Oscar Levant Show Part 2

[xander7ful]

Of all the stars who appeared on the game show What's My Line?, Fred Astaire was the most humble. Gary Cooper was also very humble. It never fails to amaze me how the great ones - Oscar included - are so humble and self-effacing. I wish we'd had more of them.

[ayokay123]

If this video ain't a national treasure, I don't know what is.

[298625]

This is so precious. Never saw Fred Astaire do comedy. That impression was great. And Oscar - a unique original; his like will not come again. What an artist!

[DerekWilliamsMusic]

Fascinating and brilliant!

[lenbenhear]

This is truly a rough and very large diamond from the past.

thanks for posting it.

[Yogi11Yogi]

Outstanding - rare treat - rare clip

[YouzTube99]

If this wasn't off the cuff, they sure did a good job of pretending it was!

When Fred gets into it, he even manages to improvise witty, in-character asides into the song.

Fascinating that the Goldwyn voice is so much stronger and deeper than Fred's normal singing voice! Clearly he could have boomed out all those wonderful songs he sang over the decades and chose a lighter approach instead. I wonder why he did so?

[ipmoic]

For all his talent, Fred was a modest guy and poor Oscar was just holding on. Thank goodness they were friends and that this old film still exists. I wish there were 35 more.

[9esther09]

Oh me too!!

[lazur1]

Fred's time-keeping is so perfect, I sympathize w/ his frustration @ Oscar's lagging behind to fit his embellishments. it's been all downhill from here.

[KingSchism]

Two musical geniusses separated at birth - Oscar Levant and Buddy Rich.

[haqq84]

Thanks for posting this - again. But this is what YouTube is all about.

[MattTheSaiyan]

So sad so little was preserved of 1950's TV.

[AshLuvsJonnyStew]

haha he's so cute with his glasses on!

[foupoisson]

absolutely adrorable he is with his glasses on and sexy!

[sugar7777]

thank you for posting this :)

[rbd1956]

it's like watching ghosts ... what a world we left behind. people were so happy with a simple song accompanied by piano, a little dance, some banter, in a little studio. poor oscar. he seems like he was a sweet man, just terribly tortured. thank you rglazier, this is indeed a gem among gems.

[PiecesOfRainbow7]

Yes, I agree, kind of a tragic genius. I kind of adore him.

[TheLights045]

Wow, Fred was great at impersonations!!! This is a FABULOUS video! Fred is my heart throb!!

[swennsyever9]

joy...just joy

[8891randy]

There is a recording of George Gershwin playing the piano with Fred and Adele Astaire singing - this captures some of that fun like being at a house party. It's not heavily scripted like todays shows. Oscar was a nut.

[moviegirly88]

I love this! It is so cool! Look how cute Fred is with his glasses on! Thanks for sharing this!

[suzanillustration]

I have the biggest Crush on Oscar Lavant! He's just soooo amazing!

[mithol]

Lol. I have the biggest crush on Fred Astaire. :P

[moviegirly88]

Oh man me too! Look how cute he is with his glasses on! I love him! :)

[ipmoic]

Please--to anyone with access to Levant shows--or other interviews--some of us would be so moved and excited to see and hear more. For this from rglazier--a million thanks. Can't "Blame it on My Youth" anymore!

[KidMillions]

Is there another part? Originally there was more:

Oscar Levant Show (1959) - "I'm going to take a saliva test," Oscar confides to his audience. Is that all?! Special guest Fred Astaire looks on bemused ("have you had shock treatment too?"), and sings amongst other songs- They Can't Take That Away from Me, Oh Lady be Good, Change Partners, I Won't Dance, Isn't It A Lovely Day, A Fine Romance, 'Swonderful, and A Foggy Day in London Town.

[tarnashun]

poor fred. such a sport. oscar levant asking him to sing our love is here to say as if goldwyn were singing it....oy.

[lenbenhear]

Yes. Oscar was a bit of a freak show, ... but he was completely unique and always strangely tormented and wild. he definitely blurred the line "between genius and madness."

[deanmartin1066]

What a curious freak show Levant was on television.

[AncestralHome]

I LOVE the Internet and YouTUBE. I never thought that such footage could be preserved - much less be shared. Astaire, more than almost any star, protected his image - was packaged. But here he acts spontaniously. I thought YouTube was nothing more than childrens' nonsense. I'm delighted to know that it's also a preserve of cultural history. THANKS!

[guitarmutt]

Wow, what piano playing! Oscar was so good. Fred played piano in one of the Fred and Ginger movies too though I can't remember which at the moment.

[MalikRocco]

Fred played piano in The Broadway Melody of 1940 with Eleanor Powell dancing. MalikRocco, Brazil.

[TheresTooManyPages]

The name of the movie was "Follow the Fleet" and him and Ginger sang and danced to the song "I'm Puttin' All My Eggs In One Basket" A classic!!!

[Coalroad77]

I too saw this the night it was broadcast and never believed I would have the pleasure of seeing it again. I believe it was Fred Astaire's first time on live TV. Would love to see more Levant shows.

[Ising2unow]

How wonderful to see this again after all these years.

(I saw it the nite it was broadcast, in L.A.) Never forgot it,...and now can relive it.

[AAMLfan]

Thanks so much for this! :D

Wow...

[Zeydez]

WOW! How great to see these early tv shows of Oscar !

[jp2a2m]

Oh, Oscar! Wonderful! Thank you.

[spegga]

Unbelievable! I'm speechless (unusual, as with Oscar): thank you!