TV Misc Bloopers - 1950s-60s

[@Jackinbarr]

For 55 seconds, Jack Benny doesn't say a word...he just lets the crowd react to him. The master of comic timing, An absolute legend of entertainment.

[@kennethwalker4551]

The video quality is just as good as it was on our old TV with rabbit ears and aluminum foil extenders.

[@iantempleton313]

I lost it when the perfume lady just yelled "SHIT!" 😂

[@DLAN-jb3hb]

The fact that it was Arlene Francis was even funnier!

[@melissaferguson5892]

Growing up in the 60s . Best childhood memories.

[@HistoricHomePlans]

Jack Benny is one of the funniest people who ever lived!

[@AustinCasey]

Historic Home Plans True! 😆

[@mariarooney6262]

If you grew up at that time you might have loved this. Such a fun era.

[@amyrose1763]

These shows were so fun! Jack Benny, captain kangaroo, every other commercial in those days were for cigarettes. I found ones the flintstones did for Winston right here on you tube. The flintstones sold beer. On shows every other commercial was for smokes and everyone on the shows smoked! So many kids from that era grew up smoking including me. Now I'm on oxygen 24/7 and have had lung cancer. My husband had surgery for lung cancer but passed away from lymphoma. That was terrible the way they peddled those things.

[@JOYOUSONEX]

Now I understand why my dad's house kept falling apart. He used those damn Lexon nails !!!

[@mikerca]

That was the first time I saw that Jack Benny sketch. Now that was funny !

[@luisreyes1963]

Host: "Why do they say Never Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth?" Groucho Marx: "Have you tried the other end?" 🤣

[@ellenmurphy2150]

Some of these were really funny! Thanks to whoever posted them.

[@orchardist6559]

Thank you so much for a great laugh.

[@freeguy77]

I think I've seen that lady "undress" at 22:55 in a blooper clip years ago! Funny stuff, and thanks for re-posting that classic bit

[@Marcel_Audubon]

I remember watching Discovery '63 with Frank Buxton and Virginia Gibson ... shocked that I can remember their names after all these years, but I always watched it in the early '60s

[@HimynameisJermHicks]

I saw a 'blooper' like this that wasn't supposed to be aired in about 2001 some lady news reporter freaked out and cussed at her camera people and the whole thing was recorded secretly. It was awesome she was shown to be the jerk she really was.

[@lastmanstanding2622]

It's amazing to see the quality of Dish TV hasn't changed over the years.

[@anthonymascioli319]

Lastman Standing ‘

[@anotherhunkydory]

When it first came out I only got the networks and cw it cost $22

[@adamantman3200]

Based on stories I've heard about Dish's 'Iron Fist' treatment of customers and employees alike, you'd think a better name for them would be 'Douche TV'!!

[@dagnabbit6187]

@@adamantman3200 I never bit because I have seen it go out at bars that have it when a storm came. I said " No Thanks ! "

[@adamantman3200]

@@dagnabbit6187 "DAGNABBIT" is one of my favorite words. I use it all the time, dagnabbit!

[@davidratcliffe1]

Jack Benny said more with a look than anyone

[@dagnabbit6187]

daviddratcliffe1 Best straight man there ever was and he knew that any laugh the people around you get makes you look good too. Contrasts that to the later stage hog egoist comics that came along.

[@ITILII]

Groucho used words better than any other comedian; Jack used silence far better than 90% of comedians can use words.

[@thomaslong8401]

My opinion. That bit was planned.

[@sherryshane9797]

We watched jack benny all the time good clean show

[@HemlockRidge]

The Master of Pregnant Pauses.

[@cherylthorpe4087]

Jack Benny - true comedic genius. They don't make them like him anymore.

[@johnprovince5304]

This is why I miss live TV every day.

[@TheApoohneicie]

Captain Kangaroo was the most wonderful person. Dearly miss that man.

[@vxenon67]

aaaahh I miss Captain Kangaroo. sob.

[@3RI6UY0]

vxenon67 are you calling Captain Kangaroo an s.o.b?

[@ferociousgumby]

21:15 I remember Mr. Green Jeans singing "please spread your tail" to a peacock. Maybe heard it once when I was 4 or 5 - weird

[@yorkclassicmusic4417]

ferociousgumby I can't find the song on KZbin

[@nonhominid]

the jack benny one was an actual skit.

[@tracymurray6840]

I hope it was

[@davidhalling4473]

"If the unexpected happens, I never panic." (Something unexpected happens.) "SHIT!"

[@garyfrancis6193]

That surprised me from Arlene Francis my grandmother I never met.

[@jazzmanchgo]

Still not quite sure what the blooper was on that Linkletter ad segment, except that he couldn't stop laughing.

[@luisreyes1963]

Just your average case of the live TV giggles. 😁

[@rmacbobco]

I bet George Takai sends that dude Christmas presents every year

[@hiyapal7719]

22:50 What *was* she thinking??? ... And in a *dress* too. 😂😂😂

[@spoonshouse9542]

Some of this was truly warped!

[@jonnyq680]

are you complaining?

[@kpyng]

Mr. Clean looks very different from what I always remember...

[@DLAN-jb3hb]

Maybe it was his girlfriend, lol!

[@jonnyq680]

ruff! ruff!

[@privatebubba8876]

Mrs. Clean.

[@Mr05Chuck]

Mr. Clean and jerk

[@im1who84u]

0:54 "Are you going to hunt for Indians?"....... Oh...... My......... God...... That would never go over today.

[@davanmani556]

im1who84u squeezing bosoms?

[@paulohara8967]

0.16 is even funnier. Not sure that a Christian right corresponds to a Jewish practice.

[@bxdanny]

He probably meant a Christian "rite", but it's not, it's a Jewish one.

[@zyxmyk]

that's what I thought. I'm from Oklahoma. they're US citizens.

[@Jack21Spades]

It shouldn't have gone over then.

[@pattibrooks1907]

Love Bloopers and mistakes !

[@jonnyq680]

And that true tobacco taste!

[@huntingthekaiser6490]

This is a good one. People on tv in the 50s were so upright and rigid that when they screwed up or were spoofed by the control booth it was great.

[@mikeowen657]

propriety was more important then

[@v-town1980]

People in the 50s were so uptight?! LOL. You can say this with a straight face while more and more "uptight" people nowadays are getting offended or upset about any little thing? Political correctness has made the majority into uptight gits.

[@huntingthekaiser6490]

When I was a kid in the 50s you couldn't say poopie out loud in mixed company, let alone on t.v., and that's a fact. Reactions to things even a little off-color on television were straight out of the Victorian era. So those shows are humorous to look back on. Today's p.c. culture is more profane by a magnitude of ten, and people are difficult to shock. You can be as filthy or provocative as you want as long as you don't puncture politically sacred cows. The results of doing that at present are scary, not funny. You can lose your job or your bank account.

[@tyrssen1]

Ah, the days of live television!

[@goyadressunofficial]

Actually most of this was on tape.

[@erwin5948]

This is so funny 6:50 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cactuseli]

So funny! William Shatner, wow !! What a surprise too.

[@entertainment-byiamscyence]

I'm here enjoying.. 2019

[@Marcel_Audubon]

Arlene Francis turns out to be the little vulgarian.

[@whackattack4634]

That s actually not Arlene Francis but Betsy Somethingorother....she was also on candid camera for a time

[@friendofdorothy9376]

@rob glinka You are referring to Betsy Palmer there on the “I’ve Got A Secret” clip. They are referring to Arlene Francis in the Arpege perfume commercial clip where she shockingly says s*it.

[@AustinCasey]

She’s so elegant and sexy then... “SHIT!” Lol Pretty surprised you see her like that.

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

@@friendofdorothy9376, Betsy Palmer was unique. I think she died recently.

[@dadoctah]

No surprise. Her first movie role was in "Murders in the Rue Morgue", where she played a character billed only as "woman of the street".

[@dagnabbit6187]

I remember that trashy , low class show queen for a day. I was just a kid & my reaction was pew It definitely predated Jerry Springer & the Kartrashians by 40 plus years

[@pgh45rpms]

22:10 -- That's Cliff Arquette without the Charley Weaver costume.

[@monicarwells2]

I almost woke up my baby I screamed so loud when that fool said circumcised 😬😩

[@DaTurdburglar]

Note to self: Do not buy nails made of Lexan.

[@pegbars]

There aren't many actual "bloopers" in this. It's mostly gag reels that were never intended for air.

[@12artman]

These are the original TV bloopers long before Dick Clark and few ever saw them. People really like the stars they grew up watching and you're probably too young to remember most of these people. I love 'em because I'm a geezer and they make me feel like, well, a geezer.

[@Domarius64]

DAVID BADGLEY - pegbars is right - a lot of these are just gag reels, not actual bloopers. Eg. the surprise stripping.

[@eriksmith6873]

@@Domarius64 Honestly, I thought the Jack-Benny-and-the-stripper clip might have been something real. Notice how he had two guys just offstage with a wheeled piece of wallboard they could haul out as a "screen?" That must have been planned in advance. But the shot with the boobs? That never could have aired, not even by accident. That took forethought, and had it aired it would have been a career-killer for anyone involved.

[@pedmst]

Very enjoyable in the beginning when even bloopers were cute, people laughing at themselves. Then the language became foul as well as the actors angry and crude and no longer funny or enjoyable to watch.

[@genkatqltr8517]

@@pedmst Too reminiscent of today. 😝😢👎👎

[@kevinmcgiffin10]

Linkletters stoned man !!!

[@janetlieb2507]

Love that!LOVE PAT cat girl!!🧜‍♀️sirena!!

[@pattibrooks1907]

Love to watch listen to bloopers !! Its so funny so many of them have me die Laughing so hard !!

[@crlguitar1]

I love bloopers... I remember one from 'Pardon My Blooper' that said, Dad will love Wonder Bread's fresh delicious flavor, too... So remember....Its Wonder Bread, for the Breast in Bed!

[@roberthaworth9097]

The TV crew punk'd Jack Benny good at 7:00!

[@chrisroberts9516]

Cool. Thanks for posting!

[@snowangelgirl1]

That bunny in the begining is so cute. Hug bunny.

[@heru-deshet359]

That's Betty White at 15.50 talking about "Love Pat" makeup. What a knockout!!

[@jerryshunk7152]

Heru- deshet I don't think it's Betty White.

[@snc0023]

No it’s not

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

Bsrbara Britton of Mr. and Mrs. North fame, I think, with a different hairstyle than usual. That's her voice, though.

[@johnfraraccio99]

Lest we be heard to complain about the quality of televised entertainment today...not all these are bloopers. Behold the infancy of "Almost Live TV" when videotape gave you maybe one chance at a retake but plenty opportunities for setups. I don't doubt Jack Benny gets one but his recovery is priceless. Two entertainers you dared not pull a gaffe on: Red Skelton (who you don't see here) and Henry Morgan (who you do). Indeed, that's a William Shatner sighting at 9:55, and even then he shows. Presence. An all-too-brief sample of Nichols and May. I can only guess the host at 11:25. And sadly without sound at 23:13 is Discovery '63, which I very likely haven't seen since...well, '63...with Frank Buxton and Virginia Gibson.

[@MrKenichi22]

excellent find

[@fluff1353]

John Daly could adlib with the best of them.

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

9:03 the one moment I thought Bill Cullen was going to break up the place with a remark...and didn’t!

[@ginseattle]

I had heard the "circumcised" / "circumscribed" comment before on audio - I never realized Adlai Stevenson did it!!

[@jonnyq680]

Neither did he!

[@OofusTwillip]

The "Queen For a Day" sketch (starts at 18:01) is Mike Nichols and Elaine May.

[@OofusTwillip]

They're also in the Western sketch that follows it. I'm familiar with their other sketches, but I'd never heard of these.

[@ferociousgumby]

Also, Betty Comden and Adolph (f?) Green(e)? What are THEY doing in this? It seems surrealistic, like some Ernie Kovacs thing.

[@dagnabbit6187]

OofusTwillip Queen For a Day actually laid the groundwork for the TV cheese that would come along later. It was one of the worse shows of all time yet it was ahead of its time. This may be a sketch but it was actually a TV Show in the early 60s . I was definitely no child prodigy and at that age had I no critical acumen but when I watched it as an early elementary school kid , I couldn't believe its stupidity and tackiness and the uneducated adults who appeared on the show . That sketch was actually closer to the real thing than being a mere satire.

[@jazzmanchgo]

Didn't realize it was May and Nichols, but I should have. Geniuses, both of them. And yes, Dag, you're right -- that was a creepy friggin' show. "Pain porn," I'd call it now.

[@44032]

I think that's also Arlene Francis in the clip at 22:48. She guest hosted Jack Paar's tonight show 52 times from 1958-62 and also helped fill in after he left while Johnny Carson was preparing to take over on four more occasions. I wish I knew who the lady was doing the ill-advised hand stand.

[@b3j8]

Arlene Francis was on every show she could get on! Got tired of seeing her!

[@dapoppa2256]

“Politicians are a lot like diapers. They should be changed frequently, and for the same reasons.” ― Benjamin Franklin

[@bobbygarrison3122]

Did the postmaster general really say that.

[@pamh.5705]

"They Both should"

[@dapoppa2256]

@captmitty Some think Mark Twain did, but Ben was first.

[@dapoppa2256]

@captmitty Look it up for yourself...

[@dapoppa2256]

@captmitty Look "Dummy" I will not debate this with a person who has not studied enough to understand the quote. “Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.” ― Thomas Jefferson

[@laurenallen7346]

I like The Flintstones smoking! Yup-good for ya!

[@timfronimos459]

Betsy Palmer was a beauty.

[@RayPointerChannel]

While a few things slipped out over the air, not many of these things actually went out. They were very CAREFUL in those days because the FCC license required a compliance with Standards of Good Practice..

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

Cliff Arquette, great ad-libber. Wish I knew who he was paired with...

[@ernestcruz6316]

Somebody posted that clip as part of a blooper reel, and I asked that same question. Someone answered back that it was Kay Medford.

[@1954crc]

At 7:26 Jack Benny actually did accidentally trip.

[@primmoore6232]

9:55 - satisfying video of a young *William Shatner* getting a beat down.

[@b3j8]

Funny, but embarrassing for Adlai Stevenson to make that slip in front of the whole United Nations! He recovered pretty well tho.

[@lorettatayor5840]

kent's micronite filter had fiberglass or asbestos in them, don'tcha think? For that smooth taste! I thought that dancer was gonna drop her! the guy almost hit his nail with that hammer!

[@renerenatorivera9062]

I saw most of these as a a kid in NYC.

[@jonnyq680]

And look at you now!

[@gerrynightingale9045]

*Liked the skit w/Elaine May & Mike Nichols...they were a famous 'comedy duo' in the 'old days' so this was an actual skit, not a 'blooper' or 'gag' spot...May became a writer/producer/director in the '60's...and so did Nichols* ( *I think he had some small successes as a 'Director'* )

[@GrantTarredus]

Gerry Nightingale May is absolutely hilarious in the Woody Allen film Small Time Crooks.

[@dadoctah]

Nichols directed The Graduate, Catch-22, Carnal Knowledge, Silkwood, Biloxi Blues, Working Girl, The Birdcage, and Primary Colors. May directed The Heartbreak Kid and (ahem) Ishtar, and wrote Heaven Can Wait, Reds, Tootsie and Labyrinth.

[@gerrynightingale9045]

@@dadoctah *Thanks, 'Captain Obvious'*

[@MrKenichi22]

I kinda like this, shows early TV is no different from TV today

[@goyadressunofficial]

Definitely a CBS gag reel, possibly shown at a company gathering.

[@beeonthyme5760]

Captain kangaroo had a magic drawing board that fascinated me. And one of my favorite trivia questions is what is Tom Terrific's dog's name?

[@ernestcruz6316]

Just in case no one got back to you by now: Tom Terrific's dog was Mighty Manfred.

[@noisepuppet]

some of this looks like a David Lynch movie

[@onefootinthegroove39]

noisepuppet I was watching this, and as soon as I saw 14:57 to 15:40 I checked to see if this was your video.

[@ZootWorld1]

Fancy seeing you here! Big fan of your work by the way.

[@hebneh]

That doesn't look like a NAIL made of Lexan, it looks like a screw - in which case it wouldn't work well being hammered into wood.

[@guysmalley]

hebneh don’t be one of those guys

[@paulohara8967]

Yes, should have used a screwdriver. Might have saved some embarrassment.

[@RetroCaptain]

It appeared to be a Ring Nail (the ridges keep it from wiggling loose).

[@donnadell9118]

@ 18:10 ..... Absolutely hilarious!

[@tats5880]

Watching this video, it's a no wonder. People of early tv didn't go blind.

[@f2mel2]

2:46 Is that Arlene Francis? What's my line? Born in 68 but feel the hots for that woman!!!

[@wendelwilliams1425]

Nope. Betsy Palmer

[@f2mel2]

@@wendelwilliams1425 WOW! Just perused her photo gallery on line.

[@MerynCadell]

Actually, it IS Arlene Francis. Unmistakable voice, unmistakable heart necklace, unmistakable hair. : )

[@privatebubba8876]

Just like on our old Philco cabinet BW TV.

[@fonso1030]

Did Arlene Francis just say shit?! 👏👏😂😂

[@justplainbrad7713]

fonso1030 So that was Arlene Francis at 02:24 the arpege girl? My eyes are not good, and the video is unclear, but that voice stood alone. Funny how some stand out...with a far nicer tone than most...and her voice certainly did stand out.

[@fonso1030]

jUSTpLAINbRAD that’s her, and yes, I agree, everything about Arlene stood out, she was a class act!

[@RobertBlevins]

'Goddamnit...no more beads.' That was Elaine May.

[@markkinsler4333]

Thank you. She was splendid. I wish I knew who all the others were.

[@Hypnotictranceformations]

Art Linkletter!

[@jewgirl952]

What the heck was "Spread your tail?" This is something I would see when I had a high fever!

[@cskiles318]

Donna Manning 😂😂

[@ernestcruz6316]

The clip was fitness show hostess Debbie Drake. The song was an audio clip of Mr. Greenjeans from Captain Kangaroo singing a song entitled "Spread Your Tail".

[@walterweddle7644]

I miss Captain Kangaroo and dipping Oreos in milk.

[@tinklvsme]

@6:00 She looks way older than 23 more like 29!

[@50zcarsman]

Her whole self-introduction was BS. "Never been in show business"; "Mother is headmistress at a girls' private academyl" etc. when the whole time she was nothing but an ecades, um, an ecadysia, uh, a STRIPPER!

[@TerryB751]

At 11:07 when those cigarette commercials always talked about how flavorful smoke is. Give me a break. Never made any sense then or now and I'm 64 and always thought it was idiotic.

[@rbell38340]

Winston cigarettes was the sponsor of the Flintstones when they first came out. Think they weren’t targeting kids for future customers? Fred sang “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should “

[@bemore1134]

Maybe, maybe not. The Flintstones was geared largely towards adults, even though it was animated.

[@BlueLineGroovy]

Genuine smiles ..

[@Charlotte-wp9rf]

Didn’t show the live Alpo commercial by Ed McMahon. The dog wouldn’t eat the food. Hehe.

[@lucyterrier7905]

Television used to be great. The writers were creative. Today, the writing is terribly stale and the actors are awful.

[@heru-deshet359]

A young and beautiful Betty White at 16:10.

[@eriksmith6873]

As I watch these old clips from live television of the '50s, I'm struck by how primitive they seem -- and yet how real they are. The medium was being invented. Nothing was polished. And these were real people, trying to figure out how one performs on television. Oh, the content is interesting enough -- this must have been the equivalent of a studio party reel. Some clips could never have aired. But far more interesting to me is that this is the way people who worked in television during its infancy goofed off.

[@leondillon107]

Kesham was the original Clarabelle. He was the second to play Chief Thunderthud on the old "Howdy Doody Show".It's false that no one saw his face. You left out The Bubble Dancer from "The Soupy Sales Show !!!!

[@dabunnyman9133]

Man that is a bunch of really rare clips.

[@roberthaworth9097]

Believe the "spread your tail" gal at 21:15 is pop bodybuilder Jack LaLanne's wife, in a clip from their show. They had a "typical rumpus room" set like that.

[@ernestcruz6316]

The woman in the clip was actually one of Jack La Lanne's competitors, Debbie Drake.

[@50zcarsman]

The Benny bit was obviously a put-up job by the crew, to embarrass Jack. It worked, but he's such a pro.

[@fromthesidelines]

13:48- "DOUGLAS EDWARDS WITH THE NEWS" (1960)

[@janetlieb2507]

I pick the stripper and hula girl for president!!!🧜‍♀️

[@intotheabyssoftheunknown4479]

Allright I won an iron lung! 😲

[@janetlieb2507]

Your behind is an extremely steamed machine!!!!

[@freeguy77]

The lovely, demure, gracious, and charming lady of "What's My Line?" fame, Arlene Francis, comes out with a great curse (not the F word) at 2:51! Wonderful to show her more human side for once! ROTL!!! I love how Art Linkletter keeps losing it from his earlier flub. Outstanding bits of errors done even by the most seasoned and experienced tv performers! That is not the famous Mr. Clean at 4:39! :-)

[@bklynp718]

Rolling Over To laugh? What is ROTL?

[@freeguy77]

@@bklynp718 NO! ROTFL= Rolling On The Floor Laughing. I inadvertently left off the F. Sorry about that, Chief!

[@not-so-smartaleck8987]

14:56 The hula dancer was sexy, but the added sound effects were awwww-ful....

[@ianmichalski7997]

What a lot of people don't remember is that the slogan for Cartier at the time actually was "Designed by Cartier, shit!" with the expletive meaning to serve as a shocked expression of surprise the consumer will feel over the quality and quantity of fine products. This was all part of a media shock campaign that utilized expletives in order to grab the consumers attention. Other such slogans from this time include "Holy fuck! It's a DeSoto!" and "Love that damn Colgate!"

[@johnperrigo6474]

oooooo k.

[@adamantman3200]

That must be where 'Let Ford Motors screw you with an Edsall' came from.

[@michaelfisher9722]

Or, from DeSoto's fellow brand, "That's a Chrysler? You're shitting me!"

[@adamantman3200]

@@michaelfisher9722 I refer to the Smart Car as, "There's one of those fugly little roller skates, the STUPID car! Jezuz!" Does this count?

[@hamscher]

Arrant nonsense.