Bert Lahr - Medley of Madness

[@petermcgill1559]

yeah, it's good on stage, but when I talk to myself like this at bus stops, people look at me funny :(

[@purplkoala]

They don't make talent like this any more!!! This is REAL talent!!!

[@johngalush8790]

If you say so😮

[@MBM1117727]

This is actualy a combination of several lines from popular songs of the time..... very unique!

[@hootinouts]

Nobody else could have played the Cowardly Lion but him. His genius shined in that role.

[@robertperry814]

I hope this serves as warning to young people who are thinking of experimenting with drugs.

[@Spider_7_7]

Bert Lahr is best known for playing The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. That's my favorite movie character of all time.

[@FredHerrman]

He was so unique. I loved him.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

never realized how many Bert Lahrisms there were in Bugs Bunny until I saw this

[@barnegatshoals]

This Lahr routine gives credence to the theory that "The Jitterbug" number in "Wizard of Oz" was deleted because Bert Lahr upstaged Judy Garland with his bigger-than-life personality (one of several theories, another being that the song's topicality detracted from the timeless quality of the film). This is spectacular!

[@darkswim14]

GOLD!!! there just isnt art like this any more!

[@fhb3]

Bert Lahr was incredible.

[@sergioalpert66]

I'd like to see somebody try that bit on America's Got Talent. I'm hearing the buzzers go off. lol.

[@realcanadian1]

"Ain't it the truth?!? Ain't it the truth?!?"

[@Panamaschild]

HAHA!!! So true lol!

[@jordonveatch2503]

All I see is the cowardly lion when I look at him lol

[@inkyguy]

Jordon Veatch, that's at least in part because the Cowardly Lion was intentionally written to include Bert Lahr's routines and schtick.

[@dancepiglover]

That’s what I hear, too.

[@timothywilson1609]

I was thinking the same thing 🙂

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

Of course. That is partly because of behavior in this clip.

[@blewmyload]

and when you look at yourself?

[@MrUnidyne]

It was said that if you were on stage with Burt Lahr, you might as well have been in the theater across the street. He commanded a stage like no one else.

[@KOforLiddell]

I wonder if Lahr ever inspired Robin Williams

[@Chelsgirl31]

KOforLiddell I'm sure he did!!

[@Chelsgirl31]

what the hell? lol

[@cardionema]

+Izhan Harris Shut up, moron.

[@MaskedMan66]

@Izhan Harris Bert is dead too.

[@SueBeaWho]

Yah, I have watched all the vids I could find here on Bert Lahr and YES I sure BET Robin Williams stylized himself after Bert....I am SURE ur right!!!

[@snaaptaker]

Greetings, Gate! Solid, Jackson! Bert Lahr, one of the greatest. RIP.

[@Kevinmc3]

WOW! This guy was incredible! As they say..."They don't make em like that anymore"...;}

[@acousticshadow4032]

Damn-straight, KC!

[@murraymae]

I saw that routine in that movie a few years ago-I had never seen anything like it! I showed it to my sister, who couldn't believe it--now--years have passed and she doesn't remember it--thinks I made the whole thing up! Now, I can finally show her that I wasn't high when I saw this!!

[@silviaolvra]

I love Bert Lahr! Mainly when he did The "Coward lion"!

[@johngiovine8792]

This is amazing...WOW!

[@PoppaBlue59]

So many of the old-time funny men could do it all. Sing, play music, dance and make you laugh. Thank you Mr. Lahr.

[@photo161]

A great comic talent and a brilliant and uniquely accomplished comedy dancer.

[@fromthesidelines]

This was actually a sequence from a 1937 film that Lahr appeared in [I believe it was "Love and Hisses"]. However, this particular number, "The Announcer's Song" (inspired by the fact that radio announcers in those days often "tested" their microphones before going on the air by saying things like, "Hello, testing, testing, one-two-three, woof-woof, hello..."), was deleted before the film's official release.

[@tetracanthus]

The guy was way ahead of his time.

[@DansLookingGlass]

Yes it is.

[@nemaha55]

HIs old Lays potato chip commercials still crack me up

[@rudyriccio634]

I wonder if this performance was the reason he cast as the lion

[@kellyl1099]

this guys awesome!

[@acousticshadow4032]

Primitive Rap. And, his Tiger Rag scat here is a preview of The Cowardly Lion. Could've used us some Bert Lahr during this GD pandemic. We miss you, Buddy!

[@jackbuckley9195]

Mr. Lahr in top form here. Wish I knew from what film. Well-restored, too. I've been reading a bio of Mr. Lahr, written by his son John from early 1970's called "Notes On A Cowardly Lion". Have learned so much about his dad's pre-OZ life and entry into show biz, long before he gained fame as the Lion. His movie career peaked with Oz("There aren't too many parts for lions", he wryly commented once) but went on to appear in many stage productions, both on and off Broadway, as both headliner and in supporting roles, for years thereafter. Also made numerous TV appearances, hosting and guesting on specials and participating as the "Mystery Guest" on the game show "What's My Line" at least a couple of times. Featured on cover of Time & Life magazines, as well, in 50's & 60's. In mid-60's he filmed some very amusing commercials for Lay's potato chips, which I recall. As demonstrated in this clip, Mr. Lahr went "all-in" with total confidence in his unique personality and zany style of comedy. In his later career, he showed he could do drama equally effectively, often quite touchingly. Great entertainer, great life!!

[@bakilacat1]

From Love and Kisses 1938

[@baxter5431]

Bert Lahr: Makes the Marx Bros. or the Three Stooges seem rather sedate. Zany BEYOND zany!

[@garywood9525]

Just imagine that being your Dad and you are in grade 4 and must tell the class what your dad does for a living.

[@elc1960]

I can't for the life of me decide whether he's extremely talented or totally fucking batshit crazy! It's like an insane person's medley of old 1930s songs, because he quotes "Mississippi Mud", "Minnie the Moocher" and a shitload of other songs - just one line from each one. If you did an entire 8-ball yourself and got up onstage to sing, this is probably what would come out of your mouth.

[@johnhassan9085]

I don't know what this is but I do know that it is the greatest thing in the world.

[@drbayrhum]

This medley is composed of then current Jazz lingo, Comedian's tag lines, Radio show dialogue and other sayings the audience was familiar with. Today it might be "where's the beef?", "It's Grrrreat", and "on no you didn't."

[@inkyguy]

drbayrhum, thanks for mentioning that. I'm not sure many people realize that this is cultural and social satire of the jazz and popular music scene of the day. He also satirized opera and classical recital singing.

[@thefonzkiss]

LOL all those catchphrases are from the late 1980s that’s 35 years ago.

[@angryalgy]

for its time . its really funny.thanks for puttin on the tube.

[@WizardOfHumor1989]

and ill WOOOOFFF and ill WOOOOOOOFFFFFF and ill WOOOOOFFFFFFF!!!

[@eyecmypets]

This deleted number is from a 1938 film, Love And Hisses. It can also be seen in Treasures From The 20th Century Vaults. This is Bert Lahr ( Cowardly Lion) who is showing in a medlely of popular music and scat, some old traditions of grotesque comedy and eccentric dance from early Vaudeville. It is a great lesson of vintage comedy business.

[@SueBeaWho]

lol " right eye tick" I can't stop laughing. I don't recall it either, but now I will need to watch the Wizard again and see if I can catch it. I guess what is making me laugh so much is the way you phrased the question. Still laughing. woof-woof goo-goo back to you-you :)! P.S. the great Louie Nye.

[@barnegatshoals]

Thank you for posting this. It's amazing how many spectacular sequences (such as this) were deleted from issued prints, including the elegant dance Bill Robinson did in "Café Metropole" (released 1937) the only time he wore white tie and tails in a film. It is viewable here on KZbin, until the studio bean counters realize it's copyrighted material!

[@sandranelson7124]

(This is Tom, not Sandra.) No wonder they wanted Bert to play the "Cowardly Lion", he had those growls down pat......even long before the movie was made. Bert was an American jewel!!!! I'm so glad he was picked to be the 'Lion' !!!! An American treasure!!!!

[@pikeycowboylover]

This is GREAT

[@fromthesidelines]

This sequence was originally deleted from the final release print of a 1937 feature film {"Love and Hisses'} Bert played a supporting role in...

[@mcboy076]

This is amazing!!!

[@piratetiki1705]

Whoa Burt. Take it down a notch.

[@madchops82]

Very funny and talented guy. Creative and modern.

[@alexcrawford5350]

Wow. That was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before!

[@TheRealZenman]

Mental illness is so amusing when done professionally.

[@big-baby-buddha]

Real Talk.

[@JetblackThemeTime]

What my ADHD brain is like every second of the day.

[@kohm100]

Brilliant!

[@robertszymanski717]

Bert Lahr is frickin very funny here! This video cracked me up ! LMFAO !!!!! I had tears going down my face !!! Really !!!!

[@thomasscott9654]

I seen this guy in an old movie where h plays piano as he sings a duet with buddy ebsen but i can't recall the film two geniuses in top form.

[@ShaySpirit75]

lol haha brilliant! Thanks for sharing this dear.

[@MrUnidyne]

I did some research and found out that this musical number, "The Woof Song", was filmed for the movie "Love and Hisses" (1937), but was cut from the film because the studio brass couldn't make heads or tails of it. It's available on the DVD "Hidden Hollywood - Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults".

[@rhapsodyswept]

What...the...heck?! I feel like I missed the beginning of this--or something that would make the whole thing make sense. Like, there should be an introduction where he's like, "So, one time, I smoked a joint before a performance, and when I went on stage, I thought I was singing, but it really sounded like this (insert clip)."

[@Offmedication]

I take it back. He not on the crack, this was enjoyable.

[@garywood9525]

Wow, and he was someones father. What a wild time it must have been when your dad was pumped with enegy and did fear having a good time with a song and dance. Today we see a product after it's gone through a filter to correct the flaws and make people song better than they are. I'll take a live Stage-show any day with a guy that belts out tunes and can make me laugh.

[@MrUnidyne]

The problem was when you were on screen or stage with Burt Lahr, every eye and ear was on HIM! You weren't simply in his shadow, you were in total darkness! You might just as welll have been next door!

[@torchkit]

The "Woof Song" from the 1937 film "Love and Hisses." This entire bit was left on the editing room floor before the movie's release..

[@cehussey]

It may appear spontaneous, but, given that the band is perfectly in synch with Lahr, they did some work on it prior to showtime. He's like a live-action Warner Bros. cartoon character. I can see Daffy Duck doing a routine like this.

[@louienye]

Great clip, but what's with that right eye tick? I don't recall him doing that in "TWOO". Woof-woof-goo-goo!

[@torchkit]

That's why it was left on the cutting room floor for several decades.

[@garywood9525]

Only in HollyWood could this be a job.

[@inkyguy]

Gary wood, no. Also and most prominently in burlesque, vaudeville and night clubs across the U.S. throughout the 1920s and 30s.

[@waldolydecker8118]

Heavily Cab Calloway influence, then itself became the inspiration for Comden and Green's similarly styled number "Swing" in 'Wonderful Town' 1953.

[@presto709]

All of these eccentric mannerisms really worked as the Cowardly Lion but it's hard to understand what they meant before that role. Was he just making goofy faces or was there some other meaning to them?

[@misharyutubbee]

Where's Dorothy? Scarecrow? Tinman?

[@GUITARMAN1546]

thnx now i understand

[@donovanmedieval]

Happy birthday.

[@judybest6991]

I love Bert Lahr

[@tangobango9653]

Burt will always be remembered as ‘The Cowardly Lion’ I guess!

[@OpenComments]

Step One of the NOTs Valence Technique, "What are you?", is a listing question. It is asked to find the valence the BT or cluster is stuck in (obsessively being), thereby shifting the BT or cluster out of that valence. Sometimes a BT or cluster will answer at first with a wrong item or items. Then there wont be any valence shift, nor will there be any blow.

[@73Shakes]

Ill have what hes having!

[@orangeviolins]

Oh Thank You so much. What a trip. Agree with you Maya! And to think about all of those Warner Bros. characters with "Sthppppeeech Impediments"...(had to remember the Roger Rabbit epiphany here...so true). This nut RULES!!! (And he could have done some great cartoon voice overs...unless there are some that I am unaware of... (From another "nut" that does her own impression of the Cowardly Lion whenever the moment hits her)

[@ChicagoSouthDan]

@amieelmes Really? That's great. Are you in show business?

[@jimmyboy99]

Indeed it was a nicer time.

[@pedrolancemachadolucesgarc9485]

Exellent

[@vtjbproductions]

best actor

[@vtjbproductions]

theres the lion

[@jazzmanchgo]

He's either satirizing the jazz-based popular entertanment of his day or burlesquing some "amateur-night" pretender who thinks he's hip (or both). I can see and hear various elements of Fats Waller, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Al Jolson in his rouitine, among others.

[@MsMegz131]

He's the cowardly lion hes soo great

[@schwei56]

I like the bit at 1:29 the best! "ShoeSHINE-a-boy . . ." They used to call this kind of comic a "tummler" (loosely translated: "troublemaker"), like Danny Kaye and more recently Nathan Lane. I "can't eat just one clip", so please upload more Lahr!

[@TheSanityInspector]

And a few other contemporaries, too. Can anyone name them?

[@cornbreadthedog]

man, i dig this like a shovel! what movie is this from? p.s. thanks for posting! i'm starved for old hollywood! yes!..

[@SueBeaWho]

gotta sing woof woof gotta dance meooow YEAH go daddie go!

[@jazzalex22]

Bert Lahr was just a guy that was extremely funny. He got started in Vaudeville and was born to Jewish parents. After the Wizard of Oz, Lahr starred in The Three Stooges' STop Look and Laugh as a small role which was a party clerk. He died of a heart attack in 1968 after filming The Night They Raided Minsky's

[@enigmadroid127]

Loki unleashed! I sincerely hope that someone records me going similarly insane on camera for future generations!

[@TBCSTARS]

Hey folks..Imagine Bert in a time-warp "Twilight Zone" style....Rod Serling is as Ryan Seacrest intrducing him to THOSE JUDGES. on today's "American Idol." After the crtique, Bert goes over and bites Simon's head off at the shoulders. "Rod" quips. "Well, I guess he showed him 'who's King of the chorus." Tim Killer Beez Beasley .

[@JasperMcCutcheon]

Could also be I's a-muggin' ... I am mugging ... showing off ... mugging for the audience, and in this case, the cameras. These are snippets from song and dance routines he performed on burlesque and vaudeville stages before coming to Hollywood around 1930.

[@barrythomas615]

0:49 - "Hold that Tiger" - wouldn't hold that LION be more appropriate?

[@califgirl101]

Wow! Well, I am not quite clear on this intresting routine he did except to say that I love Bert Lahr as The Cowardly Lion. He is too funny. I'm curious to know what movie was this from?

[@gooddog227]

he's havin a fit!

[@MariAnKenobi]

If that's not playing to the back row, I don't know what is.

[@lekocafe]

Like a stream of conciousness rant with big band background. They had some good drugs in 1938.

[@soloman81]

Is he spoofing Cab Calloway kind of scat singing or something?

[@NewYawkahBroad]

I didn't realize this guy was nuts! OMG!

[@vanness5]

HAHAHA! I Love it, he parodies these all brilliantly! And you just try to tell me this doesn't make you want to have a couple belts of scotch! hahaha,

[@elthe3rd]

Underrated comedic actor. I heard that Curly Howard was considered for the part of the Lion, but I don't think he would have done as well.

[@fm00078]

Curly would have been GREAT, in his style. 😉

[@magicemperor2420]

Why is there a Scientology argument underlining a Bert Lahr video?

[@0ne0nlyLarry]

you see the lion in him all the time no matter what

[@MrUnidyne]

PLEASE tell me what film this is from!!!

[@MrUnidyne]

@styod17 He's doing riffs on the routines of the jazz vocalists of the era. Pretty much the way kids in the future will be scratching their heads over all the jewelry rappers wear now.

[@regissuchma5764]

Put em up put em up