Ernie Kovacs' Street Scene / Béla Bartók "Concerto for Orchestra"

[Maryloohoo2]

If he had lived he would have been ranked as the greatest entertainer of that time. Its so sad he died so early. Sure he has left a good amount of movies and tv work but I wish for more. And lots more Narobi Trios.

[bigred997]

probably just ernie's way of saying "look at me. i can do anything with a camera." he could give you broad, vaudeville as well as avant garde but one thing he never could master was pathos.

still, a very relaxing, enjoyable clip.

[rolko52]

@bigred997 - Had he lived I am sure he would have explored a more fully developed sense of drama.

[mrsticks28]

I saw this when it originally aired. To me, this clip is as contemporary today as it was then. Incredible imagery, fabulous music. Kovacs was so ahead of everyone.

[tonygumbrell22]

This sounds like the Chicago Symphony under Fritz Reiner. That recording is still tops in my book. I'll bet many of the musicians were refugees from facsism and/or war torn Europe.

[rolko52]

@tonygumbrell22 If you look under the video box, that's exactly the piece that was identified by the YT music ID software.

[rolko52]

I wonder how much influence Ernie's appearance in "Bell Book and Candle" had in this video's inspiration? After watching the movie, I can see the thematic influence through the movie's dark street sets and, of course, the cat.

[rolko52]

I do recommend that everyone look at the YT clip "Béla Bartók - (1/5) Concerto for Orchestra Sz. 116 - I. Introduzione - Allegro (Mehta)" that is part of my clip's Video Response. It is quite impressive!

[blackwingy]

This was not only aired in late(October?)'1, but was repeated on the last of Ernie's specials, the one aired on what would have been his birthday(Jan 23rd, 1962). In his introduction on the last show he mentioned it had received quite a response and so they were going to encore it. When I first saw it as a kid in 1977 it was this particular segment that made me sit with my jaw on the floor wondering "who IS this guy?" And I'm still wondering...brilliant.

[IrenaMV]

Too sophisticated for me, Richard. I have to take it to my fav and watch it several more times to understand!

Have a great week,

Irena

[rolko52]

@IrenaMV It's interpretive Irena. There no right or wrong answer! You can also just enjoy the imagery.

[rolko52]

@rolko52 ...and of course the music!

[fromthesidelines]

Incidentally, Bela Bartok was Ernie's favorite classical composer.

[rolko52]

@fromthesidelines It was the Hungarian connection.

[fromthesidelines]

Ernie didn't have a weekly series after the spring of 1961, 'yoga'- he appeared in a series of monthly specials, after "TAKE A GOOD LOOK" (and the series that briefly replaced it, "SILENTS PLEASE") had ended. Before his death in January 1962, he was seriously considering an end to those half-hour specials, and working in a weekly filmed series; he filmed an unaired pilot with Buster Keaton, "THE MEDICINE MEN".

[yogafan6500]

a very interesting and serious segement from The Ernie Kovacs show first aired in late 1961.