"I got to find a man that's twitchy in the city"... Remember Hal Roach wouldn't touch the subject of AnA. I was with you when you interviewed him. I used to love Amos and Andy. It's too bad we find ourselves in the context we're in. And We've got to feel guilty about laughing at ourselves. It's like the other meanings of the "n" word and MoFo that make life fun.
I grew up on Long Island in the 1950s in an all-white community. The only blacks I ever saw were from the car as my father drove to my grandmother's apartment in Brooklyn and told us to roll the windows up.
But I loved "Amos & Andy". I just thought Kingfish was hilarious. I don't think I really thought this was what black people were like anymore than I thought all white people were as funny as George Burns. Whatever latent racism was in the show went right over my white little head. It was just funny.
When the civil rights movement came around in the 60s, I remember being shocked at seeing firehoses and dogs set on people who were just marching in the street. I like to think that in its own small way, Amos & Andy made me see blacks as real people.
I mean, shit...they're hosing Kingfish and I'm supposed to root for the crackers with the hoses?
It's a pity that nobody could do an AnA show now. I don't think even anybody black could get away with doing it. Now political correctness requires a certain set of roles for black actors/actresses that would preclude the Kingfish.
Still. May favorite show of all time is still Sanford & Son. Red Foxx was a genius
I ran across some scripts for the old AnA radio show a while back. They were very strange to read: the white audience was expected to see itself in Amos and Andy one minute, then laugh at them as inferiors the next. Really gives you whiplash, but the bits of depth may have contributed to what made the show so popular and a standout over other latter-day minstrel acts.
Also, in the TV show clips -- is it me, or does the performance of the actor playing Kingfish remind anybody else of Sorrell Booke's performance as Boss Hogg on "The Dukes of Hazzard?" They're the same character type in some ways, of course, but the intonations, facial expressions, body language shown here really have a lot in common with Booke. Makes me wonder if AnA was an influence on Booke's portrayal.
"I got to find a man that's twitchy in the city"...
ReplyDeleteRemember Hal Roach wouldn't touch the subject of AnA. I was with you when you interviewed him. I used to love Amos and Andy. It's too bad we find ourselves in the context we're in. And We've got to feel guilty about laughing at ourselves. It's like the other meanings of the "n" word and MoFo that make life fun.
I grew up on Long Island in the 1950s in an all-white community. The only blacks I ever saw were from the car as my father drove to my grandmother's apartment in Brooklyn and told us to roll the windows up.
ReplyDeleteBut I loved "Amos & Andy". I just thought Kingfish was hilarious. I don't think I really thought this was what black people were like anymore than I thought all white people were as funny as George Burns. Whatever latent racism was in the show went right over my white little head. It was just funny.
When the civil rights movement came around in the 60s, I remember being shocked at seeing firehoses and dogs set on people who were just marching in the street. I like to think that in its own small way, Amos & Andy made me see blacks as real people.
I mean, shit...they're hosing Kingfish and I'm supposed to root for the crackers with the hoses?
Wow, Doug... that's a unique spin on the cultural significance of "Amos 'N' Andy."
ReplyDeleteAlthough Craig ain't the only member of my family who used to like the show.
Craig: I forgot all about that Hal Roach interview!
damn, did you just knock the steve harvey show??
ReplyDelete^ I'm fearless like that. ;^D
ReplyDeleteSheeit, I liked Steve's show. Er, the scripted one, not the variety one. Okay, I lied, I kinda liked that one, too. I like Steve Harvey, period :-)
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity that nobody could do an AnA show now. I don't think even anybody black could get away with doing it. Now political correctness requires a certain set of roles for black actors/actresses that would preclude the Kingfish.
Still. May favorite show of all time is still Sanford & Son. Red Foxx was a genius
One of the better gags on the Family Guy premiere was Redd Foxx as an X-Wing pilot. You can probably guess what he said just before he got blown up.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.
ReplyDeleteRed Foxx on Family Guy??
Son of a *****! How did I miss that?
I ran across some scripts for the old AnA radio show a while back. They were very strange to read: the white audience was expected to see itself in Amos and Andy one minute, then laugh at them as inferiors the next. Really gives you whiplash, but the bits of depth may have contributed to what made the show so popular and a standout over other latter-day minstrel acts.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in the TV show clips -- is it me, or does the performance of the actor playing Kingfish remind anybody else of Sorrell Booke's performance as Boss Hogg on "The Dukes of Hazzard?" They're the same character type in some ways, of course, but the intonations, facial expressions, body language shown here really have a lot in common with Booke. Makes me wonder if AnA was an influence on Booke's portrayal.