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Allen, Parr, Carson, Leno, O'Brien...And Kovacs?

bpatrick said:
Kovacs did influence "Laugh-In," although
indirectly and five years after his death.
One of the regulars on his ABC shows in
the late '50s/early '60s was actress Jolene
Brand, wife of producer George Schlatter,
who created "Laugh-In" and used Kovacs'
"blackout" technique of jokes lasting only
a few seconds.
Click to expand...

Not to take anything away from Kovacs - he may have brought the "black out" skit to television comedy, but "black out" skits have a history on stage going back to Vaudeville. Short comedy skits that were ended abruptly after the punchline by extinguishing the stage lights.

Though it's a little different, stage plays would also use the technique to heighten the drama or shock value of a scene.
 
Mike said:
try www.gemm.com. I've purchased quite a few records through that service. My "Fone Call" albums though are originals. I don't know when I'm gonna sell them, though.

BTW, I do not have any financial interest in, nor do I get any commissions, for mentioning gemm.com.

Mike
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
Lkeller said:
bpatrick said:
Kovacs did influence "Laugh-In," although
indirectly and five years after his death.
One of the regulars on his ABC shows in
the late '50s/early '60s was actress Jolene
Brand, wife of producer George Schlatter,
who created "Laugh-In" and used Kovacs'
"blackout" technique of jokes lasting only
a few seconds.
Click to expand...

Not to take anything away from Kovacs - he may have brought the "black out" skit to television comedy, but "black out" skits have a history on stage going back to Vaudeville. Short comedy skits that were ended abruptly after the punchline by extinguishing the stage lights.

Though it's a little different, stage plays would also use the technique to heighten the drama or shock value of a scene.
Click to expand...

You're right; "blackouts" do go back to vaudeville. Kovacs, though, was using them on television when other comedians were doing extended sketches (Milton Berle used them in his short-lived 1966 ABC show, however), and "Laugh-In" probably did more than any show to make people aware of the technique.

Note to the person who posted this thread: Jack's last name is spelled "Paar." A lot of people make that mistake and spell it with two "r"s instead of two "a"s.
 
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