RIP Ron Carey

For more clips like this, and a most enjoyable guide to pop culture, visit the blog for the NYC cult cable-access show Media Funhouse, located here:
www.mediafunhouse.blogspot.com

From the old Funhouse blog:
The minute I heard that "Officer Levitt" from "Barney Miller" had died, I knew I had to put up this simply perfect clip from Ernie Pintoff's "Dynamite Chicken." It is especially appropriate as Carey's obits noted that at one point he considered the priesthood as a vocation. I have loved the piece for years; it's not particularly laugh-out-loud funny, it's just a superb evocation of dancing from Hollywood's Golden Age and on the steps of St. Pat's, at that.

For those who have never heard of it, a word about "Dynamite Chicken." It's a film I turn to time and again on the show, since it contains some exquisitely emblematic 1960s footage (scenes and special material from Allen Ginsberg, Andy Warhol, Tuli Kupferberg, Leonard Cohen, Paul Krassner, Al Goldstein), as well as containing truly "raw" early clips of great comedians like the Ace Trucking Company, the wonderful Marshall Efron, the late St. Michael O'Donoghue, and the completely irreplaceable Richard Pryor. Ron's segment is a delightful dance number he does to the song "God Loves Rock and Roll" by Lionel Goldbart. I looked up Mr. Goldbart to write this entry, and found out that he was a poet and antiwar activist who seemingly didn't have much of a lengthy musical career, but has become renowned for being a big winner on Jeopardy (and he also has a kick-ass prescription for changing the Gregorian calendar; now if someone could only cut this "daylight savings time" shit, we'd all be much better off). The scene itself is priceless -- they must've filmed it PLENTY early in the morning to have Fifth Avenue that empty of traffic. Carey's Jimmy Cagney moves and Fred Astaire pauses are top-notch; plus any intelligent or imaginative spoof of the clergy always has me amused

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• Ron
• Carey
• Dynamite
• Chicken
• Barney
• Miller
• St.
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• Fifth
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• NYC
• cult
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• Funhouse

[TheSometimesWhy]

ron carey was a quintessential character actor--he did amazing work, toiling in relative anonymity the entire time. to those who were blessed enough to have seen his work on the "barney miller show," check out the way ron exits the squad room every time, with his signature pirouette. life is in the details--ron's work was a testament to that maxim.

may God rest his soul,

michael

[grendeljack]

some guys are just that kind of f***ing cool.

[greeneyedsteamengine]

Very nice sentiment and a fitting tribute Michael, Ron was one of my favorite comedic actors. I also loved his work on Barney Miller and in the movie, "Fatso".

[animfan1]

When did Lionel Goldbart first appear on "Jeopardy?"

[LeanaJo76]

2 years ago? I think.

[yourdentisthatesyou]

"god loves rock and roll" by Lionel Goldbart

[zekepig]

when did he die?

[oceansofrainx]

what song is that??

[cholulasaucehot]

sounds like bon scott singin

[bdicat]

He was the short cop on Barney Miller. He was at my sons christning and we always kept in touch. He was from my neck of the woods in Newark New Jersey. Thats Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark.