The cowsills Kraft Music Hall

[@maxim1-h4e]

You gotta love that he loved to sing, act and perform, and lived to do it. Love you forever, Jack Wild

[@dreams2xs]

As a child I loved HR PuffNStuff. I had a freddie the flute I got from Kellogs from sending in box tops from Rice Krispies. I also had a Cowsills album where I fell in love with Susan. This video brought back sooooo many memories of childhood.

[@cmurdock5256]

Bob Allison- I had a whole bunch of Cowsill albums but I never got a Freddie Flute! Not fair.

[@dreams2xs]

@@cmurdock5256 The Freddie Flute came from returning 3 box tops from Rice Krispies! Got a few Whacky Racers too from box tops.

[@cmurdock5256]

@@dreams2xs I did catch that in your original post. What's not fair is my mom didn't buy Rice Krispies. She bought Corn Flakes. I guess I can consider it my mom's fault I got shortchanged on Freddy. Can't feel too bad about it in retrospect, though. I did have a Pixanne wand!Edit: Completely forgot. I also had Happy the Clown marching sticks.

[@cindybriden372]

Seeing Jack and hearing him sing always brings a smile to my face even after all these years. Susan has an amazing voice herself!! Very impressive! Thank for the feel good video!!!

[@ez8546]

I sure do miss entertainment like this. I realize the world changes, but this is certainly nice to come back to now and again.

[@MikeD_]

I agree. It makes me feel like a kid just hearing Jack Wild and the Cowsills. At least it's only a click away today.

[@ronaldrime5286]

Love the English accent Susan used in the duo with Jack Wild. Very skillfully executed!

[@auletjohnast03638]

ronald rime, Jack Wild was Jimmy in the 1969 Saturday morning kids show Pufnstuff.

[@JackAShepherd]

juan alt More importantly, he was the Artful Freakin’ Dodger! One of the best in an iconic cast. Nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

[@chainamarie03]

@@JackAShepherd Yup, he was the talented one. Lived a tragic life and died way too young at 53 yrs old.

[@maxim1-h4e]

@@chainamarie03 Not all of his life was tragic. He touched many, many people through his talent who remember him fondly and say he made them happy and when you measure life with a spiritual perspective of how many people we touch (instead how much money we make or how much property we have), then Jack Wild surely lived a successful one.

[@lisamcleod9604]

I was watching several Cowsill videos and when I tuned into this one there was Jack.What a wonderful surprise.I loved HR Puff n Stuff as a child.

[@usafvet100]

Sorry, just couldn't get into the Sid and Marty Kroft stuff, be it Pufinstuff, Lidsville, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Bugaloos, whatever. But young Jack here really did shine in "Oliver!" My favorite tune from that film was "Consider Yourself."

[@donnalombardo1135]

Too bad he had a sad life and died young

[@BadWebDiver]

Wow! A selection from the musical Oliver featuring Jack Wild and the Cowsills! Excellent!

[@dantauro4575]

Susan and Jack perform really well together. Susan sang with a lot of other singers. She was very talented at a young age.

[@susancanty2017]

She is still very talented and working in the music business.

[@grokeffer6226]

Oliver! is still one of my favorite movies.

[@melodyjones9681]

This is gold! More archival Jack Wild on KZbin. Hope we get more as the years go on. He was on lots of variety shows in the 60’s and 70’s strutting his stuff.

[@cinnamonfeenie1925]

R.I.P jack wild you were such a good Dodger ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭😭🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@bruh-nb7ds]

The Skinny Legend yes indeed ❤️

[@JackAShepherd]

The Dodger by which all others are judged

[@BadWebDiver]

So true! Pretty much defined the role!

[@Azishome]

I think she missed a great career in musical theater. She is really talented.

[@billlynn3196]

Are you kidding? Eight shows a week! She didn't have the voice stamina for that kind of work. Plus, she had pitch problems.

[@zacharyjendro3355]

@@billlynn3196 Her pitch must have been pretty good to hold down those harmonies. Every singer has some moments like that.

[@lauracrane1465]

Jack Wild died on my birthday. I was a huge Jack Wild fan .I had all of his albums including the Oliver soundtrack.

[@Wooley689]

The artful dodger and the princess. luv it.

[@rivaridge7211]

I recently watched the 1968 film "Oliver!" again and I'm always much taken with Jack Wild's wonderful (Oscar nominated) performance as the "Artful Dodger." It's even more amazing when you consider that young Jack Wild had no acting experience in his background when he was "discovered" - playing a game of soccer ("football") with a group of friends. R.I.P. Mr. Wild - thanks for all you gave.

[@billlynn3196]

I would have rather seen Davey Jones in the film but, by that time he was a Monkee​.

[@JackAShepherd]

He was a very natural talent but he was discovered years before Oliver!... He’d already done numerous gigs, the Oliver! stage musical, and was at “stage school” in London when he was cast in the film. From what I’ve gathered - from reading his memoir and from hearing/reading interviews with the cast - he was very naturally gifted and required very little coaching, directing, etc., and learned everything quickly. If you keep your eyes on him throughout the film you’ll notice he’s always, always in character, even when he’s lounging in the background of a scene. Obviously his struggles with alcohol were what destroyed his career (and life), but I also wonder if he’d’ve had more success if he’d worked with a proper coach to do different accents... He mentions in the memoir that he tried to learn to speak “middle-class,” but that all his personality went out the window without the his distinctive accent. He was only a kid at the time but I wonder if his agent/manager might’ve pushed him harder to do different regional accents - even an American accent, since he briefly moved to Hollywood for Pufnstuf - if he’d’ve had more post-Oliver! success in Britain, as the BBC uses a small pool of actors who’re expected to simulate many accents... Most significantly, an upper-class one. He was in a Beeb production in the ‘70s in which he played the son of a Lord and he toned down the Cockney but it was still quite noticeable (even to these American ears), and it detracted from the rest of his otherwise-excellent comedic performance. Apart from that series - “Keep It Up Downstairs” - he was only cast as Cockneys; I’m guessing more would’ve been available if he’d been able to get away from it. Though I suppose the alcohol would’ve got him anyway...

[@davidbaldwin8390]

@@JackAShepherd I would have liked to have seen him become more Americanized and stared in teenage young adult films and TV shows through the 1970's and early 80's. is it possible that Jack might have had a condition that hindered his adolescents from child to adult? (Perhaps Kalman's Syndrome) He was so much older for the roles he played in. Also, he was short with soft skin.

[@JackAShepherd]

@@davidbaldwin8390 I don't think so 'cause he wasn't abnormally small -- I think he was something like 5'7"? -- and never mentioned any abnormalities in his memoir... I think he was a late-bloomer. I remember in his memoir he spoke about not being remotely interested in girls till well after he was famous -- i.e., Age 16 -- and only started paying attention to his admirers once he was a bit older.

[@maxim1-h4e]

@@davidbaldwin8390 I didn't know Kallman's syndrome affected height, but you may be onto something, especially since he never became a father, despite being married twice. Then again Kallaman's syndrome has complete puberty arrest and his voice did 'break' eventually. It's possible the cigarette chain smoking was responsible too.

[@carlahubbs4347]

They are great together

[@spectrumlocalb191]

Just great met Jack Wild many years ago and what a great talent and sad to end the way he did. Thankful for uploading it was great if you find the whole show can you upload.

[@maxim1-h4e]

@spectrumlocakb191 Thank You for sharing. Would love to hear more about your meeting with Jack Wild i.e what year it was and where and how you met him, and if at all you spoke to him. Would love to hear. Thank You

[@rickn.backer1087]

OMG Susan and Jackie .............Wild! (Pardon the pun) . LOVE LOVE LOVE her........for decades now! So talented and to this day and her credit......she came through a SHIT STORM and does not get the respect and remembrance she so rightly deserves!

[@davidtifft66]

What a talented little girl she was.

[@darialinderssen1572]

This is a great video of both Jack, susan and the band, Cowsills. I loved this. I appreciate this video. Thank you for sharing it.

[@bruh-nb7ds]

Jack wild is a saint, this is the best thing my ears have been blessed with

[@SusanaSanchez-tv4sy]

How I miss you Jack Wild!!...every day.

[@maxim1-h4e]

@Susana Sanchez I have seen your comments in other places. You really are a true fan. I am just like you. I have loved Jack Wild all my life. I sort of 'forgot' about it while in the throws of growing up but as of late, I have found myself returning to my love for this wonderful person. People like us should have some kind of a support group where we can discuss him and give each other support and even pray for Jack. He will love our prayers, I think.

[@dr.michaelschmidt8103]

Incredible!! A video of Susan Cowsill (and later those "pocket-picking" Cowsill guys) with the great Jack Wild. Wow! Susan, I am so impressed, you should be so proud. Susan you and Jack look alike if you don't mind me saying it, you two looked adorable. I love Bill's facial expression in the second song when Jack moves toward you (big brothers protecting you from Jack giving you that "kiss"). This is so super cool. I am a huge H.R. Pufnstuf fan (as well as a big Cowsill fan) and have all of the Pufnstuf DVDs, plus the movie which is a must-have with Mama Cass Elliott, Billy Barty, Martha Raye, and of course Jack and Bille Hayes. Earlier I bought all of the H.R.Pufnstuf episodes on VHS. At the time that was the only VHS of Pufnstuf at the video store, and while I was leaving the store a lady offered me twice what I paid for the Pufnstul VHS's if I would sell them to her. Back then, not a chance.

[@Sammysan123]

Omg this is crazy, I didnt even KNOW about the Cowsills until recently even though they were a part of just about everything from my era! (born 1965)

[@sheilatorres5312]

I adore adore this performance! I wish someone had the entire show Did someone else see a great potential in Barry's performance, like.. he always was a great performer and dancer, maybe Barry would've killed it in musical theatre!!!

[@jdarrenfan]

Wish the whole show was on youtube

[@voulafisentzidis8830]

Wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing. Genuinely talented!

[@inkyguy]

So sad how relatively young Jack Wild was when he died at age 53. I was shocked when I came across the news. He died as a result of oral cancer shortly before midnight on 1 March 2006 after suffering from it a long time. He had been unable to speak for two years prior to his death following surgery in which his vocal cords and part of his tongue were removed.

[@auletjohnast03638]

JACK WILD WAS JIMMY IN THE 1969 SATURDAY MORNING KIDS SHOW PUFNSTUFF.

[@mikebottiaux5850]

Great memories.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Susan was so cute back then and cute today.

[@loritucker6708]

Wow..Susan sang with my childhood crush..rip Jack.

[@loritucker6708]

And the one of a kind Barry!

[@dakert40]

I love this stuff and I wonder if Susan has fond memories of doing these types of shows

[@florida5505]

Magnifique! 🤩

[@robinstelmach1976]

this is so cool !

[@lauracrane1465]

Huge Jack Wild fan. Susan is very talented young lady.

[@drumminsonlive9199]

I hadn’t seen this before... Thanks

[@dawxguy2001]

come on who would give this a thumbs down

[@JoJoGunn1956]

I did because the on-screen crap wasn't dead center. And twice as large.

[@cmurdock5256]

I remember seeing this when it aired originally. Thought they made a great pair. Have a bunch of Cowsill magazine clippings somewhere that includes Jack visiting the Cowsills at their home in California.

[@BeautifulSpirit-kf5ld]

Jack Wild, sadly, was an alcoholic by age 18. He died a horrible death from mouth cancer, at age 53, which he fought for 6 years. Had both vocal cords removed , and part of his tongue. Tragic life ---Let's not even talk about what he probably suffered as a child star in the UK.

[@Westminstermusic214]

Great video 😊

[@cnedwick]

Susie is so talented

[@getoverit2789]

Susan should have gone into musical theater!!

[@thefrontpage]

Why someone in Hollywood didn't cast Jack Wild and Susan Cowsill as the leads in a movie is a mystery. They were so talented.

[@maxim1-h4e]

Wonderful observation. Neither Hollywood, nor the U.K saw him for who he really was. Unfortunately nepotism was big in those days, and many great opportunities, (such as the one you describe) were missed.

[@pattibrooks1907]

Susan had a pretty voice as a child and still has a really pretty voice !

[@simonramsden8870]

Wonderful!

[@kaylielee-ann5131]

Crying so much ahh i miss jack :(

[@astridhst9459]

Me 2:-(

[@agutierrez1845]

Same I love jack so much he will be missed but not forgotten

[@maxim1-h4e]

I am moved to tears when I think of him even now, but I know he feels my love, and similarly the love of all those who remember him. I'm sure it surprises him, and gives him joy.

[@JEFFIE-jp6kj]

Woww, never knew Susan did a solo number .. very nice

[@cmurdock5256]

JEFFIE 2001 Susan actually did quite a few solos, leads and duets like this, aside from one on each album. Check out her appearance on the Dean Martin Show where she did a duet with Dean. She did one with her mother on Hugh Hefner's Playboy After Dark that was quite lovely. They sang Where is Love?, also from Oliver. There was the number she did with Buddy Ebsen on their special A Family Thing and on Mike Douglas took the solo lead on When I'm 64. Even short turns at Please Mr. Postman and All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth in medleys on Ed Sullivan. These are all available on KZbin. I've been searching them out as they come up in my memory.

[@JEFFIE-jp6kj]

@@cmurdock5256 THX

[@cmurdock5256]

@@JEFFIE-jp6kj My pleasure. Enjoy!

[@gageman136]

If this part of of the show exists... where is the part with Barb singing Silver Bells and the boys singing the other Christmas tune (the title escapes me for the moment)?

[@Ladimore75]

Awesome!

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

They have the same haircuts. So adorable

[@chrisest1965]

No kid in history of man kept his comb in his front pocket.

[@CastleOfThoughts]

Great rare clip. Wish the music didn't bury the vocals though

[@wildaboutjackwild6002]

I know what you mean. Here it is the music drowning, but on his albums the lousy background singers totally drown him out.

[@1401minstrel]

OMG, Jack Wild. I had such a crush on the Artful Dodger!

[@deborahrowland4264]

Yes Me too

[@dianequelch3771]

jack and I knew each other very well in London we use to go to the same party's I still see Mark. Sometimes I've moved out of London know

[@maxim1-h4e]

@dianequelch3771 That's so nice to hear, especially the fact that Jack Wild was attending parties. What years were these? And were these the parties of mutual friends? Would be wonderful if you could share some memories.

[@robinstelmach1976]

how feeekn cute

[@rainbowsend6310]

I had the hugest crush on Jack wild!

[@JackAShepherd]

Sandra Ruckel Me too and I still do :-(

[@JackAShepherd]

According to his memoir he was not that into girls - he was clearly a late bloomer... I mean, he’s 17 here - and was really intimidated by the obscene attention and occasional stalking he received as a result of his “teen-idol” fame. His first real girlfriend was a former classmate, Gaynor Jones, whom he married super young, and by the time they divorced he was so in the throws of alcoholism he never cashed in on the fame, woman-wise. His memoirs mention one other on-and-off girlfriend prior to meeting his second wife, Claire, to whom he was married when he died. He’s so cute and so confident that I expected he’d’ve had lots of women in his life, but apparently not, and when you consider he seems to’ve had delayed puberty, I suppose it makes sense.

[@spectrumlocalb191]

Jack Wild was always my favorite, but he has a rough life do fliked with drugs.

[@JackAShepherd]

spectrumlocalb191 No drugs... Just obscene amounts of alcohol. He kicked it in 1989 but he was already whisper of his former self and looked about 9463839 years old, despite still being a young man. His brother Arthur was an alcoholic too and died of complications of alcoholism. Jack stayed sober the rest of his life but was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2000, had his tongue and larynx removed, swelled up from what I assume were steroids, and looked positively freakish before he died in 2006, at Age 53. Very sad, though he was happily married to his second wife, Claire, so he had companionship, if not his health.

[@AllTheBestCO]

Jack Wild went on to become a major pothead in H.R. Puffinstuff, right. Or, so I'm told.

[@JackAShepherd]

PlanetTerra Very little drug-use... Just massive volumes of alcohol. Apparently when he was in Pufnstuf he got lots of fan-mail from stoned hippies and he had no clue what they were talking about. Source: “It’s a Dodger’s Life” by Jack Wild

[@usafvet100]

@@JackAShepherd I could easily see stoners getting into Pufinstuff, it always struck me as a bizarre show. Makes you wonder what stuff Sid and Marty Kroft were puffing!😂😂😂

[@maxim1-h4e]

Actually never a pot head. Just smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol. Pufnstuf was a wonderful show and the wonder of Jack Wild sent Sid and Marty Kroft into orbit from where they were able to create lots of other shows.

[@BILLYLAMB76]

susan and the artful dodger.....

[@antMuz]

Grande jack .

[@robynfedalen1777]

❤️🎶

[@heartachewolf]

I had such a crush on Susan, and when we watched this my dad said you can't tell the boy from the girl...I was so upset.

[@wildaboutjackwild6002]

Haha. Jack liked to wear his hair long.

[@allkindsamusicchick]

OMG!

[@ronaldrime5286]

Does anyone know what year this was?

[@ronaldrime5286]

Jack Wild was born September 30, 1952. Susan Cowsill was born May 20, 1959. Thanks for the date on this, though. I appreciate it:)

[@felipethiagojunior8846]

wow he doesnt look that much older than her.

[@davidbaldwin8390]

Probably around 1969 or 1970.

[@hatusage]

Fuck. I remember this from my childhood!

[@johnhanselman6371]

The iconic Dodger

[@loricarter4175]

Cute

[@jmen4ever257]

Read that he got cancer on his tongue , and they had to cut it out,lost his voice, before eventual early death.

[@heidifortune2298]

jmen4ever true

[@JackAShepherd]

Yup. Horrifying. He got sober in 1989 and was diagnosed in 2000 - died in 2006 at Age 53, looking like he was 153. Very, very sad, though at least he had a partner there with him (Claire, his second wife).

[@auhs70]

very cool

[@cindyjarzembinski8453]

I still have the plastic flute

[@jenniferdonlin6627]

He was almost 10 years old than her.

[@shp277]

Jack got a million dollar salary for H&R puff

[@delohazeldelohazel2262]

i want to copy this so badly but my subconscious is telling me not too

[@marksupic3083]

I wonder if the Cowsills ever thought about suing the Partridge Family tv show for it’s blatant rip-off of the family singing-right down to having Mom in the band!

[@jckhammer]

Well how could they sue the partridge family? They were offered to do the tv show but Bud Cowsill turned the offer down when the producers said no to the cowsills matriarch playing the part and that they wanted Shirley Jones to play the mother . No one to blame but the monster that was their father .

[@shp277]

the booze

[@Leonard4fishing]

Wasn’t that the kid who was in h r puffin stuff

[@astridhst9459]

Yes, it is. Jack Wild, Jimmy in H.R. Pufnstuf. :)

[@kgp1955]

lot of androgeny going on

[@rubywingo6030]

She was good but her eyes were always lacking any spark.

[@kjustsayin793]

You pirated it! You don't own it, you stole it, pirated it, use it without permission, So why not copy it?

[@ginger3467]

which one was susan?

[@johnbelvin5216]

Oh please

[@maxim1-h4e]

@ginger3467 says some worthless skank...

[@mancruz86]

Jack Wilde and Susan Cowsill, come on now.

[@mjcamck]

MANUEL CRUZ - Hello to you. I'm just seeking clarification; "Come on now," means what? Just wondering. Thank you.

[@spectrumlocalb191]

Yes who would you like Janice Joplin

[@spectrumlocalb191]

Manuel Cruz probably was smoking pot he does not know these were two of the biggest stars at the time.

[@mancruz86]

Stulta gerit, de ignorantia et in praeiudiciis.

[@conniedavis4387]

had a hard time telling them apart at first...lol AWESOME! she was 10 or 11, he was 17 here i think.

[@auletjohnast03638]

THAT WAS SUSAN BEFORE SHE BECAME A SOCIALIST LIBERAL!

[@leoniemillerl4487]

juan alt yay, Susan joined the people who care about other people.

[@evelynmagoo]

i wouldn't think any of the family now is that conservative but alright

[@auletjohnast03638]

this acct dead now lmfao, The rest of the family are.

[@evelynmagoo]

juan alt can you tell me how?

[@auletjohnast03638]

this acct dead now lmfao, I know them personally.

[@TheDoug2103]

asks right on the video please dont copy but you do anyway, you are slime,

[@rubywingo6030]

This was not that good. They can sing, no doubt. But just couldn't act...

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Everyone has their opinion as far as who can act or not..... they did OK

[@AnaComesonotante]

@@usmc-veteran73-77 Jack was an actor.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

@@AnaComesonotante I will correct myself Jack was an actor

[@AnaComesonotante]

@@usmc-veteran73-77 He's my favourite one ;)

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

@@AnaComesonotante is he from Great Britain