Comedy King Pat Buttram & King of Stunts Yakima Canutt on A WORD ON WESTERNS!

Pat and Yak, their legends live on! Known as the "funniest man alive," Pat Buttram may have passed away in 1994, but his unique brand of outrageous humor continues to enthrall new audiences and be rediscovered by those familiar with his illustrious history in entertainment. Born in Alabama, Pat left home at 17 and ventured to the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, where his spontaneous "man on the street" ad-libs secured him a role at superstation WLS. Before long, he was headlining the National Barn Dance, where he met Gene Autry. After WWII, Buttram took over from Gene’s original B-western sidekick, Smiley Burnette, co-starring with Autry in numerous features and TV series. A fresh generation encountered Pat’s humor through his scene-stealing role as "Mr. Haney" on GREEN ACRES.
Pat Buttram was the most sought-after toastmaster in Hollywood. In 1983, he founded the Golden Boot Awards, a fundraising event for the Motion Picture Fund and Hospital, which honored B-western stars, actors, actresses, and other western filmmakers.
Dubbed the "Godfather of Stuntmen," Yakima Canutt, a former World Champion Rodeo performer, started his career in silent movies, performing stunts and gradually becoming one of the most popular silent western stars. Yak's films were packed with thrilling daredevil action sequences that captivated audiences. When talkies emerged, Yak's high-pitched voice didn't match the typical hero image, and after a few early talkie leads, he transitioned to character parts, mostly villains. He emerged as an in-demand stunt coordinator before such a profession was even formally recognized. Collaborating with his near-lookalike friend, the young John Wayne, Yak and Duke developed a more sophisticated on-screen method for staging fights. Yak is perhaps best known for directing the large-scale action sequences in the second unit, notably the chariot race in William Wyler’s 1959 epic, BEN-HUR.
In the early 1980s, Buttram served as Master of Ceremonies at a tribute to Yak in Burbank. The room, teeming with a who's who of western stars and stuntmen, erupted with laughter at Buttram’s inside take on Hollywood. Fortunately, I was there to capture Pat's monologue on a handheld home movie camera. This monologue will be followed by a brief interview Pat conducted with Yak, shortly before Yak passed away on May 24, 1986, at the age of 90.