For the old timers - Oscar Levant and Fred Astaire

[Febnyc]

Here are two video clips (poor quality) which should be seen by anyone who wonders what the word "talent" means. Stay with it until the give-and-take between the two. Wonderful.

The genius of Levant and the grace and ability of Astaire shine through this old clip.

What an amazing off-the-cuff tour de force!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGNih0TWAQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzGe_o2O ... ed&search=

Here's a quote from one of the commentators on Youtube:
"The good old days, when celebrities actually had talent. Back then Paris Hilton would have been in a brothel, Ozzy Osborne in an asylum, and Snoop Dog in jail - instead, now they're all on TV."

[karlhenning]

He's got Mr Spock ears in that first one . . . .

Cheers,
~Karl

[Ralph]

Levant was a nut case but very talented. Freed Astaire's movies are available on DVD and should be seen by anyone who enjoys old-fashioned romance and top level dancing.

[Reed]

Levant's books are good, especially Memoirs of an Amnesiac. That one is of course laugh out loud funny, but he also doesn't shy away from talking about his mental issues and drug dependency.

A brilliant man, actor, comedian, writer, pianist, songwriter ("Blame it on my Youth" is his most well-known tune), and composer who studied with Arnold Schoenberg. And one of the great wits of the 20th century.

A friend mentioned a composer who was very modest. "He has a lot to be modest about, " he replied.

On his TV show, he said that, when Marilyn Monroe converted to Judaism to marry Arthur Miller, "Now that Marilyn is kosher, Arthur can eat her." This resulted in the (temporary) cancellation of his show. But people picketed the station, demanding that he be put back on the air, and the station caved.

[Lance]

It was really good to see these clips. Levant acted nervously and unprepared. What would the man have done without his cigarettes. He sure could play the piano, though!

[karlhenning]

It was really good to see these clips. Levant acted nervously and unprepared. What would the man have done without his cigarettes. He sure could play the piano, though!

It is a truth which is by no means limited to television, though the medium of television is a ready means of observing it . . . but even if one is nervous and unprepared, one should try not to project nervousness and lack of preparation.

Cheers,
~Karl

[Febnyc]

. . . but even if one is nervous and unprepared, one should try not to project nervousness and lack of preparation.

Cheers,
~Karl

Perhaps - but that doesn't seem to be the point here. This was the Levant persona. And I believe he really was not "unprepared" - rather this appeared the case from his physical quirks and unease. Mentally - once the thoughts emerged and were verbalized - he knew exactly what he was doing. However, his astonishing talents and knowledge of all sorts of music, and his acquaintances with famous people, allowed him to be more extemporaneous than others.

But, much of the focus of these videos, for me, is to delight in the grace of Fred Astaire and the wonderful off-the-cuff vocalizing with Levant's superb piano-playing.

[johnQpublic]

Thanks for bring this video to us, Frank.

I never knew he had his own show. Was it nationally televised? It's clear it was produced locally in CA by what jokes he made about his studio.

[Febnyc]

Here's some info I found about Oscar Levant's TV show:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278226/