Not many double acts that launch on the comedy circuit actually last. Some of the most successful have been Eric Morcambe and Ernie Wise, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and then there was Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.
They'd started in the 1950s as a double act on the circuit, and had managed to last, despite a failed attempt at a Hollywood movie in 1958. Then NBC tapped the duo to act as hosts for a summer replacement show in 1966, replacing temporarily "The Dean Martin Show", which by the way continued until 1974. As a result of that summer replacement, came in 1968 what is regarded as a legendary American comedy show. "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In"
Through 6 seasons, Rowan & Martin, and their ensemble cast, including announcer Gary Owens, and actresses Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin, laughed and smiled there way through many different types of sketches, including The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award, The Mod Mod World, The Farkel Family, and Laugh In's Look At The News, which somehow, and don't ask me how, managed to correctly predict that Ronald Reagan would be president in 1988, and that the Berlin Wall would be destroyed in 1989!!!
Laugh In's 6 season run ended in 1973 when the show was axed. But the show had made a star of Goldie Hawn and when it was revived as a series of specials in 1977, made another star in Robin Williams who went on the next year to star in "Mork And Mindy" It also paved the way for "Hee Haw", "You Can't Do That On Television" and "Saturday Night Live".
So, to round off the tribute, I'll present, courtesy of YouTube, some highlights from the show.
Say good night, Dick!
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