Art Donovan Collection on Letterman, Part 1: 1983-93

Everyone's favorite guest on Dave. Here's Part 1, his Late Night appearances:
1. February 1, 1983. (taped January 31, 1983)
2. February 10, 1983. Viewer Mail #1 mention
3. August 30, 1983.
4. August 28, 1984.
5. January 16, 1986.
6. September 8, 1986.
7. September 24, 1987.
8. January 14, 1988.
9. December 22, 1988.
10. October 4, 1989.
11. October 23, 1990.
12. January 16, 1991. Never aired.
13. September 5, 1991.
14. September 8, 1992.
15. January 5, 1993.
Part 2 is here: • Art Donovan Collection...
Art's first appearance (of three) on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson is here: • Video

[@johnmckenzie4639]

Art was a treasure. I hate football, but I could listen to Art telling football stories all day.

[@johnl5350]

He's a really good guest through the years. Doesn't get offended by jokes or the audience laughing at him. He has good stories and seems happy to be there.

[@thebiggol]

Besides the swim club he owned he also owned a small liquor store around the corner from my house. In the 70's when I was a boy I'd go there with my dad and he would be in there sitting in rocking chair in the middle of the store holding court, saying hi to all the customers. He was really cool.

[@misisipimike8020]

I believe he mentions the liquor store in the first appearance

[@zazzyman]

Xmllo ]]] p 🌽🍚🍚🍚🍚p ? 00 ]

[@leonardshevlin7260]

I drank a couple beers in the back room of that store.

[@jamesanthony5681]

He must have had some good stories

[@captainscentsible1811]

@@jamesanthony5681 all these sports guys did, i went to h.s with a MLB player who played with cal ripkin jr. He had some good stories as well. But nothing like art

[@joannasunday]

I never knew who Art was until this collection. What a great guy!!

[@joannasunday]

Except for the punching a camel story. But i know he didn't really.

[@williammasselink]

Years ago I was traveling in my car when by chance I caught an interview with Art Donavon on the radio. Didn't know who he was at that time, but his hilarious stories had me in stitches the whole time. A pleasure to catch him again after all these years. Old time football at its best. A one of a kind legend and great story teller. My boss and head chef at Fat Canary Restaurant (Williamsburg, VA) said he got to meet him when he was a youngster.

[@moncorp1]

Don't forget his WW2 service. Dude was a battle hardened marine. Fought at Iwo Jima and Luzon.

[@hankochai]

Semper Fi 🫡

[@Party22Putte]

I'm from Sweden and here we watch football with the round ball. I don't even know what a full back is, but man this guy can tell a story

[@MichelleUS66]

Art Donovan sure is entertaining. Excellent guest for Dave.

[@jimskenadore1791]

I remember watching him back in the 70s & 80s. He was hilarious 😂

[@sanfernando2stories998]

Anyone else notice that the band usually plays a Donovan song when Art comes out.

[@kendaniels2179]

In the word of Merv Albert: "Yes!"

[@UberNeuman]

What was great about Art was that he didn't hold back and said what he thought.

[@ben103167]

The stories repeat but there funny each time! God bless Art Donovan

[@msmooreski1]

pure Americana. Thanks, Don! ♥️

[@pika23]

we had a football coach /history teacher that eerily resembled Mr Donovan! RIP Al Saner, point boro hs. point pleasant NJ.

[@michaelfanelli1036]

This was a great video. I watched the whole recording in one sitting. Art Donovan was great guest and someone I will never forget.

[@bettyscoggins7769]

Love this kat. Wished to GOD we had many more of these people from the days I grew up around. Bless to all, Eric, Chattanooga, Tn. PS. OF COURSE, THANK YOU DON !!!

[@coreycaldwell322]

My all-time favorite guest. God bless your dear soul for this compilation, sir.

[@mbolduc]

Art is the KING. One of the best autobiographies I've ever read

[@FIXTREME]

King of the Ring :P

[@laserworm2293]

I'm from Baltimore and was always stoked that Dave had him on so much....Local legend

[@aprilosborn1886]

I must have missed Art, was working alot in the 80's and 90's, he's hilarious, thanks for posting this

[@aldocoffee]

Was thinking of these segments when I heard of Tony Sirigusa's passing yesterday. Goose could've/should've been this generation's Art Donovan, but other than Conan, none of today's late show hosts could've handled him like Dave or Johnny with Art.

[@mikerosier1684]

1 hour and 48 min interview he was on fire! He reminds me of my grandfather. The same old stories some how get funnier the more you hear em. :)

[@rottdawg5838]

He almost lived to be 90, pretty good considering his lifestyle

[@captainscentsible1811]

At this weight.or he lost some after this ? Yes that's very hard to believe .wow. Now if you tell me he was a heavy smoker I may not believe it

[@johnl5350]

It definitely happens. Risk factors aren't deterministic. Just look at Keith Richards.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@johnl5350, risk factors are only partially deterministic. He was born at 17 lbs, and that means his heart was large, and his lungs, and therefore, his lung capacity was, too.. That probably saved him from going at 65..He got another 20-25 years out of it because his body could compensate and handle the strain. As for his "aw I don't care" modesty. He was truly being modest. He received two distinguished medals in WW2, earning the ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL, AND THE PHILIPPINES LIBERATION MEDAL. He was an ammo loader on aircraft carriers, and fought in both IWO JIMA AND LUZON. His boxing stories were also on the mark because he was the grandson of the WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMP of the 1870's, and his dad ART SR. was a boxing instructor, and a Hall of Fame boxing referee, too. Art himself also, I believe, did some GOLDEN GLOVES boxing when he was younger. He also enlisted and left NOTRE DAME, only to go to BOSTON COLLEGE after the war. He is in the MARINES SPORTS HALL OF FAME. And, his NFL career was extraordinary= 1950'S ALL DECADE TEAM(BALT. A TEAM THAT FOLDED, NY YANKS A TEAM THAT MOVED, NFL DALLAS TEXANS, AND FINALLY BACK TO BALTIMORE after DALLAS folded and his contract along with many of his teammates was bought by BALTY'S SECOND COLTS VERSION.), 4 YEARS IN A ROW ALL-PRO LIST FIRST TEAM, TWO SECOND-TEAM NODS, FIVE STRAIGHT PRO BOWL GAMES. Remember, his rookie season as a 22nd round pick in slot 204(akin to a seventh round pick today), was as a 26 year old after his war service. So, in 1960 when he made second team all-pro, he was 36 years old.. I think the thing that people loved about him was his unpretentious tell it like it is, politically incorrect candor. Today, he would've been forced to sell his country club and would've had politician Goodell barring him from attending NFL sponsored functions. Imagine that bleepin snob STEVIE COLD BEAR interviewing him. He would never be invited on. But, if COLD BEAR did, Stevie would dress him down with condescending lectures. And, then maybe ART would have rearranged that smart arse grill of STEVIE, BAM! Lol.. right on the spot. Now, I would pay to see that. Art also was on CARSON, and did cartoon voiceovers, too on NICKELODEON.. People loved him and rightfully so, but he was not someone that worshipped his mirror's reflection. By the way, his book was a best seller. He was the genuine article.. No doubt about it..and people starving for something genuine, loved him for that.

[@stumpyinc.5489]

Thank you for these. I can remember sneaking and staying up late to watch letterman. Art was the best!

[@juancorocks5394]

Thank you for posting this. I appreciate all the work that went into compiling this magnificent collection of Art's stories. HE IS A TRUE GEM.

[@v8vrooooom]

Love Art's appearances!!!! What i remember of them is that he usually got bleeped at least once per appearance and usually mentioned that he likes hot dogs and beer.

[@hankochai]

What a character. I love seeing how enchanted Dave is with him.

[@billybergendahl3515]

I remember the Sherman Plunkett he talked about. He was an offensive lineman with the Jets when Joe Namath played.

[@jedblaugrund597]

He was top five for sure. Other top five: Richard Simmons, Siskel and Ebert, Teri Garr, and Super Dave.

[@JakeMabe1]

And, somewhere just below them, Charles Grodin!

[@paystarbuzzy]

Y'all are talking about top five returning guests; that is now apparent, but that post initially reminded me of when he interviewed a nineteen year old Wayne Gretzky. That was my fave.

[@jaliscodiss]

Howard Stern was also a regular on Letterman in the 80s

[@bigroy38]

Jerry Lawler,& Andy Kaufman.

[@kipclark1]

@@bigroy38 Brother Theodore, Kaufmann, Garr, Norm, Art Donovan my personal top 5 of his guests

[@MM-ss4ik]

we need more art donovan's

[@spensert4933]

Poetry comes out of this man's mouth.

[@sergiolobato1798]

The mind boggles can you imagine someone like Fallon trying to interview Art? Even Colbert comes across as a siamese cat compared to Dave.

[@PittsburghMarky]

Stop insulting siamese cats.

[@MalunoMcSketch]

Conan could do it

[@user-pu2cj3no5f]

Colbert knows nothing of sports.

[@jmo6603]

51:37 - Great story. This is one of the reasons Donovan was such a fun guest. Cool moment as well at the end, the respect he shows Dave, patting him on the shoulder.

[@paystarbuzzy]

Nothing short of brilliant how Tank attributes his size to being "out of shape" as a17 pound newborn.

[@robertsprouse9282]

You mean BULLDOG..TANK was Tank Younger. Art was "BULLDOG".

[@firepower782]

Art Donovan is a classic!

[@gamesdonovan7666]

shout out to paul for playing Donovan's Mellow Yellow lol

[@salgoud12]

"If you get drunk, go to bed!" 🛏🌙 words to live by.

[@americankulak2294]

You know you're a badass when you just make an offhand joke about that time you almost died fighting in the greatest, most important conflict in world history...and go right back to telling drinking stories.

[@chuckdieselkicksdisks2380]

I like how they play Mellow yellow by Donovan Leitch for Art Donovan lol

[@brucethomas5123]

Muddy Waters sang a song called I’m A Man , was written for this guy ! So good .

[@mcnallyaar]

What a joyful spirit!

[@derekgiesbrecht1554]

Perfect guest- story after story

[@derekgiesbrecht1554]

art and dave were a great team

[@uppercutgrandma4425]

First time watching. This guy was a character! What did people think of him back then?

[@johnl5350]

Judging by the viewer mail in the second segment and his comments about his first appearance they loved him.

[@sammyvh11]

All jokes aside Art was a man who could tackle the running back up the middle as good as any who ever played.

[@fromtherubble6890]

Art should have been Dave's Ed McMahon... I love this

[@sspbrazil]

Art was hilarious.

[@maccyd53]

Rodney Dangerfield's Brother From A Different Mother...love him...

[@ztoxtube]

If everyone watched this video, world peace would occur.

[@bubbaclinton1105]

If you hadn't read his book "Fatso" do so, it's hilarious!

[@henrygandy3883]

A "natural" comedian and genuine of that generation. A combination of Abbott and Costello and Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. Positively uncanny and hilarious !!!

[@danielj1063]

I was listening to Donovan while making a snack, reminded of Rodney D

[@clifforddriver9434]

His distain for Don Shula is absolutely hilarious. Shula had all of us bullshitted.

[@Bacalao2929]

The Bronx's pride and Joy

[@joannasunday]

Omg this guy!!! Love him!

[@DaveLynchJazzGuitar]

I miss this man!! He was such a character!! God bless "FATSO" !!

[@Ripplin]

"How much does this guy weigh?!"

[@bryanweis]

his book says 340

[@Shaner373]

@@bryanweis he was quoting his wrestling commentary at king of the ring lol

[@nascarfan88ta]

Jeez, look at the size of this guy

[@markevans7937]

@@Shaner373 the worst commentated event of all time, lol. King of the Ring 1994. Art knew NOTHING, lol.

[@Shaner373]

@@markevans7937 worst/best

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

Love Him!

[@thegrimyeaper]

11:11 Fantastic.

[@robertszvetics210]

THE ONE AND ONLY MR.FOOTBALL

[@captainscentsible1811]

For some reason old sports guys have wild story's and great sense of humors. I bet it felt great for dave not carrying the show

[@Squidbillies1000]

A great great great man

[@seagullpoet]

I bought his book, hardcover, FATSO. Had to. Great stories,

[@seagullpoet]

1:09:30 - my dad was his Spanish tutor.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@seagullpoet, lol..I wouldn't be surprised.

[@larrybaker9924]

Art’s dad was a famous boxing referee.

[@josephmcfarland8442]

From Baltimore, season ticket holder 1996-2007. Ironically we won a Super Bowl long before Indianapolis.

[@kwasimensah6013]

1971

[@gartw6381]

When men were men, and weren’t ashamed to be men.

[@richardyoon4209]

Art was hilarious. Somehow he made all these appearances on Letterman telling the same 5 stories. How many times did he tell the flunking Spanish in college joke? LOL

[@prestonpernell5266]

He sounds like frosty the snowman I could listen to his stories all day.

[@jacksmith5692]

At the beginning he was in his 50's and at the end he was 69 and you could see he was older but thinner!

[@msmooreski1]

Dave's wince at 11:13 hilarious

[@timmcleaners1987]

I'm pretty sure there's a pony in the audience starting around 1:58:00

[@JamesHahnII]

34:56 I don’t trust a living soul and I walk carefully around the dead.

[@natewatl9423]

1:04:55 who dressed Dave? The small end of his necktie is a couple of inches below the wider front side.

[@machaik4041]

55.35, the famous chicken eating contest.

[@joeski734]

On local Baltimore broadcasts, for some reason, Artie used to really have it in for Cowboys' quarterback Danny White for being "cock-eyed". Like how can he see the field? And stuff like that. He would have the other guys on the show doubled over with laughter. Here he gets another shot in on White by criticizing the Colts' quarterback Gary Hogeboom who was the Cowboys' back-up the year before because he couldn't beat out a cock-eyed guy for the starting job.

[@MichelleUS66]

Don, what’s the story on the unaired clip? Why wasn’t it used?

[@dongiller]

The show, and all other prime-time programming that evening, was preempted due to the start of the Iraq War. Network coverage continued nonstop on the second day, Thursday, January 17. No Late Night was taped that day. Regular programming resumed on Friday, January 18. A new Late Night was taped that day. It then aired for around three minutes until NBC News cut in for more war coverage. The show aired uninterrupted on the West Coast. The following week was planned repeats. But that Friday, the previous Friday show aired in place of the scheduled repeat on January 25. The West Coast aired the scheduled repeat. I acquired a dub of the unaired January 16, 1991, show in 2002. The source tape was subsequently lost. NBC never had it in its archives. So for the next 21 years, I was the only person who had it. When requested this year, I shared it with the folks managing the official Letterman Channel. I figured 21 years was time enough.

[@MichelleUS66]

Thanks for the information, Don. (Yet another reason why your channel is one of my favorites!)

[@dongiller]

Aw, thanks. :)

[@mixhaelamikovich]

Shula can walk on water in Miami he must have hit a stump in the Super Bowl 😅

[@jacksmith5692]

Merv Albert, brutal!

[@nielshansen8548]

Eye gauging was in my team sport too, don't teach young boys self defense!

[@aaronwestendorp7352]

what episode is the thumnail from??

[@dongiller]

The very end of September 5, 1991 (#13). I chose that image because I thought it was great.

[@JMFabiano]

And how much does it weigh?

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@JMFabiano, its humongous, like your ego.

[@elbrianoboesito9632]

Nothing like OG football

[@PixelNotesMusic]

Hey Don Giller, I'm curious to know, who's your all time favourite guest?

[@dongiller]

Maybe Michael Keaton.

[@josephmcfarland8442]

He called the Raiders, the Raiders won 38-9.

[@Mr.BeastFacts]

How much does this guy weight?

[@lancegilmore9621]

how much does this guy weigh?

[@friendsoftheamazonjungle]

So for the last 20 until he died in 2013, hadn't shown on Letterman???

[@dongiller]

That’s why there’s a Part 2 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2TMhaybbZV-gZI

[@friendsoftheamazonjungle]

@@dongiller tks brother just found it 🙏✌️👍👊🎁

[@BladeRunner-td8be]

This guy is a laugh a minute. Very entertaining.

[@andyrose5616]

Why did #12 never air?

[@dongiller]

It was taped but preempted for national news coverage of the first day of the Gulf War.

[@jedblaugrund597]

@@dongiller Curious...what else was on that show that was not aired? Was the show just shelved? If so, it would be awesome to see it!

[@dongiller]

The entire show was shelved. Also in it was the last peace Through Dramatzation Players skit, which I included in this compilation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqDWp4F-fpaKZ68 Also a very drunk John Hurt.

[@Leafman67]

How much does that fella weigh?

[@dongiller]

Much less now.

[@Leafman67]

@@dongiller Well that’s not fair! The other guy, the other fella only weighs half the amount!

[@senorfish2503]

Look at the size of that guy gorilla, how much does he weigh?

[@TySpiceland]

How much does this guy weigh?

[@jimjoe9945]

Gur only had about six story's.

[@abrahamjackson6019]

N.F.L royalty

[@captainscentsible1811]

If trenbologna came in pill form back then, i get the feeling that's what he was given. 4 weeks of no sleep is a bit scary haa

[@robertsprouse9282]

He changed it to 4 days later..GREENIES were standard issue back then, in all sports.

[@thenostalgiafactor5023]

How much does this guy weigh? - Art Donovan

[@119Agent]

How much does this fella way?

[@1962dude]

340

[@robertsprouse9282]

Better question: When did you flunk spelling?

[@tylerromero6572]

Who is dis, Anotha wrestla?

[@sinicalypse]

How much does he weigh?

[@JMFabiano]

Who's the fella with the American flag?

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@JMFabiano , your parole officer..

[@jacksmith5692]

60 million chinamen!

[@machinegunjackmcgurn7453]

Art was a classic. But also one bad ass football player. Hall of Fame. RIP Bulldog.