Beyond Vaudeville Explained

Genre:Talk/Variety
Director:Steve Korn
Starring:Rich Brown as Frank Hope, David Greene, John Walsh as Joey the Monkey
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Episodes:75
Producer:Rich Brown
Location:New York City
Runtime:29 minutes

Beyond Vaudeville was a New York City public-access television show that ran from 1986 to 1996.[1] The talk/variety show featured amateur talents and nostalgia-inducing celebrities housed within the confines of a crowded, Manhattan-based public access television station. Awkward host Frank Hope and his violence-prone sidekick David Greene created strange and uncomfortably compelling television. Frank was a fidgety collector-type who enjoyed Wacky Packages and Star Trek; David a silent behemoth who only spoke out of anger. For many of the episodes, Joey the Dancing Monkey (played by John Walsh) gets called by Frank to come out and dance, and various puppets appear behind the seats of the guests while they get interviewed, sometimes attempting to annoy David. Celebrity guests, including the likes of Tiny Tim, Fred Willard, and Bobby “Boris” Pickett (“Monster Mash”), shared the stage with amateur singers, dancers, and Klingons, their surprised and befuddled reactions to the talent often mirroring those of the viewers. In 1997, MTV brought the show to cable under the title Oddville, MTV,[2] a fundamentally similar program that featured celebrity guests and bands that were meant to appeal to the youth of today rather than yesterday.

Cast

Recurring Guests

Episodes

Episode NumberDate RecordedGuestsNotable Information
1December 9, 1986
2March 2, 1987Al Lewis, poet Gretchen Weiner Significant for Al Lewis’ roast of co-host David Greene.
3May 4, 1987Omer Travers (broke into Yoko Ono's apartment), poet Chairman Steve, comedy team Book n Martino
4July 8, 1987Psychic Frederick Davies, singer-songwriter Stryker, Glenn & His Friend Flubb First appearance of Long Island singer and local celebrity Stryker, who featured in the Beyond Vaudeville live shows both before and after the show’s run, and later appeared on Oddville, MTV and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
5July 22, 1987Gretchen Weiner, Richard H. Roffman, Body by Bob, Kevin & His Friend Bub, Glenn & His Friend Flubb, Joey the Monkey First appearance of Joey the Monkey, who became a show regular and featured in every episode of Oddville, MTV, and of the puppets behind the couch.
6October 6, 1987Frank Nastasi (White Fang on The Soupy Sales Show), Austin Velez (guest co-host), UFO abductee Gertrude Adams, Cowboy Joe, Glenn & His Friend Flubb
7January 12, 1988Tuli Kupferberg of The Fugs, Chairman Steve, Kevin & His Friend Bub, Glenn & His Friend Flub, Joey the Monkey
8February 25, 1988Sammy Petrillo (Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla), former Burt Reynolds love interest Sen Tuna
9May 9, 1988Quentin Crisp, mother-daughter comedy team Coco & Penny, Konstantin Bokov
10June 13, 1988Joe Franklin errand boy Chris Deola, Kerima the bellydancer, Dr. Morris Woodley
11July 19, 1988Joyce Randolph with husband Richard Charles, comedian Jackie Jason Exit, Samson St. Clair as Joan Rivers
12August 30, 1988
13October 4, 1988Joe Franklin, artist Konstantin Bokov, elderly stripper Leola Harlow
14November 22, 1988Lisa Sliwa, singer/songwriter Stryker, poet Chairman Steve, Austin Velez
15February 27, 1989Entertainment journalist Michael Musto, actor Joe Fleishaker, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb Host Frank Hope walks off for several minutes in response to co-host David Greene’s outbursts, leading to awkward exchanges between David and Musto. Frank returns later.
16April 18, 1989Memory expert Harry Lorayne, Danny the Wonderpony, movie usher Martin Spund
17May 23, 1989Billy Dean’s Knockouts Boxing Fighting Revue Co-host David loses two boxing matches to Foxy Fighters Mariah and Mischa.
18June 6, 1989Phoebe Legere, a family of nudists, singer-songwriter Stryker, Underdog dancer Suzanne Muldowney The only episode in which Frank does not appear. David claims to have locked him in the closet of his apartment and is hosting the show with Stryker as nominal co-host. The set is stripped down to bare walls and David attempts to conduct the program his way, with "The good guest that I got, and then the typical Frank guests here."
19July 8, 1989Filk singer Roberta Rogow, Underdog dancer Suzanne Muldowney, singer Ada Love
20August 18, 1989Brother Theodore, Uncle Sam impersonator Joe Erdelyi, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb
21September 23, 1989Ed Herlihy, Lady Betty Aberlin (Mr. Rogers), singer Starlady, T-shirt maker Martin Forro
22October 21, 1989Joey Adams, Geoffrey Holder, Mr. Spoons
23October 21, 1989Barry Williams, Wavy Gravy, Sukhreet Gabel
24November 18, 1989Diver Dan, Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan Club president Sal Piro, nosewhistler Jim Grosso, comic Al Lawrence
25December 6, 1989Little Mike Anderson, musical saw player Moses Josiah, UFO expert
26January 20, 1990Professor Irwin Corey, Lady Betty Aberlin, female Elvis impersonator Dee Nack, driving instructor Bert Rapp, sci-fi collector Phil Depardo
27February 17, 1990Judy Carne, Page Morton Black, cryonicist Curtis Henderson, singer Al Boland
28June 23, 1990Taylor Mead, Ethyl Eichelberger, Baird Jones, Jack the Fire, Frank's Home Movies
29July 28, 1990Terry Sweeney, Flying Nun Fan Club president, Dracula dancer Suzanne Muldowney, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb
30August 18, 1990Marie Wallace, Dave Van Ronk, UFO expert Ellie Crystal, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb
31September 17, 1990Fred Willard, Underdog dancer Suzanne Muldowney, poet Wolf Pasmanik, comic Lou Baccala Cary First of two appearances by Fred Willard.
32October 27, 1990Austin Pendleton, Irene the Gong Show Queen of Long Island, singer Ada Love, Marie-Hélène Parent, Lady Betty Aberlin
33December 1, 1990Singer and musician John Wallowitch, singer Buddy Clayton
34December 10, 1990NYC News anchor Sue Simmons, musical saw player Moses Josiah, actress Martha Greenhouse, psychic Morris Fonte
35January 26, 1991Audrey Landers, David Peel, Alan Abel, Al Jolson impersonator Rich Curtis
36February 20, 1991Warner Wolf, Tiny Tim, The Chordettes, comic Dave West First appearance of Tiny Tim.
37March 16, 1991Shirley Stoler, Ron Fazio, singer Tommy Ritaco, Robert “Harmonica” Stevens, Pieman Aron Kay
38April 20, 1991Dan Lauria, Indian Elvis impersonator Nazar Sayegh, comedian Mildred Katz
39June 8, 1991Lew “Clarabell” Anderson, Little Mike Anderson, singer Regis Philbin Jr., sci-fi expert Ronald Held, pogo-stick record holder Ashrita Furman
40June 25, 1991Carel Struycken, singer Izzy Fertel, toy collectors Pat Bishow and Lance, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb First television appearance of Izzy Fertel, who became a semi-regular on the program and subsequently appeared on Oddville, MTV and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
41July 20, 1991Frank “Large” Dellarosa, World's Fastest Hot Dog Eater; poet Wolf Pasmanik; rapper Larry Love; sci-fi expert Ronald Held
42July 30, 1991Fred Willard, singer Izzy Fertel, singer Ada Love, belly dancer Kerima, rappers, comedian Dave West, nose-whistler Jim Grosso
43August 17, 1991Remo Pisani, singer Buddy Clayton, “midget comic” Ramon Pena Cartucho, Hawaiian singer Johnny Kai
44September 21, 1991Bobby “Boris” Pickett, pierced guy, sci-fi expert Ronald Held, Klingon League of Assault Warriors, singer Austin Velez
45October 19, 1991Tiny Tim, Benny Bell, tattoo experts Huggy Bear & Eek, Renaissance Man George Kayatta, Mr. Lucky & Stanley the Pig
46November 9, 1991Sammy Petrillo, sci-fi expert Ronald Held, comic Mikhail Bleyckman, bowling alley expert Bill Newman, horror expert John Link, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb
47December 7, 1991Christmas Special. John Wallowitch, Bill Gaines, Marilyn Monroe conspiracy expert M. Vinson Hayes, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb, The Public Access Choir One of the last interviews Gaines gave before he passed away in June 1992. The Public Access Choir was a group of hosts of other New York public access shows, who came on set and sang “The Twelve Days of Christmas
48January 11, 1992Bern Nadette Stanis, comic Mikhail Bleyckman, filk singer Roberta Rogow, songwriter Stryker, Tiny Tim goes bowling
49March 27, 1992Joey Faye, sci-fi expert Ronald Held, actor Joe Fleishaker, Marilyn Monroe conspiracy expert M. Vinson Hayes
50June 4, 1992Pat Cooper, FDR Impersonator Ellsworth Barthen, Madonna impersonator Queerdonna, Trayman, Walt Paper
51July 16, 1992Arthur Tracy, sci-fi expert Steve Maurer, Ice Bears Rabbi Abraham Abraham, Marilyn Monroe conspiracy expert M. Vinson Hayes, Trayman
52August 15, 1992Underdog dancer Suzanne Muldowney, William Brown, singer Alan Chusid, Trayman
53September 15, 1992Alison Steele, Chauncey Howell, anchor Marvin Scott, William Brown, Bagpipe player, comic Dave West
54October 17, 1992Ron Palillo, William Brown, Trayman, Champ the Wonderdog, sci-fi expert Ronald Held
55December 22, 1992Barton Heyman, William Brown, movie collectors Mike Tower and Arthur Ritzer, dancer Jimmy Del Rio
56February 27, 1993Kitty Carlisle Hart, William Brown, Trayman, The Greater Gotham Gaylaxians, songwriter Stryker
57July 6, 1993Singing nun Sister Mary Beata Gerrity, Cuban singer Margarita Pracatan, artist Hoop, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb, Austin Velez
58August 7, 1993Virginia Graham, Sir Monti Rock III, artist Hoop, Frank Sinatra fan Bernice Perry, singer Tommy Ritaco
59September 11, 1993Kaye Ballard, Lara Jill Miller, William Brown, singer Red Lightning, comic Arthur of New York
60November 20, 1993Larry Storch, Banjo-Playing Priest George Swanson, nose-whistler Jim Grosso, Louise Grosso, Trayman, inventor Jack Marchand
61December 18, 1993Kim Hunter, Chauncey Howell, singer Margarita Pracatan, singer Red Lightning, angel expert Eileen Freeman
62January 8, 1994Actor Michael Berryman, married couple actress Katy Dierlam and artist Ned Sonntag, sci-fi expert John Link, sci-fi collector Leslie Holcomb
63March 7, 1994Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels, Trayman, Red Lightning
64April 13, 1994Rick Derringer, comic Marty Gangursky, Three Stooges Fans Harold, Lucille, and Robert Gurau, Chinese opera singer Mr. Chen Tsun Kit, Austin Velez Rick Derringer's toddler daughter Mallory wanders onto the set and spends most of the show ambling around or sitting on Derringer's lap. David manages to sit through the entire program without a violent outburst.
65July 16, 1994Jimmy Breslin, poet Chairman Steve, Yankees fan Freddie Sez, Al Jolson singer Rich Curtis, actor Marty Gangursky, Kenneth Keith Kallenbach
66October 29, 1994Thanksgiving Special. Underdog dancer Suzanne Muldowney, Kenneth Keith Kallenbach, rapper/granny Fruity Nutcake, Marilyn Monroe conspiracy expert M. Vinson Hayes
67March 25, 1995Imogene Coca, poet Chairman Steve, “Quiz Show” legend Herb Stempel, singer Buddy Clayton, comic Neil Connie Wallace
68April 29, 1995Jack Riley, Pat McCormick, comic Neil Connie Wallace, raconteur Leonard Ben Meyer, Red Lightning
69May 13, 1995Tom Arnold, comic Neil Connie Wallace, Underdog dancer Suzanne Muldowney, raconteur Leonard Ben Meyer
70July 11, 1995Soleil Moon Frye, “The Singing Cowgirl from Queens” Lorraine Roof, Marilyn Monroe conspiracy theorist M. Vinson Hayes, comic Neil Connie Wallace
71September 5, 1995
72September 15, 1995Johnny Whitaker, Billy Barty, raconteur Leonard Sragow, poet Chairman Steve
73November 27, 1995Singer Joey Marlowe, poet Bingo Gazingo, comic Neil Connie Wallace
74December 13, 1995Tiny Tim, Arthur Tracy, Izzy Fertel, poet Chairman Steve
75May 25, 1996
76July 1, 1996Lady Betty Aberlin, Freddie Sez Schulman, Florence Miller Dancers, comic Neil Connie Wallace, Rich Curtis, Gaylord

Live Stage Shows

DateTitleVenueHostGuests
March 20, 1982Beyond VaudevilleNYU Eisner & Lubin AuditoriumHugh Fink and the Hugh Fink OrchestraDavid Greene as “Thomas Paine,” Stryker, Rescue #1, Cinti Laird, Dean Zerbe, A/K/A, Ben Brody (13-year-old comic), Ed Rollin, Rob Harari, Herd Cooper, Joseph Erdelyi as Uncle Sam, Vault, Nancy Heller, Andy Friedman
April 6, 1983Beyond Vaudeville IINYU Eisner & Lubin AuditoriumMary Samford (street singer), Lizalotta Valeska (Miss Finland 1930), Irv Bruder, philosopher Joseph Feldman, Stryker, David Greene as “Thomas Paine”, Bert Bedell, Irene & John Weidenberner
March 30, 1984Beyond Vaudeville IIINYU PubFrank MoshmanStryker, ventriloquist Anthony Thomas, Max Sofsky, Joseph Erdelyi, Jr. as Uncle Sam, Gerry Schwartz, David Greene as “Thomas Paine,” Bert Bedell, Irene Weidenberner, and “A Debate on the Existence of God” by Joseph Feldman and Robert Sharf
April 18, 1985Beyond Vaudeville IVSpeakeasy NYCMason ReeseStryker, Patsy Margolin, Lance Venture, Mildred Budwal, Delta Blues, David Greene as “Thomas Paine,” Bert Bedell, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Michael Kaufman, Billy Jacket, Irene & John Weidenberner, philosopher Mr. Feldman
April 30, 1986Beyond Vaudeville VNYU Eisner & Lubin AuditoriumDanny BonaduceStryker, Suzanne Muldowney as Underdog, Joseph Erdelyi, Jr. as Uncle Sam, Gretchen Weiner, Bert Bedell, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, poet Chairman Steve, Irene & John Weidenberner, Omer Travers, Lance Venture, David Greene as “Thomas Paine,” philosopher Mr. Feldman
April 20, 1987Beyond Vaudeville LiveNYU Eisner & Lubin AuditoriumAl LewisMother-daughter comedy team Coco & Penny, John & Irene Weidenberner, Gretchen Weiner, Stryker, poet Chairman Steve, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Dr. Lawrence Biris, Omer Travers, philosopher Mr. Feldman, comedy team Book N Martino, Suzanne Muldowney as Vlad the Impaler, David Greene as “Thomas Paine”
April 15, 1988Beyond Vaudeville LiveNYU Eisner & Lubin AuditoriumAdam WestSuzanne Muldowney as Supergirl, Stryker, philosopher Mr. Feldman, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, David Greene as "Thomas Paine," John & Irene Weidenberner, Kerima the Bellydancer, Tuli Kupferberg, Gretchen Weiner, Sammy Petrillo, Bert Bedell, Wally Haughey, Coco & Penny, Chairman Steve the Poet Laureate of Greenwich Village, Konstantin Bokov
April 11, 1989Beyond Vaudeville LiveNYU Eisner & Lubin AuditoriumSukhreet GabelStryker, Kerima the Bellydancer, David Greene as "Thomas Paine," Ada Love, Danny the Wonderpony, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Suzanne Muldowney as Underdog, mother-daughter comedy team Coco & Penny, poet Chairman Steve, philosopher Mr. Feldman
April 19, 1990Beyond Vaudeville LiveNYU Eisner & Lubin AuditoriumPeter Tork & Quentin CrispStryker, Kerima the Bellydancer, David Greene as "Thomas Paine," Michael J. Anderson, Danny the Wonderpony, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Suzanne Muldowney as Underdog, Professional Nosewhistler Jim Grosso, philosopher Mr. Feldman
May 6, 1991Beyond Vaudeville LiveStand Up New YorkLittle Mike AndersonStryker, Kerima the Bellydancer, David Greene as "Thomas Paine," Moses Josiah & His Musical Saw, Suzanne Muldowney as Underdog, Wolf Pasmanik, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Joey the Monkey, Danny the Wonderpony, Professional Nosewhistler Jim Grosso, Irene Weidenberner
May 11, 1992Beyond Vaudeville LiveCarolines on BroadwayRon PalilloStryker, Moses Josiah & His Musical Saw, David Greene as “Thomas Paine,” Suzanne Muldowney as Underdog, Izzy Fertel, Joey the Monkey, Danny the Wonderpony, Little Mike Anderson, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Professional Nosewhistler Jim Grosso, poet Chairman Steve
April 26, 1993Beyond Vaudeville LiveCarolines on BroadwayBarbara FeldonStryker, Suzanne Muldowney as Catwoman, Moses Josiah & His Musical Saw, Trayman, Jimmy Del Rio, Izzy Fertel, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Benny Bell, Professional Nosewhistler Jim Grosso, Queerdonna
October 28, 1993Beyond Vaudeville LiveCarolines on BroadwayPat CooperSuzanne Muldowney as Spectrum the Ghost King, Red Lightning, Professional Nosewhistler Jim Grosso, Jimmy Del Rio, Stryker, Filksinger Roberta Rogow, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Moses Josiah and his Musical Saw, Joey the Monkey, Benny Bell, Trayman, Izzy Fertel and Tiny Tim
December 5, 1994Beyond Vaudeville LiveCarolines on BroadwayCarol ShayaRed Lightning, Professional Nosewhistler Jim Grosso, banjo playing priest George Swanson, Suzanne Muldowney, granny rapper Fruity Nutcake, Stryker, Joey the Monkey, Irene Weidenberner, Kenneth Keith Kallenbach, opera singer Chen Tsun Kit, Margarita Pracatan, Dee Nack the Female Elvis, Moses Josiah and his Musical Saw
April 22, 2017Beyond Vaudeville LivePhilaMOCAFrank Hope & David GreeneSuzanne Muldowney as Underdog, strongman Stanley "Stanless Steel" Pleskun, singer-songwriter Milo Turk (While listed in credits as "BEYOND VAUDEVILLE Episode 75," this was a live stage show recorded in front of a live audience at Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art.)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'BEYOND VAUDEVILLE' GAINS ACCESS TO MTV. RICHARD. HUFF. nydailynews.com.
  2. Web site: Beyond Goofy, the Tricks Are Just for Laughs (Published 1997). Caryn. James. June 19, 1997. NYTimes.com.