Stairway To Stardom (1981) - Gloria Huddle "Operator"

Stairway To Stardom (1981) - Gloria Huddle does her version of The Manhattan Transfer's "Operator" as well as some other original material.

[@maximillianarthur]

sometimes i get the feeling i'm responsible for at least 20% of those views.

[@helixator3975]

Some says she’s a Southerner doing a London accent. Others say she’s a Bostonian trying her hand at Australian or South African I say shes universal, because when Gloria performs, the whole world sees themselves in her. She just that damned good!

[@robhernandez3593]

I loved it. Really. Wow b

[@LisaMitchellGD]

OmG lol

[@discomon]

She needs to return the teeth to the Novelty Gifts Store;)

[@lorut]

😂

[@coralynndeibler6340]

Her accent is a lot like Little Edie in "Grey Gardens."

[@jasoncp514]

I didn't realize it was possible to have both a Cockney accent AND a Southern accent.

[@Fuzy2K]

I think I hear a New York accent in there somewhere too...

[@519forestmonk9]

That accent fell off the edge of human speech.

[@EdwardOberon]

This is painful

[@grantnoroyan9275]

lol

[@joebarracuda6038]

Jamaican too, the way she says Infomehshan

[@mattorrison9969]

This woman would be a perfect Twin Peaks character.

[@MyPetParadox]

LOL! Works for me ✔️

[@chipmunktubetop]

Bitch left her log on the floor.

[@careful...Icarus]

Log lady's mom.

[@aldrichuyliong8143]

Meanwhile ....

[@TheTurkaderr]

Sometimes, I randomly say to friends " Libby, come on over " when I want them to come over to me,and they look at me like I'm crazy, LMAO.

[@PetroniusArbiter2]

Truly epic unintended surrealism. Looks like something David Lynch would film.

[@AroundIndiana]

Petronius Arbiter II yes, definitely has an Eraserhead vibe

[@mr_nobody_000]

so true it feels like a cut scene from fire walk with me

[@hoggers7572]

She is similar to Dean Stockwell doing In Dreams for Frank Booth

[@supachaloopa3611]

Or an outtake from John Waters' "Cry Baby". Or a scene from "Strangers With Candy". Or a clip from ANY Chi Chi LaRue cheesy comedy porn.

[@FranzSanchez-ky9up]

She's the mutant offspring of Ben and Juana.

[@scottstewart316]

This show is a fucking goldmine.

[@EastboundAndDowns]

and NOBODY knows about it. Sam Roberts was right; you could put this on Adult Swim next Sunday, and this show would be their next Rick and Morty.

[@therealtyboogie1446]

What show is this

[@scottstewart316]

@@therealtyboogie1446 The Twilight Zone

[@OperationEndGame]

Landmine

[@reassurance]

Gloria is like an Andrea Martin SCTV character that has formed a life of its own. I love this so much.

[@italoblu]

Omg

[@superhetoric]

omg she totally is

[@Livesinashack]

I love it 😂

[@zombiedodge1426]

This is exactly the kind of TV show SCTV was spoofing.

[@nostalgia6578]

​@@zombiedodge1426And now a few words from Bobby Bittman: HOW ARE YA!!!!!

[@JamesMarionDesign]

I CAN'T STOP WATCHING THIS VIDEO SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME LIBBY PLEASE HELP ME

[@RavenWolf515]

THERE IS NO LIBBY ONLY JESUS

[@TheTurkaderr]

Libby is dead, she killed her when she wouldn't come over.

[@celesteisneat]

Still watching it, aren’t you? I think I’m going on about 15 years!

[@timothybrucato8178]

I can’t stoppppp watchinggggg

[@jrosner6123]

Im late to this, and after looking into Gloria Huddle, this was an off the cuff sort of parody- seems she did that kind of stuff on her spare time- full time, she was an educator- majorly influential in the nursing curriculum at a bronx finishing school- and her students seem to have adored her greatly. I find this vid so darned endearing, it's saved in my playlists.

[@dantefreely5850]

Once every few months or so I have to come revisit this gem 💎

[@hhaden8961]

Me Too !!!

[@LyricsTheMan]

Seriously lol. She was my teacher in highschool 🤣

[@jfmchepe]

Yes! Me too! Hehe

[@robertclifton9292]

me too

[@jasoncinema]

@@LyricsTheManHow was she, as a teacher?

[@mikegrunwald6885]

"Alfie's pulled the voice right outta me." Yep, and threw it in the fireplace, apparently.

[@walde1968]

Mike Grunwald He was *trying* to perform an exorcism.

[@LisaMitchellGD]

I made my Dad watch this Woman sing this and he didn't seem to think it was anywhere near as crazy as most of us do. He even got into it and was singing along with her. It scared me .

[@Dr_Adam]

Lol

[@LisaMitchellGD]

@@Dr_Adam It really scared me , do you have any medication to help me with that ? 👨‍⚕️🩼💊💊 😉

[@Tekknorg]

You mean he did or he did not recognize his own daughter?

[@LisaMitchellGD]

@@Tekknorg I don't really think that's funny cuz I don't think I look anything like that woman

[@cmcb09]

there's no accounting for taste, my whole family is tone-deaf yet loves to sing. We went carolling one year at a local Rest Home, In one room one of my sisters asked if he wanted to hear anything else. "Not from you people." a nephew-in-law said under his breath "Can't say I blame him"

[@Davey7358]

She reminds me of Little Edie from Grey Gardens. It's crazy uncanny!! Anyone else agree?

[@candyc.3163]

I had to go look up Little Edie and Grey Gardens and yes! She does. Now I want to see that movie.

[@SmooveTYB]

😭💀 this was my health teacher in hs. I swear she would fail you if you ever mentioned this 😂😂😂😂

[@FanBoy_Prime]

Is she alive? Can I be in her fan club?

[@enthusiasm1893]

@@FanBoy_Prime Sure come to the Storm37000 Discord Server

[@jeffcitii]

Dwc 🤣🤐

[@hotdogwater7037]

how did it feel to be around such greatness?

[@navydad8916]

Well where is she ,answer us !

[@Madhatter1932]

My friend and I quote this to each other randomly still to this day.

[@LisaMitchellGD]

😅😅

[@russelloleary9947]

Fun fact about the accent - this is how rich people from Long Island used to talk around the 1920s. By the ‘70s, you only really heard it among very old people, or people who were putting it on for an affectation. Another great example of this manner of speech can be heard in the documentary “Grey Gardens.”

[@TheTurkaderr]

We sometimes use it in a lot in old plays in the community theatre, most call it a mid-Atlantic accent. You'll find it in a lot of old Katherine Hepburn movies of the 30's and 40's. It's not really an actual accent, more of an affectation people could put on, but there's part of the country or world where people primarily spoke this way, just something they liked to do.

[@XoXo475]

Pretty sure she was just attempting a bad British accent

[@magica1355]

Lol so glad to see this after I left my comment. If you watched this with your eyes closed theres no way you wouldnt think it was Little Edie in one of her manias

[@TheTurkaderr]

@@magica1355 Oh I would have killed to see Gloria Huddle do an imitation of Lil' Edie!! I can hear it now!!!

[@jonathankieranwriter]

“You’ve reached Heaven. If you wish to speak to Jesus, press one. For the Virgin Mary, press 2. If you are currently performing on ‘Stairway to Stardom,’ please hang up and never try your call again.”

[@ArchibaldBagge]

Why do I keep coming back to Gloria? Is this what others call love?

[@LisaMitchellGD]

I do that with Al Villa so I can relate to being drawn to some of these people

[@chas.5009]

I'm partial to the youngster who sings bill haleys rock around the clock. Coo coo 😀

[@LisaMitchellGD]

@@chas.5009Michael Fobes. Have you seen Bobby Joe Carter ? You'll thank me later lol

[@blugreen123]

I always come back to Lucille Cataldo's "Hairdresser" and BJ the Messenger's "crack head" song. 😂

[@LisaMitchellGD]

I've watched this at least 10 times in the past 3 days & I'm starting to worry about myself

[@shadyganley8877]

😂😂

[@brendalee8694]

You’re fine 😅

[@LisaMitchellGD]

@@brendalee8694 lol thanks but this is a Rabbit hole , I'm in deep

[@mrrkdino]

🤣🤣

[@EverAppl14]

It’s like if someone she absolutely detested asked her to perform a number on their show and she agreed but did so seethingly the entire time. Very diva. It’s like sensuality meets aggression.

[@LisaMitchellGD]

😅😅

[@botulismcasserole9832]

She had to pay to be on the show though.

[@ah7910]

No.

[@jeff6413]

Much like when Sondra Prill performed "Nasty".

[@hounoki]

I relistened to this enough times over months that I now unironically enjoy her song if I only listen and don't watch

[@afrazzini]

God I love her accent. She sounds a little like edie from Gray Gardens..love it when she keeps on saying demo

[@markyk68]

I got that, too!!!

[@sofadviolator]

Yesssss!! I thought she was little Edie.

[@EdwardOberon]

Yes. Little Edie.

[@walde1968]

Jim Jones People's Temple survivor spittin' out some bars right here, folks!

[@taru12346]

she has a face for radio and a voice for print.

[@headron66]

😂😂😂

[@strineys.957]

😂😂😂

[@songohan3321]

I will be using this.

[@Nicole3030]

That's why you have a letter instead of a photo right???

[@supachaloopa3611]

And teeth for raking leaves. Over a fence. On a Sunday afternoon.

[@MarvelDcImage]

Someone make a movie about this public access show - just - just do it. Along the lines of the movie Ed and have Johnny Depp as the host -

[@nwajules]

Yep :)

[@zelie-catheriner52]

Amen ! Brilliant idea. Used to watch these clips here before someone yanked them. and am so glad they've resurfaced.. Unintentional Theatre of the Absurd à l'américaine at its finest, and definitely indie - filmworthy !

[@heatherblisard2984]

A friggin men!!!

[@saca4908]

Thats a pretty good idea

[@TKRYSTA85]

is she having a stroke?

[@chevken1831]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqaWh4CnnN1lg7M

[@paulcolli9841]

Either a stroke or a permanent orgasm

[@zudemaster]

Jesus would hang up on her.

[@TyphoidBryan]

...and to think, the dialogue and singing weren't even part of her act. It was all warm-up for her tap dancing routine. Needless to say, she took up most of that afternoon's episode.

[@matthewgibbs6886]

just remember all the performers had the guts to let it all hang out and thats more than most people.

[@enterthecringe7552]

Couldn't agree more. There's something very earnest about all of these performances that makes it very hard to hate on no matter how many wtf moments there are

[@dazwannawzad9272]

I have thought that with everyone of these videos I have watched!!!

[@misterhope5241]

That’s not necessarily a virtue.

[@christinemerritt974]

I AM SNAPPING MY FINGERS FOR THE LORD!!!! 😂😂😂😂 I will do ANYTHING this showstopper says❤❤❤😂😂😂😂!!

[@TheMaxxbiff]

I absolutely love all these acts! Just raw passion! This is the best of humanity!

[@petersokol1603]

You should try and get to know a better class of people.

[@Dangeroso]

"There is no Dana, only Zuul."

[@Jobeens]

Bwahahha hahaha.... Are you the Gate Keeper?

[@NPRMc]

Operator, information, get a dentist on the line.

[@vakuumkleener]

“Læbbeh! Come oveh hǎre”- Gloria Huddle, 1987

[@Sharronneedles13]

'81***

[@candacen10]

OMG. Ms.Huddle. this woman works at my school. I am just now finding this out. Omg......

[@katherinepearce640]

cantits aayyeee

[@katherinepearce640]

you fuckn lagga

[@candacen10]

+katherine pearce yo Sharion said that when her sis used to go to the school she played the song while ms huddle was subbing and she kicked her out the class room. Omg so many ppl from our school is famous hahah😂😂😂

[@candacen10]

+katherine pearce I really don't like her as a sub. the next time Waite Johnson is out and she subs I'm gonna play this and see if she kicks me out. 😆😆

[@candacen10]

+katherine pearce she said Libby so many times I'm here thinking Wentworths Libby tanner

[@Unique77783]

I bet she never knew how much people would adore her

[@Unique77783]

I just finished watching the full episode with the host interviewing her and he didn't get it at all!!!!!! 🤦🏾‍♀️ she definitely had a great sense of humor and she would flourish in today's time. I hate that others didn't understand her back then.

[@LisaMitchellGD]

Or fear her

[@KTraska82]

@@Unique77783 I wish she could talk about it today. It would really help put everything into perspective. Unfortunately, I doubt she's interested.

[@TurdDoodlesworth]

I converted to Islam because of this video.

[@jazzbo13]

I died!

[@user-pt1cz4ot1e]

Be an atheist. No god makes them way angrier than different god. 🤣

[@Tekknorg]

You got 27 of these?

[@nwajules]

CanNOT stop watching this. I adore so much about it, but esp how she tries to start singing with Manhattan Transfer, one of the best vocal groups ever, singing one of the hardest songs ever. When she realizes she just CANNOT do it, she committs to the gospel/pulpit interpretation (or, do u think she planned it that way?). Articulate banter: "...you sitting in the tv land...". My first thought was also 'Little Edie'. Very well written monologue as a lead in. Thank u so much for perserving and posting STAIRWAY TO STARDOM!

[@arbzombie]

I agree , I'm fascinated with her. Great Piece of Art

[@dianearchen8368]

She should have listened to libby

[@arbzombie]

Why? How awful.

[@Buttermilkjug]

Cory Alan Whitehurst.. You are a horrible person~ Shame on you~

[@LisaMitchellGD]

This is a great evaluation and commentary of her performance

[@sarahb1862]

0:56 OH GOD... She does the most frightening eye roll thing!!!!

[@dangranados974]

lizard people

[@celesteisneat]

My mom is a total maniac and when I was little if she got a little over the edge and her eyes did that I knew to run!

[@joe.schmo_1_]

@@celesteisneat 😰

[@supachaloopa3611]

🙄 She's coming for you Sarah.... Wait, come back, she just wants to take you to church! 😇

[@WiseGuy02]

It's like a shark devouring a seal

[@TheTurkaderr]

After I watched this the first time years ago, I would start greeting people who walked by with " Libby, come on over ! ", LOL, they would run like hell.

[@LisaMitchellGD]

😅😅

[@doImatrix01]

that split screen effect was pretty sweet.

[@markyk68]

Little Edith Bouvier Beale finally got her big break!!!!!

[@sarahb1862]

I can't get over this woman. I just can't...

[@TeeVeeGames]

Whoa... split screen? They bust out the top shelf special effects for this act!

[@LaLunaFilms3000]

Operator? Information. Gimme JEYSES...own the line. I love it.

[@marvinlotts6368]

Those droopy eyes...intoxicating. 'Every man and every woman is a star'. A Crowley

[@supachaloopa3611]

'Everybody Is A Star'. P. Cowley

[@iVenge]

this should have like 8 million views

[@Dr_Adam]

I agree

[@johnmulder1927]

her version is a understatement

[@gavinpeacock1601]

If Gloria is still alive she must at least be in her 80s now considering this was from 40 years ago

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

She's a good actress. I think is more performance art. I don't think she was bad. I still don't understand who she's doing when she's talking to "Libbie, though".

[@Primus789]

Hahaha oh man....

[@kimmoses6397]

+Meade Skelton - I have to agree with you...it feels like a performance art - wish we had the lead in before her performance ..

[@Bryanissmiling]

I need to know everything about this woman. please send me info. I'm obsessed.

[@mattorrison9969]

I'm obsessed too. Did you find out anything?

[@Bryanissmiling]

She was a health teacher at some point

[@candacen10]

+Bryan Melhuish she works at my school😆😆

[@Bryanissmiling]

I need full Intel. No stone unturned plz.

[@candacen10]

Bryan Melhuish I had her as a sub last year and I literally just found out about this video through a friend. I don't really know much about her i am sorry to say. As of now she is old and works at my school still but she has shorter hair. Not many kids like her though for some reason, and she is always kicking kids out of the classroom. she looks about fed up with life.

[@robhernandez3593]

Wow! I was blown away by her performance. Please just watch her, she’s pretty inspiring.

[@mattorrison9969]

I want more recordings from her!

[@magpiemaniac]

Gloria is the Red Sovine of Stairway to Stardom.

[@drrnfl]

Dear GD. At 0:58 her eyes flick upward into her head. What the hell was that??

[@tonelemoan]

+cat thornberg yes a lot of God-botherers do this I've noticed. It's either a genuine moment of transcendence or... a petit mal seizure. Both of which are identical depending on whether you're a theologist or a neuroscientist.

[@Tekknorg]

MK Ultra

[@iVenge]

they call it a seizure

[@alankelly-hamm2702]

You have to admit, she is truly original!

[@maximusdecimus888]

Is Libby a voice in her head?

[@greenbanana311]

Libby says awww yeah

[@methebee]

She is beautiful 😍

[@jasoncinema]

So apparently according to her "singing" is just talking over a song playing in the background.

[@GrumIsMe]

It worked for William Shatner, sort of.

[@TheRealCantaraBella]

Shatner did it better

[@Tekknorg]

Better than Rihanna

[@ruthiemay423]

How ya spose to snap yer feengers if ya holdin hanz??? 😂😂😂 Found my clone in 2024.

[@blugreen123]

They truly just let *anybody* on this show, didn't they? 😲

[@sofadviolator]

As long as you made your payment to Edie, you could shoot your shot!

[@iVenge]

@@sofadviolatorEvie, with a V.

[@timtapscott8737]

Sad thing is when this lady died her kids will still be left with this. Hallelujah

[@SimirJohnson]

OMG. Hahaha

[@ah7910]

Have some sensitivity Tom, and your bully companionship Simir. She is still alive, could read your comments, as could her children.

[@SimirJohnson]

I can assure you she never had any children and she is no longer alive.

[@richardjeraj]

She "sang" away her constipation so well that she shit her pantsuit. Thank you Jesus. OH YES.

[@phattebytch]

"Go on ovah to the recordah!"

[@bryannavarro13]

Directed by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim.

[@ernestcruz6316]

Wow...just...wow...

[@alexherbst9477]

"Operator, give me cheeses!"

[@Neilpoe]

I need to know who 'Libby' was!!!

[@dogandchris]

Libby and Alfie were the original owners of the spooky old house that Gloria grew up in. She usually only hears them at night, but they couldn’t pass up the chance to appear on amateur regional tv.

[@RavenWolf515]

In fairness, I was not actually wondering why she had the new hairdo or new clothes.

[@mellys910]

Omg that was my high school health teacher!! Too weird!!

[@cathydiane2558]

You can’t just post this comment without details

[@mellys910]

@@cathydiane2558 sorry there is not much to say. She was my high school health teacher back in 2008 aka very long time ago. Didn't even know she was a singer or had this past. She had a medical background was more on the serious side but we would get her to smile sometimes lol she was nice but always strict on the medical side for our internships. She taught at my high school in the bronx ny at DeWitt Clinton high school. No clue if she is still there.

[@WiseGuy02]

​@@mellys910I don't think "singer" is the right word.

[@jrosner6123]

​@WiseGuy02 this seems to be a comedy type routine- funny thing, if you hone in, she's a low contralto, and is dead nuts in tune.

[@KTraska82]

@@mellys910 I'm glad you got her to smile.

[@iVenge]

I remember her perfomance of this on _Morning Prayer with Skott and Behr._

[@magica1355]

If you told me this was Edith Beale I'd believe you 🤣

[@valerief1231]

I love her confidence, that really was a great performance, I hope she sang and performed in at least her community.

[@zeroeffects88]

So many questions...

[@jonnuanez7183]

I thought she was going to sing Operator by Midnight Star. That I'd love to hear from her.

[@zombiedodge1426]

Let her do Operator by Jim Croce, too.

[@jonnuanez7183]

@@zombiedodge1426 Those 3 songs would make an interesting medley in capable hands. In her hands...🤢😂

[@ferociousgumby]

It's been a good life (until I saw this). POW!

[@robertclifton9292]

Shes really displaying a true mastery of her craft, such range and diction.

[@StephanieVelaAnderson]

She's a goddess.

[@drrnfl]

....of the underworld

[@peterson969]

I'd hire her for a party.

[@williambirmingham1074]

Where is Chuck Barris! She needs to be on the Gong Show!

[@dejarauhl]

my health teacher

[@jasoncinema]

Is she still alive? What kind of a teacher was she? Did she cringe anytime anyone mentioned this?

[@Elphaba88]

this is great!

[@RobertLassche]

I wanna put a cast iron pot on my head and bang it with the soup ladle.

[@homer2369]

I wish there were reaction shots of the crowd, especially during her weird as FUCK intro monologue thing... I'm sure it would have been priceless!!!

[@hotdogwater7037]

that intro is the best thing this show has ever produced

[@trikywu]

"Operator, please tell that fake cockney lady I'm not home." Jesus

[@JANXDPDX]

it's very "Grey Gardens"

[@realSethMeyers]

"Alright? And then you're gonna see how I'm gonna sing the demo. LIBBY."

[@amandanellie7271]

This is what people had to do before there was KZbin.

[@Denise_Suzanne]

And, yet. We are on KZbin watching it. Find an episode of Kids Incorporated. That is what I was watching during these years. Stars a young Fergie. Lol

[@petersokol1603]

This is the best comedy channel……EVER.

[@mattravick3349]

I worked with this woman for several years. She is quite a character. I have stories.

[@JRIJR75]

Matt Ravick we need the stories!!!

[@GCWild]

Omg I need to know

[@cathydiane2558]

Tell the stories, bitch

[@JaJaM.C.]

WHAT A TEASE.

[@mattravick3349]

Ok, jeez. I guess you guys want to know the deal with Ms. Huddle. She taught health and nursing at a high school in the Bronx. I was a counselor there. She was still working in like 2013, at which point she had to be in her 70s. She was oblivious about youtube. One of the students found this video and of course word spread around the school. The kids used to sing this song in her class. I tried to explain to her that she was on youtube but she insisted she wasn't. It was just weird because at work she was extremely buttoned-up, very serious about everything, this was not a side of her any of us ever saw. Other than that she was just a character, as you might expect.

[@randall2034]

Maya Rudolph needs to do a parody on her lol 😂

[@dawnhasbroken6304]

She's already a parody of herself.

[@Unique77783]

I tagged her in it in Instagram 🤞🏾

[@aphotic_grae]

This is my new favorite thing.

[@iVenge]

She is superb. She deserved much, much more fame and attention.

[@maxsteele3359]

As a comic maybe

[@LisaMitchellGD]

Yeah she's great.

[@backedup39]

Somehow she manages to mangle two or three different accents at the same time

[@naostal]

Can't stop watching this

[@michaelgraves2378]

I came here from Instagram....NGL Issa lil bit 🤏 of a bop!!!!

[@tonelemoan]

Not much freaks me out. This did. Utilising the old, if you can't sing it then just speak it style.

[@n.b.1483]

That opening monologue is one for the ages