Look through flea market bins and yard sales long enough and you're bound to run across a few Woody Woodbury records. Few are familiar with him today, but in his prime, Woodbury sold records in the millions. He was a comedian popular during the 1950's and 1960's for his slightly adult brand of humor, and was one of the first comedians pressed to vinyl.He very nearly became the host of The Tonight Show rather than Johnny Carson. Instead, Woody replaced the vacancy left by Carson and McMahon on the TV show Who Do You Trust? And interestingly, prior to all this, he was a distinguished Marine Corps Jet fighter pilot during the Korean War.
Click here to view full size
Listen to a couple of his jokes from his album Woody Woodbury Looks at Love and Life - typical off-color gags used in clubs back in the day; generally about booze and slight sexual innuendo. The album says "for frisky adults only", but definitely G rated by today's standards.
WFMU's Beware of Blog has an excellent article on the interesting career of Woodbury. I highly recommend you check it out.
I don't think I've ever seen one of his albums before. If I see one I'll be sure to pick it up. The jokes are pretty standard fare, not too far from Hee Haw type jokes.
ReplyDeleteI guess if he would have gotten the Tonight Show gig, the LP might be worth something. As it is, it's lucky to get 50 cents at a thrift store.
ReplyDeleteI actually like his humor. I have two of his albums and listened to them both. They grew on me, and the audience's laughter was contagious. He's still performing to this day in his 80's.
I remember seeing these albums but never bought one. My tastes for humor from that time ran more toward Bob Newhart and The Smothers Brothers.
ReplyDeleteI liked the joke about the drunk in the barber shop.
Somewhere I have Woody Woodbury signed travel mag. I need to dig it out and post it one of these days!
ReplyDelete