William Tell Overture

[catfishbates1]

before there was FRANK ZAPPA there was Spike Jones....

[BooBop1987]

Nice!

[HaggardEffect]

Additionally: "one of the "horses" in the "race" (was) likely to have (been) inspired (by) the nickname of the lone SNJ aircraft flown by the US Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic team's shows in the late 1940s, "Beetle Bomb" "

Taken out of context, so I added words so it makes sense. Straight from wiki also.

[HaggardEffect]

I had this and the player to go with it. Family disputes means I will never see it again though. Sigh.

Nice recording too by the way. Very clean indeed.

[ikmarchini]

Brilliant!

[VozDRazon]

I love how the guy just does some random outbursts like "Banana coming out through the bunch!" "Cabbage by a head!" and "Assault and Battery"!

[notfishing65]

this brings back memories from about 30 years ago for me,used to listen to this with my grandparents.aah the memories

[catfishbates1]

Dont forget doodles weaver and ben colder and sheb wooly,make your mind get fun....

[catfishbates1]

Before there was Frank Zappa there was Spike Jones.....

[TJgrebdnul]

Feitelbaum or Beetlebaum? I think I hear both. at 1:18 it almost sound like "B" but actually now that I reviewed it to get the time sections - I think it is an "F" You just need to listen for it - but at 1:59 it sounds like a "B" for sure. *sigh* shall we ever know?

[TJgrebdnul]

:40 perfect picture!!

[TheFrontrowkid]

I recall hearing this as a very young boy of 3 or 4. Spike Jones had a record of this as well as "Cocktails for Two" and "All I Want For Christmas Is my Two Front Teeth." He did have a weekly radio show and for a time, Dorothy Shay "Park Ave Hillbilly" was his guest vocalist. Her hit tune was "Feudin, Fussin and Fighting."

[AuraHero]

I remember watching some video where there was more to the song, with the end becoming more and more chaotic, with cars, boats, and whatever the hell else moved back in those days were fighting to the finish. I wish I knew where I saw it.

[thomas9531]

oh it's Feitelbaum all right i have this on cd!- Spike Jones' Greatest Hits...i was amazed and awed to find out after i discover Jones on my own, that my mother once went to a Spike Jones live concert!

[catandpiddle]

wonderful!

[fromthesidelines]

"Flying Sylvester" is a reference to Doodles' brother, Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, ad agency executive who eventually became president of NBC television in the early '50s (and also Sigourney's father). "Beautiful Linda" was one of Doodles' kids...

[WSenator1]

@fromthesidelines - Pat Weaver was responsible for "The Today Show" and "The Tonight Show" coming to NBC.  And he was around when "Your Show of Shows" (direct ancestor of "Saturday Night Live") first came on the air.

[andyandymax]

My mother introduced me to a lot of music, including classical music, and Spike Jones. The first time I ever heard the beginning of the William Tell Overture -- the slow part -- played by an actual orchestra I cracked up. I couldn't stop laughing when I realized what Spike Jones had done to it.

[PhillySouth]

I guess "Beetle Bomb" was named either after or to be intended to sound like one of those famous bug sprays of the day back then

[mcscajun]

@PhillySouth - but it's not "Beetle Bomb" -- it's "Feitelbaum" - an old NY Jewish name used in lots of old media, including old comic strips. Check out Don Markstein's Toonopedia.

[meechie107]

@mcscajun I still very much disagree. He is pronouncing that clearly with a "B", not an "F" sound, which would require a "fricative" use tongue muscles and breath. Moreover, "Beetle Bomb" was the nickname of a bomber plane in WWII; try Googling "The Blue Angels: A Fly-By History: Sixty Years of Aerial Excellence" and read up on the Beetle Bombs. The horse in the song was named after the famous plane.

[WSenator1]

lungwizard - I love your video to this song (which I also love). Question: is that you at

1:30 and other places in the video?

[lungwizard1]

@WSenator1 Yes...I star as Stooge Hand.

[WSenator1]

@lungwizard1 - I am VERY impressed! Producer, director and star as well. Somewhere Sylvester Stallone is jealous!

[eslubin]

@WSenator1 that's Doodles Weaver

[sturdle]

@WSenator1 brill, send up of a great send upper, Spike would have loved your version....

[p717]

wonderful slide show.

[ThePsycoticboxman]

it's funny that the only thing that is an actual horse in the race wins!

you go Fietlebaum! beat all those inanemate objects!

[Gingergryphon]

I named my cat Fietlebaum (sp?). He gets a kick whenever I play this :)

[thierry03160]

dingue et super

[WSenator1]

My mother probably loved this version of WTO, even though I never heard it around the house. But once she badly injured her thumb, and used to refer to it, when it was wrapped in bandages as "Beetlebaum"!

[crocus54]

jlm11@ualberta.ca

Hope you get video too. Love, Barb

[DCTGoddess]

Great companion photos!

[mikas7913]

lol ^_^

[pindowskivich]

I have not heard this for 30 years. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WSenator1]

Great job on the video! Love Spike Jones, too!

[jazzmed83]

A écouter le matin pour bien se réveiller!

[IwshIcldstrtover]

I'll never forget the moment I first heard this, back in the 80's. The gargling part was killing us. We played it on 78 RPM, and laughed even harder! Classic stuff here!

[Carycomic]

Super- LOL!

[ElephantfromHell]

a classic. Played this at my Grandads funeral, it was his favourite.

Forever Loved

Jack Price RIP x

[pablogog]

jajajajajaaj son funny

[SpeedyNeutrino43]

Spike Jones did a hilarious number "In Der Fuhrers Face" check it out..

[cogidubnus1953]

I thought this was going to spoil a great Spike Jones classic, but actually I really got into your imagery - fabulous...thanks for all your hard work and for posting! 5* from me!

[WSenator1]

Always loved Spike Jones, and I love your videos. Could you find and post (and augment with your videos) his take on "Lieberstraum"?

[7855waldo]

"I DEMAND an inquiry!"

"OK- how's ya mutta in law?"

[charlie8575]

One of the best pieces of comedy/music ever recorded.

[atree3]

great

[lungwizard1]

Thank you.

[IncisalEdges]

Thank YOU for posting this... brings back so many childhood memories.

[ljkwoody]

I grew up listening to this on an old 78 record. I thought it was hilarious then but with pics added to it, it has become a real work of art. Love it!! LOL

[hcseoj]

hcseoj Thanks for posting. Youirs truly, The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

[kayAbee]

I love the pictures you put to this song! Good job!

[lungwizard1]

Thank you.

[Jostanos]

5/5 Compared to at least one other video of this Spike Jones classic yours is the best! Thanks for posting! ^_^

[PGC3915]

Thanks again, lungwizard1 for the explanation!! I heard this record from "Spike Jones Plays the Classics" 78 record. several years ago, in Hong Kong as a kid. At that time, I did not know a word of English but cracked up with the funny music and sound effects. Now that I am an American for several years and understand English fluently, I appreciate the humor even more. I would like you to make a version of Spike Jone's rendition of Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody," if you have it, PLZ?

[HeirOfTheChronicler]

Whoa, if thats really the case, your English is amazingly good :-)

[PGC3915]

To Lungwizard1:

Very funny, cool, and excellent video with Spike Jone's rendition of Rossini's "William Tell Overture." However can you tell me the significance of the images on 1:56 "Lady Evelyn is 2nd very close" and 2:15 "Notary SoJack is 4th," please?

[lungwizard1]

Thanks.

Lady Evelyn is the name of the ship.

Notary Sojack has meaning other than to fill in sight-gag space. The words were just a nonsense couplet thought up by artist Bill Holman and used at random times in his cartoon "Smokey Stover."

[PayoFyah]

theese guys were all crazy,LONG LIFE TO SPIKE JONES AND HIS CITY SLICKERS!!!!!!

[casper9013]

Gotta love the cowbell part

[Ullarsskald1989]

More Cowbell!

[geogem59]

A great Spike Classic!! He had such great fun entertaining us.

[Carycomic]

Absolutely hilarious!

[stablejelly]

Wasn't this song mentioned in a MASH epidsode?  I'm thinking BJ said he had heard this version to Charles, who was quite offended..

[lungwizard1]

Yeah, something like that! Another song by Spike Jones is "Der furor's face" was mentioned. Hawk-eye was reminiscing about the music to come out of world war 2.

[tintinlover123]

Yeah, it was Der Fuehrer's Face

[DulciJubilo]

Thanks! Always loved this. Perfect for today Down Under-- it happens to be Melbourne Cup Day!!!!!!

[steinwaygrande1]

Yes and for once I won $900 on Melbourne Cup. Asked what i wanted and said pick what ever is runing on gate NINE!!!! Paid me $900. Was a good day

[masterx397]

funny, we are also doing that in our band too!

[OKDDAY]

If you ever re-make this, please include some Monty Python footage of the Silly Olympiad, it would flow seamlessly.

[percythepiggo]

I love the pictures you added to this one!

[gbsk12]

I second this.

[percythepiggo]

I last heard that many years ago - we had some old 78s. Another one was "The daring young man on the flapping try-peze" LOL.

[Barclay1987]

That is so funny! I love Spike Jones music!

[1567wet]

LOL!

[janellaweaver]

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! Doodles is my FATHER! I've never seen this before and it is JUST HYSTERICAL! I can't stop laughing! My father would have loved it! GAWD I miss him.

Keep up the great work!

Love,

Janella Weaver

[1thudfan]

Hi, Janella! I saw your dad many years ago coming into the drug store in Burbank, CA where I grew up. I think I said hello and he replied in kind. One of my favs. Still have tears from laffin'.

Jim Emanuel

[janellaweaver]

Hey Jim! I grew up in Burbank too (obviously, that's where you saw Doodles). He was so funny and talented! What a shame...I miss him so much...

"FEETLEBAUM RULES!"

[DaveJP1973]

Have you any idea where I can find the video footage of "Beedlebaum".. haven't seen it for years.. makes me fall over every time I think about it..??

[Juliaflo]

Bless you, and God bless your talented cousin Sigourney.

[Dproud2700]

Absolutely halarious!!! I loved every bit of it

[maradona987]

hahah great

[steinwaygrande1]

Alway makes me laugh despite having heard it for 64 years !!!! Thanks for posting. Often wondered if Spike Jones was on YouTube

[johnlebl]

Great choice of pics to go with a classic, loved it.

[ZoophPA]

I just made three people pee themselves.

Thank you.

[lungwizard1]

I'm glad to be of service.

[coon460305]

Loved the reference to "Notary Sojac"

For the benefit of younger fans, I'll clue you in.

Back when I was young, and the earth was just beginning to cool ... there was a wonderful, absurd comic strip called Smokey Stover. Kind of hard to describe, but they tended to stick in nonsense bits, and one recurring one was a sign somewhere that said: NOTARY SOJAC.

It meant nothing, as far as anyone can tell, and the author of the strip (which was retired when he died) never elaborated.

[WSenator1]

@coon460305 - I remember "Smoky Stover" as well. Agreed - very funny cartoon. In high school they nicknamed a teacher they didn't like "Smokey" (his last name was Stover).

[zwolfen]

Great pics to go with a classic....My sis and I drove our parents NUTS with...."There goes Beetlebomb."

[BisonBooger]

My fave is Spike's version of "Ramona". The band plays the rhythm/percussion and the melody is carried by the drums!!! Absolutely musically ingenious!!!

[boxpok]

Ah yes, the good (great)old days. Thanks man,

This made my day.

[lungwizard1]

No problem.

[Platform4]

Nice visuals!

[DandBProductionsInc]

This is awesome!

Doodles weaver does a great Indianapolis 500 too, if you get a chance, check out that one as well.

[lungwizard1]

I uploaded my version here. If go to my videos you'll see.

[Applemask]

It's Doodles Weaver's world.

[domrafan]

Thanks a lot lungwizard. My brother and I bought this in the 40s - our first record - when my dad purchased a Decca Radiogram. Lost it with the passing of the years. Do you know what was on the flip side - I can't remember

[65DrH2O]

was it "man on the Flying trapeeze"? or "Glow Worm"?

[domrafan]

Thanks for suggestion but I have now found it - Ghost Riders in the Sky! I went through all the Spike Jones on Youtube to jog my memory

[videoheadless]

Fantastic. Spike was the best. Thanks for bringing him back.

[WNM52]

LOVED IT!

[No1NekomimiNut]

As did I.. I sort of grew up with Abbot & Castello (had any old video of the two) with Spke and gang making an appearance.

[Palomin01956]

OMG....I LMAO!!! 5 stars!

[marmelmm]

Bwah-haw-haw! If you haven't already, you should take on "Cocktails for Two," the very first Spike Jones tune I ever heard (some thirty years ago)...

[191241c]

Delighted to find this.....a memory of my 1940s childhood when we'd play the 78s on the record player. Hey, my folks had the latest....a Deforest radio & record player console model. No TV in those days. Still laughing.

[lungwizard1]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[pinu2]

great vid!........LOL!

[Gigolo8]

Loved it!

[Modig6503]

Absolutely brilliant! A person with the heart in the right place have posted this superb video. This is what it`s all about according to me. Thanks!!!!!

[dragonfoe]

For my money this is the best version of this song by Spike's band.

[dadhiltonmps]

4.21.07

lungwizard1, I saw your video a few months ago and commented on it quite favorably. I still enjoy it, sir. A Friend sent it to me again today. All my best,

"cat"

[Richcarter150]

Great! I would like to see a similar thing with the car race from 'Dance of the Hours'. That was nicely timed.

[lungwizard1]

Yes I am going to be working on that very thing.

[newt15]

this was sooo funny..thanx CR..hope u r recovering nicely??? =)'s newt

[Sportiboy]

ROFL! That was great and well edited! 5*

[CircaRigel]

ROFL! My grandfather used to play that song all the time. Brings back fond memories.

[lungwizard1]

There's another song like it by Spike Jones. It's called "Dance of the hours." I'm glad you liked it.