DVD Obscurities #1: The Bob Hope Comedy Special

Netflix is great, but there is a lot of stuff out there, especially in the realm of what is generally called "Classic TV," that doesn't show up on Netflix, isn't bootlegged, and doesn't come from shoddy PD copies of kinescopes. Some of it is really great.

First up: The Bob Hope Comedy Specials.

I stumbled on this by searching YouTube for "NBC Peacock," and finding that someone had posted an entire 1966 Bob Hope special--"Murder at NBC," featuring an amazing lineup of comedy stars who somehow managed not to provide any actual comedy.

In the comments was a note--that at www.bobontv.com , you can order DVDs of any Bob Hope special from 1950 to 1996! From special guest stars Dinah Shore and Bea Lillie to special guest stars Joey Lawrence and The Judds! So I took a chance and ordered the episode from September 27, 1963.

Best $24.95 I've spent in a long time; I can't recommend it highly enough. Nice clear copy from a videotape original, and though it lamentably does not include the original Chrysler commercials, look what you do get:

Opening title animation by John Whitney (hard to read here, I realize):


An odd production number about the coming (1963-64) television season that takes you backstage at NBC Burbank:





Surprisingly tacky backgrounds...for Dean Martin:


...and for Miss Barbra Streisand:


...who is in Full-On High Early Barbra Mode (i.e., sleek bob, Cleopatra makeup, Empire waist):


...but who was not yet big enough a star to get out of the requisite dreadful pop-culture funny costume sketch (here, a parody of folk-music shows like Shivaree:



And at the top of the hour, Bob comes out and does eight minutes of standup. Eight Minutes!