Several years ago I did a zine called Generation Exploitation. It lasted about five issues until the inflation of photocopy costs crippled my hobo bank account. Generation Exploitation was never particularly significant, collecting dust in the few book stores that bothered to maintain a zine section long after the do-it-youself boom subsided. An exception was Baltimore, where it became inexplicably popular and I eventually found myself funneling dusty, unsold issues from places like Quimby's in Chicago, and sending them over to Atomic Books where they consistently sold out.
Generation Exploitation was not particularly good. However, the second issue did feature a lengthy interview with comedy record legend Woody Woodbury. I was twenty-three years old at the time I chose to interview the eighty-one year old man whose face was so familiar to thrift store vinyl sections. It was the first interview I ever conducted and it received a fine response. People were saying that I should start interviewing all the old comedians before they die. I would reply, "Yes, yes I should," and of course never did anything. I have enough anxiety palpitating through my chest when I have to phone my relatives, let alone a famous hero of mine.
Earlier this year I received a writing assignment that gave me little choice but to confront such anxieties head on. If I wanted a handsome payday, part of the deal was to wrangle an interview with Dick Cavett - otherwise the article in question would not be published. So I phoned Dick Cavett. We spoke about the topic at hand and we eventually veered off in random directions, discussing old showbiz as if we were two old nerds on a park bench. We spoke of the enigmatic unfunniness of Wayne and Shuster, the brilliance of Jack E. Leonard and much more. After Cavett missed a New York Times deadline by an hour, we closed the conversation and Cavett paid me a nice compliment when he said, "I wish [all the interviews] were this much fun." It was then that I decided to kick those anxiety palpatations in the balls and go ahead and interview every old comedian I could.
So today I present to you this transcript of a conversation I had with the comedy legend Shelley Berman. In the coming weeks, you will find more interview transcripts from several more folks including Gary Owens, Alan Young, Bill Persky, Bill Dana and so on. After the jump you'll find links to some of the other interview transcripts conducted so far.
Awesome. Just awesome. Too much of a good thing, which is fine since we have all the time in the world to enjoy it, these days.
Loved Ronnie Schell in "Good Morning, World", which is available on Netflix.
Posted by: Listener No. 109577 | November 28, 2010 at 05:21 PM
I am proud to say I purchased issues of Generation Exploitation at Atomic Books. I have to say it was an impulse buy but I figured any zine featuring Herve Villechaize and Don Knotts on the covers was worth it.
Posted by: Zombek | November 29, 2010 at 03:46 PM
Like the commenters above, I bought GenEx whenever I could find it....and I definitely remember the Woody Woodbury interview, because I'd listened to that live record of his about 1,000 times ("there goes another kitten, off to the sandbox!") and was always frustrated that it wasn't anywhere near as fun, funny, or even cool as the cover made me think it'd be. The interview was great - better than the album, that's for sure!
And I'm VERY curious to see yr Shelly Berman interview....that guy has a fascinating history (duh), and I'd love to hear his thoughts on his recent resurgence....
Posted by: SuchAndSuch | December 12, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Surprised at all the "Woody Woodbury" info is still around. I was Fletcher Smith's Secy from 1951 - 1954. Then, left and came back as his Asst. from 1957-1958. I worked on all of Woody's records (I have a tape -- don't know if it is 3 3/4 or 7 1//2 but one of the VERY FIRST to be recorded in our studios on E. 44th St., in New York. Is Woody still alive??? I have the first of all his records put out.
Posted by: Gloria Michel | January 11, 2011 at 02:39 PM