As I mentioned here a week or two ago, I'm one of the organizers of a big, upcoming tribute — a salute to one of my heroes, Stan Freberg. This press release will tell you a little about the man and the event…
"THE GENIUS OF STAN FREBERG: 70 YEARS OF CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT" SET FOR NOVEMBER 2 IN HOLLWOOD. HOSTED BY HARRY SHEARER WITH SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY "WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC, MICKY DOLENZ AND OTHERS
American Cinematheque at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater will showcase the astonishing versatility of beloved humorist Stan Freberg in "The Genius of Stan Freberg: 70 Years of Creative Entertainment" on Sunday, November 2 at 7 pm.
This special evening of tribute will be hosted by actor-satirist Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, Le Show, This is Spinal Tap) and will feature special appearances by "Weird Al" Yankovic, Micky Dolenz, award-winning filmmaker Bob Kurtz, animation experts Jerry Beck and Eric Goldberg, and many other Freberg colleagues and celebrity fans.
In addition to spontaneous humor and live musical performances, the program will present a dazzling array of favorite clips chosen by Freberg fans, as well as rarely-seen examples of Stan's ground-breaking writing and performances in radio and records, television series and specials, animated films and of course his hilarious TV ads. Stan will also explore his own career and legacy in a lively exchange with his wife and partner, Hunter Freberg.
Celebrated as much for inspiring others as for his own creativity, Freberg has been named as an important influence by a wide range of artists. In addition to Harry Shearer and Al Yankovic, Freberg is revered by director Steven Spielberg (who has referred to him as his boyhood muse), Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, and actor-comedian Billy Crystal. Perhaps the greatest tribute to Freberg's gifts came from another genius, Albert Einstein, who once famously apologized for leaving a Cal Tech meeting by explaining, "You'll have to excuse me gentlemen, but it's Time For Beany."
A clip from that classic kids show, Time for Beany, is just one of the timeless Freberg performances to be showcased on November 2. Others include excerpts from recorded comedy classics "John and Marsha," "Saint George and the Dragonet," "Banana Boat," and "Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America." Also featured are rare segments from Freberg's television specials, The Chung King Comedy Hour and The Federal Budget Revue, as well as Stan's hilarious Clio-winning TV ads for Sunsweet Prunes (featuring sci-fi legend Ray Bradbury), Jacobson Lawn Mowers, ("Faster Than Sheep!"), a dazzling production number for Great American Soup, and because his fans demand it, The Lone Ranger and Tonto promoting Jeno's Pizza Rolls.
Among his other notable achievements, Freberg is credited with creating the word "Grammy," and Ad Age has dubbed him "the Father of the funny commercial."
Information about the evening is available at the American Cinematheque website and advance tickets can be purchased at www.fandango.com. Ticket prices are $15 for general admission, $13 for students, and $11 for American Cinematheque members.
That last paragraph contains a lie: Tickets are not available right now online. They were supposed to be there last week but someone has erred or something. The event is two weeks from tomorrow and you can't yet order tix. I assume that will be fixed Monday morning and when it is, I'd like you to all do me a favor, especially if you know and love the work of Mr. Freberg. That favor is to spread the word on other websites and via all manner of social media. But don't do it yet. Wait until tickets can be ordered.
We have some wonderful film clips from Stan's career, both familiar and rare. And not only have you probably not seen a few of them but we have a couple that even Stan hasn't seen. We have guest speakers and we have surprises and now, if we only had tickets, the evening would be complete.
So if you live in or around Los Angeles, save the date (November 2) and check back here for a link to purchase tickets whenever that becomes possible.
In other Freberg News…
Tomorrow morning (Sunday, October 19) the Profiles in History auction house will accept bids on five items of Frebergian history: The typewriter and the piano on which Stan wrote the greatest comedy album ever done — Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America — as well as other compositions; the prop suitcase Stan carried on that record's iconic cover; a copy of Fahrenheit 451 signed to Stan by his friend, Ray Bradbury; and an original Charles Addams cartoon. Click here to see these items and to consider bidding thereupon. Great stuff.
Stay tuned to this website for more Freberg News. I'm hoping the next bulletin will have something to do with tickets being on sale.