Isn't Life Terrible Has Moved!

This blog has moved.

All of the old posts - all of the new posts - all of the video and audio files are there.

Isn't Life Terrible can now be found at http://www.isntlifeterrible.com

Sundays With Snyder Number 28 - Our Gang's Spanky McFarland

After 27 consecutive weekly Sundays presenting Tom Snyder's The Radio Show, Isn't Life Terrible ran out of raw material (i.e., no more cassettes in the collection) and it appeared we had reached the end of the road.

But turn, if you would, toward St. Paul, Minnesota and tip your hat, send good karma, and make a toast with your very next Colortini to Bryan Olson, a Video Producer at Real Life Video who also saved tapes of Tom Snyder's Radio Show. Bryan kindly offered to share his programs with us, and he's put time and effort into getting them here in the proper format.

Bryan, speaking for all of us who appreciate good radio, great interviews, and the unique perspective and presence of Tom Snyder... we're in your debt.

The first program from Bryan's collection dates from May 30th, 1989, when Tom welcomed George "Spanky" McFarland, star of the Hal Roach (and later, MGM) Our Gang Comedies. (At right, a sad Spanky sports his signature chapeau in the company of fellow Hal Roach star Charley Chase). Spanky started his movie career at age three and appears in many of the Gang's best shorts as well as its only feature, General Spanky.

Bryan removed the commercials from the hour-long segment. It's priceless.



or download.

Woody On The Eve Of "Annie Hall"

I enjoyed this hour-long interview with Woody from January of 1977 - thought you might, too. Hardly a concert, so the source - Wolfgang's Vault - is a bit surprising. They actually have quite a few interesting interviews available - primarily of musicians, but the occasional auteur sneaks in.

I'm always surprised by Woody's likes and dislikes among comedians: he likes Berle, but not Kovacs. He likes Bob Hope films, but - while he has a clinical appreciation for their brilliance, he's not captivated by Buster Keaton. And not a Lenny Bruce Fan, either.

This interview was recorded just before the completion and release of Annie Hall. Part 1 will play below; click "Play Entire Concert" [sic!] to go to the WV page to play part 2.