Steve Allen’s first episode as solo
host begins with dozens of Steve Allen lookalikes storming the stage. They had all responded to a want ad the
producers had placed in newspapers earlier.
One of the men, George Kartinos from San Francisco, spent the week
pretending to be Steve in public. He
brings along photos and stories of his charade.
Bailie Bruce Russell from Scotland did something for the first
time today: “I put on my first pair of long pants”
The
66-year-old Russell is a Scottish goodwill ambassador, and has worn nothing but
a kilt all his life. The colorful
Russell claims that his family line is the source of the word “rustler” as in
cattle rustler, but that etymology is dubious.
Russell is quoted in a November, 1963 newspaper article saying that he
had been approached by the Secret staff to wear a suit for them back then, but that he turned them down at the
time. Here, he declines the show’s offer
to let him keep the suit. The word
“bailie” referred to a civic officer, similar to a magistrate. Scotland would drop the word as a legal term
in the 1970s, but it survives today as a courtesy title.
Special guest Edie Adams performs an
elaborate, carefully rehearsed bit in which she tears a hat apart. When the videotape is played backwards moments
later, it looks like she’s making the hat.
The challenge for the panel is to perform a similar scene, with
assistance from Adams and from Steve.
Local children’s show host Chuck McCann, who uses the reverse-tape
technique on his own program, is recognized in the audience along with his
engineer. Adams is appearing in the
movie The Best Man (1964).
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