Hullaballoo
Hullabaloo was originally a one-hour music variety show, airing from 8:30-9:30 on Tuesday nights. In June 1965, it shifted to the 10 PM slot, but three months later, the network cut the show to thirty minutes and moved it to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, where it remained to the end of its run, whereupon it was replaced by the sitcom, The Monkees.
On December 6, 1965, the day before my mother’s birthday, I went to my very first TV show. My sister was “dating” Tony Hicks of the Hollies and they were performing on the show. I can remember my mother telling Denyse, that she could not go unless I came along. This was a great moment for me! Perhaps I would be on TV! We grabbed a cab and arrived at NBC’s Studio 8-H in the Radio City complex in Rockefeller Center. This is the same studio that now houses Saturday Night Live. The show was basically a variety show not unlike the Ed Sullivan Show or it’s West Coast competition Shindig.
Here are a few of the videos and a set list of the artists who performed that night back in December 1965:
1) Frankie Avalon (guest host) – “Do I Hear A Waltz?” Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon introduces the individual members of the Hollies.
2) The Hollies – “Look Through Any Window” The Hollies
Frankie Avalon sings a few lines from “Nancy With The Laughing Face” to introduce the next guest.
3) Nancy Sinatra – “So Long Babe” Nancy Sinatra
4) The Ronettes – “You Baby” The Ronettes
5) Lola Falana – “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely” (“Loverly”) Lola Falana
6a) Frankie Avalon – “Hullabaloo Theme”
6b) A few lines from the Bonanza Theme are performed.
6c) Frankie Avalon – “Bewitched” theme
6d) Nancy Sinatra, Lola Falana, and Frankie Avalon – “The Andy Griffith Show” theme
6e) Frankie Avalon – “Moon River”
6f) Lola Falana & Nancy Sinatra – “Beverly Hillbillies” theme
6g) Frankie Avalon – “Everybody Loves Somebody”
6h) Lola Falana & Nancy Sinatra – Theme from “Flipper”
6i) Frankie Avalon – “Branded” (a line or two from song)
6j) Theme from “The Flintstones” theme
6k) “Action” theme (end of medley)
7) The Yardbirds – “I’m A Man” (Hullabaloo A Go-Go segment) The Yardbirds
What I find most interesting about this show was all of the synchronicity that occurred. The bad news… Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty came to our apartment to visit my sister. My father, who didn’t like any of this “Long hair” stuff was quite rude and obnoxious. The good news…. 1966 B side of “Shapes of Things” was a song titled New York City Blues. Any similarities to the real thing are purely true however, the shotgun was just a metaphor.
New York City Blues-Lyrics Keith Relf/Chris Dreja
If you’ve ever been to New York City, You know what I’m talking about, Yes you do.
Well, if you’ve ever been to New York City, You know what I’m talking about,
They got such pretty little girls in that big town, Make a man want to jump around and shout.
I met a little girl there, She was about five foot eight.
I said “I want you to love me.” She said “Why man, that’d be great.”
So,I got long hair but, She took me back, Back to see her pad,
But the first thing I saw when I arrived there, Was a big black shiny shotgun, In the hands of her dad. Alright now, this is how it was, Oh no! Well all right!
I finally learned my lesson, Such a long time ago, Next little woman that I date, I’ve got to know,
I’ve got to know her family too. Yes indeed, I gotta know her family too.
But if you don’t want to be filled full of shotgun holes, Mister, this song is just for you.
The 2nd interesting occurrence has to do with Frankie Avalon. I am visiting my in laws on Cape Cod back in the summer of 1996 and I get a phone call from an old friend who was road manager for “Dick Fox’s Golden Boys: Frankie Avalon, Fabian, and Bobby Rydell.” The Golden Boys Their bass player had gotten ill and he was wondering if I could fill in for him for a few days. I told him I was on Cape Cod and would not be back in NY for a couple of weeks. Would you believe he said, that’s perfect! We are playing the Cape Cod Melody Tent tomorrow! I was really excited to speak with Frankie and talk about the show. He was wonderful to talk to. A great guy!
Great stories!!! Thanks for posting this. Since I work at NBC…the next time I walk into Studio 8H I’ll be thinking of you.
Dear “60′s Generation” buffs and, participants,
Sid Bernstein has spent a lifetime discovering and, bringing to the world, the very best, music has to offer.
Sid’s achievements include promoting early Latin Stars and bringing Ray Charles and James Brown into mainstream venues. His desire to cross racial lines led him to become the first white promoter at the Apollo Theater. He was the first promoter to bring Rock & Roll to Carnegie Hall, (The Beatles and, The Rolling Stones) and to Madison Square Garden, (James Brown). He was the first promoter to do an outdoor stadium concert in America with the Beatles at Shea.
Sid brought the first bands of the British invasion to America which included the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Moody Blues, The Animals, The Kinks, Herman’s Hermits, Dave Clark Five, Manfred Mann and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Among the artists he managed were The Rascals, Melba Moore, Laura Branigan and Phoebe Snow. He introduced ABBA to America.
On January 12, 1965, Hullabaloo, premiered on NBC. It starred: Woody Allen; Gerry & The Pacemakers and The Zombies. Its run ended on April 11, 1966, hosted by Paul Anka, it starred: Lesley Gore; The Cyrkle and, Peter & Gordon. In between, Hullabaloo presented The Lovin’ Spoonful; The Righteous Brothers; Smokey Robinson & The Miracles; The Everly Brothers; Diana Ross & The Supremes; Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels; The Animals; Marvin Gaye; Little Anthony & The Imperials and, you…to name but a few. Sid Bernstein was the talent coordinator/booking agent for this ground-breaking series. http://www.crazyabouttv.com/hullabaloo.html.
Sid Bernstein…2009 – :
Til now…I have been reminding, and introducing, one-and-all…of Sid Bernstein’s, past accomplishments. But Sid, is still quite involved in his favorite pastime…music. And community.
Beginning now…I will attempt to get you up-to-speed…on Sid’s 2009 – …:
http://press.abc-directory.com/press/4902
http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/Beatles_backer_is_still_going_strong.html
http://www.hofstra.edu/Home/News/PressReleases/102609_SidBernstein.html
http://www.billpascali.net/newrascalscontents.htm
http://www.toursandevents.com/BEATexpo.htm
http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m11d23-Sid-Bernstein–Brian-Epstein-didnt-think-the-Beatles-could-fill-Shea-Stadium?cid=examiner-email
“John Lennon: In Their Own Write” – A Loving Tribute From His Friends and Fans” was launched with great fanfare at Bloomingdale’s Flagship Store (59th St. and Lexington Ave, NYC) on December 5th.
Joining Judith to sign copies of her amazing Tribute to John was Sid Bernstein (the promoter who brought the Beatles to Shea Stadium) who wrote the forward to the book.
Judith was the winner of the David Markowitz Award for Best Poet from the English Department at CCNY at CUNY.
Her poetry has been published in literary magazines and online and she has recently represented John Lennon and Beatle fans on Facebook. She was given the opportunity by the PR Firm of Rogers and Cowan to interview Ms. Yoko Ono at the RR Hall of Fame, NY: John Lennon, The New York City Years.
Her interest in the Beatles and John Lennon was sparked as a youngster when she arrived in the United States as a ten-year old immigrant who did not speak a word of English. She was inspired and helped by the Beatles’ music to delve deeper into pop culture and journalism. Her strong attraction to creative writing eventually led her to concentrate her studies in 20th Century English and American Literature.
Ms. Furedi lives and works in New York City. Currently, she is finishing a full-length novel set in her native Hungary.
For Sid…it has never been about the money, it is always about the music. Sid is a loving father and husband…and a gentleman in every sense of the word.
That the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has yet to show its appreciation for the effort Mr. Bernstein has made and, continues to make, to enrich the lives of lovers of music worldwide…is an oversight that should be remedied. Please email the hall at: president@rockhall.org. Ask them to nominate Sid Bernstein for induction…Finally, Rightfully!!!
We have begun a “GrassRoots” campaign to petition the hall into recognizing Sid’s contribution(s) to music at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113290523505&ref=ts.
There…go to: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113290523505&ref=ts#/search/?o=69&sfxp=1&c1=5&c2=89.
Please join us there.
To preview…the documentary, “Sid Bernstein Presents,” go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RePuJdBAzl8&feature=youtube_gdata
You can help us by sending a letter, supporting Sid’s induction into the Hall to:
Mr. Jann Wenner
1290 Avenue Of The Americas
New York, New York 10104-029
Speaking for Sid’s fans…worldwide, I thank you, for your time and consideration.
Wishing you & yours a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season,
Herb Malsman
Great Site…Congratulations!
Hey Dave,
Gettin’ alot of quality info from your site…but shouldn’t it be titled, “Talkin ‘Bout My Generation!?”
I would have if it hadn’t been taken. This was the next best
Thanks for your feedback