Car 54 - "Captain Of The 53rd" (Song)

[@jamesburgmann977]

Love this sitcom. Bring this back MeTV.

[@FirefighterSEIN]

This clip contains in abundant amounts what is painfully lacking in most TV shows today-- something called TALENT!

[@stainskoolkidz]

This is great.. I remember seeing this 50 years ago and it pops into my head from time to time ever since, it was so well done. What a treat to see the troupe perform this again.

[@edmondscott7444]

Marvellous.

[@WSenator1]

Most video fans know Fred Gwynn as Herman Munster. But I'll always know him as Francis Muldoon.

[@douglasbabb1725]

I'll know him as Judge Chamberlain Haller

[@BluesInMySoul]

I just saw this last night on MeTV. I just HAD to find it and hear it again. What talent!

[@avlisk]

Yes! I, too, hadn't seen this is 50 years, so thanks to my Brother for sending me the link. It's great! Yay for the KZbin.

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

R.I.P FRED GWYNNE !!!!!!!

[@3558035580]

Thanks for posting this. I first saw it as a kid in Australia around 40 odd years ago. It was my intro to Gilbert and Sullivan. I wondered why it has always stuck with me but seeing it again I can see why - it's brilliant. Can you imagine some-one doing it in a sitcom today. I guess Family Guy would do it.

[@WSenator1]

Also note at 1:03 - Al Lewis, here as Officer Schnauser, later as Grandpa Munster (alongside Fred Gwynn as Human Munster).

[@webdesigner18]

I just finished watching this series with my grandfather. Now were re-watching some of the episodes.

[@elizabethmramirez5170]

I hope they put the show on t.v again its a great TV series thanks 4 posting it

[@danmagoo]

Damn, that was a surprise. He knocked it out of the park.

[@Carminesbobby]

Hi GwynneGal, I watched this show when I was a kid. This is great, really great.

[@fromthesidelines]

This was first seen in December 1961, and featured a very clever choral version of Gilbert & Sullivan's "I Am the Captain Of the Pinafore", as performed by the cast...

[@3ringsAIKMAN]

@Novak67766 You are correct....It lasted only TWO seasons. When I heard the series lasted thru 60 episodes, I assumed they were spread over 3 seasons. They taped 30 episodes per season which is pretty amazing.

[@khtyson1]

Paul Reed (Capt Block) Played Charlie Cowell (The anville salesman) in the orginal broadway production of The Broadway Producrtion of The Music Man.

[@critchley3819]

We who are getting old can at least be happy that we grew up in an era that will never be had again..

[@mcfrdmn]

Excellent show !

[@mcfrdmn]

Excellent show !

[@Juliaflo]

I second that. Maybe if today's television programs had more musical episodes, the ratings would go up).

[@nosoap1]

It's not Al Lewis, it is Paul Reed, a longtime character actor who appeared in many Broadway musicals ("Guys and Dolls", "Music Man") and who had performed Gilbert and Sullivan earlier in his career.

[@snoops71]

These guys have really good, strong voices. They could carry a tune very well;-)

[@WSenator1]

I think the Captain (Paul Ford) was a big-band singer in the '40s.

[@drcmac]

🔹️ I love this show 👀👍❗ I wish I was alive back then so I could watch it. I believe this was also shown in Australia because I remember my (late) mother telling me about it ❗ Australian tv nowadays is the worst in the world, no exception. Nothing at all funny or entertaining on. Bring back these old shows as reruns ❗

[@drcmac]

🔹️ P.S. We do NOT have anything like MeTV, Antenna TV, Decades TV, Rewind TV or Cozi TV in Australia. Australian TV is pathetic & appallingly bad. God bless America 👀👍❗

[@oldcremona]

Isn't that Grandpa from the Munsters in the front row of the chorus?

[@charlesclark9627]

oldcremona. Yes! Charlotte Raye played his wife!

[@WSenator1]

@@charlesclark9627 And "Grandpa's" name was Al Lewis.

[@owenhammond1880]

Can someone explain this to me? When they say the line "Give a cheer and not the bird to the hardy captain of the 53rd." Do they mean cheer for him instead of flipping him off? I'm just wondering this if there was a difference in meaning over the years.

[@MotownFan1962]

"Giving someone the bird" can also mean "blowing someone a raspberry" (aka the Bronx cheer).

[@snoops71]

They sure shoulda!

[@Juliaflo]

Homage to Gilbert & Sullivan.

[@richardranke7878]

I seem to remember seeing a little bit of a TV-play of HMS Pinnafore before I saw this Car 54 episode. I did recognize the song as a parody to a song from what is one of the most well-known Gilbert & Sullivan shows.

[@OckGal]

They shoulda made albums.

[@RossiniSoprano]

Yes! I was wondering why their music director thought he needed to change Sullivan's harmonies for this song...there's nothing wrong with the original. He also wrote his own 'vamp' for between the verses. The Capt has a great voice, btw.

[@OckGal]

Al is on the (our) right singing in the chorus, but not the lead.

[@critchley3819]

The black guy had the best voice...

[@OckGal]

(Me under another name cos too lazy to log in as GwynneGal, lol!) I used to watch it cos nothing else was on. Toody annoyed me so I didn't care for the show. I wish they show it on TV again cos I haven't seen a few episodes and I love it now!

[@paularmstrong6622]

Ooo, Ooo, Jumpin' Jehosphat.

[@OckGal]

@@paularmstrong6622 hahaha! That is so weird cos I had that phrase pop into my head a couple weeks ago and couldn't remember what it was from!

[@3ringsAIKMAN]

I'm curious to know why this show lasted only 3 seasons. Fine actors, pretty good storylines. It should have had a longer run.... CAR 54, no doubt, was funnier than silly shows like MR ED, GREEN ACRES, & THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES

[@scottcarroll9201]

Actually it only lasted 2 seasons. Mediocre ratings and a recalcitrant star, namely Joe E. Ross, doomed it.