He smoked on stage tonight. I just attended a live performance in Wichita. He was brilliant, although I doubt he needed as much makeup to transform at the age of 86. Hail to Hal. He's a terrific actor.
I recorded this on my reel to reel recorder in the 60's and have enjoyed hearing it over the years. To see it is bliss!!! Thank you for posting this a thank you Hal and Mark Twain!!!!
This man is the God of something. It can't be comedy, because he's already got too many rivals for that. And it can't be Mark Twain impersonators, because that's too damned specific. But he's got to be the God of something, dammit.
"PS Can you imagine the outcry over him smoking on stage today?" No need to just imagine. Telegraph columnist Brendan O'neill has just posted an article on the subject. (YouTube of course won't allow a link or even a search address for whatever ridiculous reason.)
Is this the 1967 telecast or another version? The TV program I saw started with Twain saying that he was sorry to be mentioned as one of the great authors, because they would always die off. "Chaucer is dead, so is Milton and so is Shakespeare. And I'm not feeling very well myself".
Wonderful to find the full video uploaded. I'll be sending some of my classmates here to take a look as we are studying Twain at the moment. Thanks! :)
Just good ol fashioned stand up right here. Needs more Kim K. jokes though, but this was before she was really popular.
flobbieflibbs 3 months ago
Such a fine show!!
SuperAaaaa123456 3 months ago
He smoked on stage tonight. I just attended a live performance in Wichita. He was brilliant, although I doubt he needed as much makeup to transform at the age of 86. Hail to Hal. He's a terrific actor.
nfred1351 3 months ago
Thanks so much for posting this!
AtomicEagleOfDoom87 1 year ago
I recorded this on my reel to reel recorder in the 60's and have enjoyed hearing it over the years. To see it is bliss!!! Thank you for posting this a thank you Hal and Mark Twain!!!!
delise54 1 year ago
This man is the God of something. It can't be comedy, because he's already got too many rivals for that. And it can't be Mark Twain impersonators, because that's too damned specific. But he's got to be the God of something, dammit.
BenMcCormack91 1 year ago
"PS Can you imagine the outcry over him smoking on stage today?" No need to just imagine. Telegraph columnist Brendan O'neill has just posted an article on the subject. (YouTube of course won't allow a link or even a search address for whatever ridiculous reason.)
orthotox 1 year ago
Is this the 1967 telecast or another version? The TV program I saw started with Twain saying that he was sorry to be mentioned as one of the great authors, because they would always die off. "Chaucer is dead, so is Milton and so is Shakespeare. And I'm not feeling very well myself".
al1936ful 1 year ago
Is this from the DVD? I don't remember this part being on the telecast I saw in the 1960's.
al1936ful 1 year ago
Thanx for posting this! Ain't it amazing how truly great humor requires no profanity?
MotorSickler 1 year ago 6
@MotorSickler
ain't it the truth now
mnaicck 1 year ago
@MotorSickler Great humour can come from either end of the spectrum. So you're technically correct.
jayjasespud 5 months ago
We are studying Mark Twain in class and our teacher told us to search this. This is funny thank you.
ExoticOrenges 1 year ago 3
You, sir, have my undying gratitude!
liptonBlueBirdAdd 1 year ago 2
Thank you very much for this.... Bravo.
OscarLimaMike 1 year ago 2
Wonderful to find the full video uploaded. I'll be sending some of my classmates here to take a look as we are studying Twain at the moment. Thanks! :)
jessamynhopewest 1 year ago 2
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
I had the luck to see Hal Holbrook give a performance 20 years ago when he came to town.
What an act! I've searched high and low for him on vhs and dvd. Thanks so much!
PS Can you imagine the outcry over him smoking on stage today?
bhbar 2 years ago 10
Comment removed
orthotox 1 year ago
@bhbar Ron white does it all the time.
HIM47 3 months ago