BASIL RATHBONE LEISY BEER THEATER

[elc1960]

Yay!!! Let's all get shitfaced and watch a "B" movie with Basil Rathbone! When he came back for the first commercial break, they should have had him sitting there with his hair messed up and wearing a wife-beater, scratching his nuts and belching. Or if he wasn't in the shot when they came back, but he returns saying "Sorry, I had to drain the vein!" By the last commercial break, he would have been slurring "I love all you lil' fuckers, ya know that?"

[JeffGR4]

@elc1960 Very clever and damn funny!!

[elc1960]

@JeffGR4 Thank you very much . . . just trying to make a few folks laugh.

[nikiforrest]

In 1926, he was in a play called "The Captive" which was about a lesbian. He, and other members of the cast, were arrested for indecency, and the play was closed. Rathbone was heterosexual in every sense of the word, but he supported the rights of individuals. He had an affair with Eva LeGalliene. She wanted to marry him as a front to her homosexuality because it would have destroyed her career if everyone knew she was a lesbian. Those were sad inhibitive times for all.

[NoPunches]

Did anyone here see the video on YouTube: "Good Old Basil Rathbone Has One Too Many" ?

[NoPunches]

@NoPunches Why would someone label that as "spam"? We're commenting on a video on Lisel Theater with Basil Rathbone. You can't get more specific than that.

[1MadWolf13]

@NoPunches Yes, it was very funny.

[tubeindividual]

and good evening to you Dear Basil in Heaven.

[brucyboy1895]

Rathbones wife was wealthy in her own right being a script writer. Basil married into her money i think is closer to the truth. I dont believe he was a closet gay?! Just a good old fashioned Gent, anyway i would'nt like to sully his memory over such trivia!!

[diddymuck]

this is a brit ad!

[epmorris]

I think this is an early advert made for a sponsored American TV station . 'Leisy' beer doesn't exist in the UK.

[ZaidNitsua]

well now that its over you must be as hammerd As I am

[greyfox37]

He later did stuff like these promotions and some low budget horror films because his wife had some rather expensive tastes, the poor guy

[charminsouthernbelle]

Aww, I think he was happy enough... he was happily married to Ouida for 40+ years, after all... better than most can claim...

[PeterFirthFan]

Wasn't he a closet homosexual?

[charminsouthernbelle]

I don't know, ObamaSucksForever, I can't remember that far back. Why, pervert, were you making eyes at him across the table one lonely night???

[PeterFirthFan]

I did read that Rahbone's wife spent all his money, which is why he had to keep making loads of rubbish films in the 1950s and 1960s. Clearly a marriage of convenience.

[charminsouthernbelle]

It's "Rathbone", not "Rahbone" my dear Watson, and frankly I don't give a damn what you think about anybody. Obviously you are one of those disturbed people who are not satisifed until they see some kind of dirt or dishonor, be it true or false cast on another's name.

[NoPunches]

@PeterFirthFan NO WAY! You are thinking of Jeremy Brett.

[JuanMacready]

Didn't Rathbone once get arrested over his homosexuality?

[NoPunches]

@JuanMacready This story is probably a mix up from what really happened: In an play, Basil portrayed a straight man whose wife left him for another woman. The scandal was an affront to society's morality at the time, and the police were sent. The whole group of actors were arrested. Around (or at) that time, Basil had a short affair with an actress that was like the woman who was "gay".

[fromthesidelines]

These "wraparounds" were "generic", 'arisztidoltz'. The local stations presenting "THE LEISY PREMIERE THEATER" in 1963-'64 usually scheduled films of their choice. Basil and the crew didn't actually WATCH the films as they were shown... these "inserts" were probably filmed in one day.

[arisztidoltz]

Good God That man can drink! What movie were they watching I wonder?

[melinbolton]

heh heh heh....:)

[YrNameHr]

beer, TV and Basil Rathbone... could do much worse!

[fromthesidelines]

Rathbone was never "down on his luck", 'houta'- he often endorsed products throughout his career, in print and other media. For this "arrangement", he was to act as host for "LEISY PREMIERE THEATER" on film; the local announcer would tell the viewers what the evening's "feature" was, and deliver live and filmed Leisy commercials on Basil's cues [:35, 1:05, 1:23].

[houtakiboy]

One of the greatest actors ever, somewhat diminished endorsing beer. Is it just me thinking this, or was he down on his luck?

[SecretFilms]

With that many breaks he at least had plenty of time to go and relieve himself after drinking all that beer.

[fromthesidelines]

Rathbone endorsed several products, as a "celebrity" in magazine and newspaper ads for almost 25 years, 'Trinnz'. In fact, he endorsed another famous beer in magazine ads during 1948 ["Finest beer I ever tasted!", his quote read above the ad copy]. See it at basilrathbone/net./ads...

[rolko52]

With that accent he should have been pitching Guinness Stout.

[fromthesidelines]

These were the filmed "wraparounds" for a series of 1963 "LEISY PREMIERE THEATER" telecasts in the Midwest, hosted by Basil Rathbone, and sponsored by Leisy's Light Beer...

[GionaSly]

great basil!!!!YOURE THE BEST

[aretrospection]

oh, how I dig the cardboard tv :)

[swangonce]

Funny! He's really blowing off the gig. Anyone direct this or did it just occur! I like when he lets the beer glass slip in his hand. Good business!

[Uberlaser]

What a lovely historical snippet of a fine English actor - Thanks for sharing

[jamessmedley82]

He wasn't English.He was South African.

[Uberlaser]

I stand corrected

[Trinnztubefun]

His parents were both English, and he had British citizenship. He was just born in South Africa.

[jamessmedley82]

I stand corrected.

[Trinnztubefun]

I'd rather see something a little more personal than a celebrity endorsement of beer, he really is an amazing actor

[charminsouthernbelle]

Haha... Wonderfully classy!

[mugge321]

I hope it was really LIGHT beer, man that guy sure downed a lot of foam!!! LOLZ

A great actor and 5 stars for uploading this. Thanx.

[planetcop]

perhaps its the beer, cause, chucks, i dont see a bleeding ting on dat box!

[nosacrifice]

Basil Rathbone was a genius.

[lazyelfin]

Ditto.

[k4nbc]

Great Scott Holmes!