and sketches.
rolko52 1 year ago
This originally aired on November 24, 1961 [8:30-9pm(et)]- pre-empting, of all shows, "THE FLINTSTONES"....
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
I was only firve years old when this was produced, but I still remember it. I am as fascinated with it now as I was 53 years ago. He was the true original "special effects" genius of TV.
spacart1 1 year ago 2
@spacart1 - About the same with me. I was getting ready to celebrate my 10th birthday (January 27, 1962) when I saw this show. I think there was only one more show of EK's before they stopped coming on TV (due to his death, of course), and at the time wondered what happened to him. Thank the stars for YouTube!
WSenator1 1 year ago
The background music being played to accompany Ernie's silent character
"Eugene"here is "The Golden Age Poka"by Shostakovitch.
143AC 1 year ago
@143AC Thank You very much for identifying the background music! My knowledge of classic works is not a great as a would like it to be, so i appreciate any info from our Kovacs fans.
rolko52 1 year ago
What kills me is that when I walk across my ceramic tile floor while I am wearing my Crocs I sound just like him!
rolko52 2 years ago
A classic special from November,1961. Ernie Kovacs at his best.
yogafan6500 2 years ago
ernie was a genius!! thanks my friend!!
431516020205 2 years ago