Mort Sahl Hollywood Palace 1/23/65

Hostess Kate Smith introduces comedian Mort Sahl who does a topical monologue on the Saturday, January 23, 1965 episode of the Hollywood Palace on ABC.

[@willyD200]

He was black listed shortly after the JFK assassination due to his questioning the investigation.. He talks about it on a clip here on KZbin.

[@cjaquilino]

I'll say that another way: He declined in popularity with audiences because he started spouting off unpopular conspiracy theories.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Mort Sahl is the best. If you want to see and understand the world, just listen to his stand-up and interviews from the 1950s to the present, and he was clairvoyant and hilarious.

[@tonybmusic1166]

Mort Sahl, IMO was the most brilliant comic of our generation. He used to buy a newspaper on his way to a gig and just improvise while reading the headlines. Lenny Bruce would joke that he would find out where Sahl was working and buy every newspaper within a three mile radius. My favorite line of his was when he was reading the title of Werner Von Braun’s new book: “I Aim For the Stars” Sahl quipped: “but un zumtines I hit London.”

[@calio99]

Days gone by? Now look what's coming, zumtimes

[@brucejackson6451]

I'm reading Woody Allen's autobiography and he talks about how great Mort Sahl was, how his personality drove the humor, not the punchlines, and it's easy to see what he means here. There are some hilarious bits, but I think Sahl was constrained by the 5-minute time limit, whereas if he just comes out for his regular act and can take his time, it would be beautiful. I'm hoping to find more stuff on him, he's fantastic.

[@stevenkarras3490]

I'm here for that same reason (Apropos)

[@tomrobbins5242]

Sad that we have to rely on the word of a pervert to define a genius/humanitarian like Mort Saul.

[@brucejackson6451]

Sadder still that some of us condemn people like Woody Allen without even bothering to investigate Mia Farrow's claims and learn that they are complete and total bullshit.

[@kbchaffin53]

He explained left wing/ right wing with a blackboard and I actually learned what that meant from him. I emerged more educated.

[@mjjm5511]

Catch Mort weekly in the periscope AP!! Yay! Love watching him!

[@Pimp-Master]

Kennedy said Mort had a future; they were both wrong.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Mort Sahl is great. There's been a ton of stuff uploaded in the last year or so on KZbin.

[@maxsmith695]

@@LoyalOpposition - Are you a family member promoting his videos?

[@mrsomething2132]

Thank you so much! More please!

[@markothecomic]

A huge influence for those who came after him. He invented this style of comedy.

[@kbchaffin53]

I loved this show! Part of my childhood.

[@billcoffey1062]

He had some BIG BALLS! He was a lot like JFK and was very courageous, which RFK said was the quality JFK admired most in a man. Truth was what he stood for like George Carlin.

[@ksteiger]

Just saw him at a little theater in Mill Valley.

[@lotusbuds2000]

Great. Saw him there last night.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Me too! It's too bad he had to stop due to COVID, but all the shows are on KZbin.

[@KeenerThan]

A remarkable find! Thank you for sharing.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Mort Sahl is great. There's been a ton of stuff uploaded in the last year or so on KZbin.

[@maxsmith695]

@@LoyalOpposition spamming every thread ?

[@paden57]

He had a great future in comedy if he had only let that thing with warren commission go it got him black listed and nobody would book him. At least Mort had it better than Lenny Bruce they harassed that poor guy right up to the end of his life and then to add injury to insult the police let the news photographers come in and take pictures of his dead body. .

[@cjaquilino]

When you spout unpopular conspiracy theories, you decline in popularity. There's no real secret behind his "blacklisting". But you're talking as if Sahl is just some obscure figure in standup rather than someone widely respected historically, and considered the guy who took the standup format, expanded upon it, and made it a more casual, personal, and audience interactive/improv based thing. But even that said, he *did* bounc back a bit, just not to the same heights in the 70s and beyond. He just went through an unpopular period…that was deserved, IMO. People should be able to withdraw support from people who say/do stupid things, or for any other reason they'd want to. That's they're right. He (none of us) are owed any particular level of popularity.

[@dq405]

"And you assemble her according to your needs."

[@LowescC]

christ, I was 10 years old...RIP

[@igormitic5094]

10 +

[@paulgrad5183]

Brilliant.

[@somerledislay9987]

Its criminal he aint better known , an American Treasure

[@liborstengl8187]

Hello, please could you upload the part with Karlini and Jupiter dog act? Thank you

[@alpha-omega2362]

"LBJ, the first president to put the country in his wife's name." surprised he got away with that one.

[@LoyalOpposition]

An amazing joke.. Which is probably why he did the show only once more. He was working steadily (weekly in fact) until COVID, but people ignore him. Even that weasel Jake Tapper would ask questions live (questions were open for live/online audience) and then mentioned him the next day on CNN.

[@patk1254]

Alpha-Omega Well, I don’t get that....am I dumb ?

[@alpha-omega2362]

Pat K it depends on how old you are.. LBJ became immensely wealthy during his time in politics and this was hidden by having everything put in his wife’s name and the money laundered though her. This was mentioned a few times by his opponents but did not get much coverage or traction. probably because she owned interests in Radio stations and news bureaus , I believe.

[@MrMajikman1]

@@alpha-omega2362 So that's why Kennedy didn't want Johnson for his VP for a second term. I thought I heard that Johnson was either under investigation, or about to be investigated for his shady business dealings. I believe Kennedy caught wind of that and that is why he didn't want him for VP for a second term.

[@patrickmoore3717]

A sadly missed wit thanks to the government

[@edwardstevens1438]

Laugh track?

[@Pimp-Master]

hahaHahaha...no.

[@LoyalOpposition]

no

[@doclockwood8809]

Live audience

[@johnplaid648]

Amphetamine?

[@milart12]

Not funny at all

[@Pimp-Master]

You won't find a joke, but Mario Savio being a "drop in" student was very timely for it's time, even though nobody got the joke.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Maybe it's your ignorance?

[@milart12]

@@LoyalOpposition No. Its just that he's not funny

[@unfortunatebeam]

No I think you're just depressed, chin up

[@milart12]

@@unfortunatebeam I don't follow u? Are u saying because I don't find Mort Sahl funny that I'm depressed? That's as clever as a Mort Sahl quip. A real zinger. Touche sir!!!

[@Pimp-Master]

Hated the routine, loved the laugh track.

[@unfortunatebeam]

Well I hate your username and channel pic, so what?

[@CallsItLikeISeizeIts]

Live audience

[@FreyjaDerrickson]

As an history major, I understand the 1965 political references. But WTF are people laughing? I get it; humor is subjective. But seriously, without the laughter cues, it would be impossible to even spot the "comedy".

[@liborstengl8187]

Hello, please could you upload the part with Karlini and Jupiter dog act? Thank you