Burr Tillstrom's "Berlin Wall"

Burr Tillstrom (here sans the Kuklapolitans) created this simple yet evocative hand ballet about the human toll of the Berlin Wall for the satirical TV show, "That Was the Week That Was" in 1964. The intro is spoken by Elliott Reid and I'm sorry about the tape crease at the beginning, but, hey, it's a 46 year old TV show -- yet it's every bit as moving today in a world where we still build walls (and other things) to divide and demoralize people.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Burr
• Tillstrom
• TW3
• hand
• ballet
• kukla
• Berlin
• Wall

[uzzer2name]

I have been haunted by this elegant performance by Burr Tilstrom since seeing it the first time it was shown, many years ago. In 1964, I actually crossed Check Point Charlie into East Berlin, and returned, a different person, forever. I had searched YouTube before, in vain, and want to thank the individual who preserved this masterpiece for posterity.

[msodos]

i remember seeing it the first time! still amazing!~

[Jazzanswer]

What an incredible genius.

Burr Tillstrom.

[boinx1234]

Great clip of a great performance. Thanks for posting this still moving masterpiece!

[lae21]

Thank you for posting this! I've never seen it with an introduction from the time frame!