Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP

Subject: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 11:09 AM

I just heard of the passing of Buddy Ebsen, most famous for his Jed Clampett role, but he was the original Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. A reaction to the body paint caused him to give up the role. I wonder how many banjo pickers started to play after hearing Earl Scruggs play The Ballad of Jed Clampett.

He was 95.

Subject: RE: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Mr Red
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 11:23 AM

Not forgetting his role in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Subject: RE: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 11:35 AM

Lovely man, sadly missed.
Giok

Subject: RE: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 12:01 PM

God another one,

How sad to hear that.

Tom

Subject: RE: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 12:08 PM

Buddy Ebsen was dusted with aluminum dust to get the Tin Man look. Stuck in his lungs and almost killed him. Replacement was OK too.

Subject: RE: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Cool Beans
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 12:29 PM

Let us not forget his dandy hoofing on "The Codfish Ball" with Shirley Temple in the 1936 movie "Captain January." How many of us learned that song from that movie? And, as Georgie Russell in Disney's Davy Crockett movies, he must have sung the title song at some point.

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 02:08 PM

Buddy had a great dancing style that - I would guess- was copied by Ray Bolger. I always liked that loose-limbed style.
I would guess that it could have been derived from minstrel style dancing - or was he an original? Any hoofers who can answer that?
Chris

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 02:13 PM

Buddy will always have a spot in my heart. I thought the Beveley Hillbillies were hilarious when they first hit our screens. The whole cast was filled with great eccentric characters. I guess Buddy/Jed have gone to that great "ceement pond" in the sky.

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Blackcatter
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 05:18 PM

Ebsen was born & raised in Orlando, FL and was quite a good dancer from early on. He broke into show business by dancing, I beleive. He had a dance studio in Orlando during the time of his success in Hollywood.

He was an important part of bringing bluegrass music to his the Beverly Hillbillies. And don't forget Barnaby Jones.

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Cluin
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 05:38 PM

Not much bluegrass music in Barnaby Jones tho'....

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 09:17 PM

Aw damn! Georgie Russell, Davy Crockett's sidekick.

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: The Pooka
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 10:54 PM

Another sad passing, indeed. / When ya git whar yer goin' -- give 'em what fer, Georgie!

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: ex-pat
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 11:57 PM

RIP one of my favourite all time actors!
Steve, Jed Clampett and his music took hold of this 14 year old kid in the '60's. In Manchester, England, I was, err, somewhat culturaly callenged.
I have always loved seeing him acting since.
I will always love playing the 5 string banjo.

Ollie

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 01:00 AM

Ray Bolger didn't replace Ebsen, Jack Haley did. Bolger was the Cowardly Lion. But Bolger still may have mimicked Ebsen's shuffling sort of dancing. (Perhaps I didn't read the sentence in the way you intended it to read, fsharp...)

His role in Breakfast at Tiffany's was good. Understated, but very important to understanding the whole story.

I think he used to spend time (maybe owned a home) on San Juan Island in Puget Sound. I remember people on the island talking about the time he spent there before I arrived (I worked there in 1985, so we're going back a few years). There were stories about an ex-wife tied into it as well; maybe a messy divorce?

His Barnaby Jones character was one of my mother's favorite mysteries. For one reason, if people got kicked or punched or hurt (which didn't happen often) they got hurt, they didn't just brush it off. She felt that they did everyone a favor by not creating another superhero, but just an average guy detective.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 01:13 AM

ex-pat,

It's funny, I haven't seen the Beverly Hilbillies in years. I was flipping through the channels the other day, I came across an episode with Earl & Lester. It was great to see Earl play.

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: fat B****rd
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 03:13 AM

Loved the Beverlies. RIP Mr. Ebsen

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Fiolar
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 08:43 AM

Well guys, there can't be too many more old timers left. I won't name names but I reckon there are about three or four now still living who were the stars of my young days. Farewell Buddy. Give our regards to Irene Ryan.

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Pooby
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 12:22 PM

ACtually, Sage, the Times reported this A.M. that Buddy was originally supposed to be the Scarecrow (perfect for a loose-limbed hoofer), but Ray Bolger moved in and took over that role, prompting Buddy's switch to the Tin Man. The allergy to the aluminum makeup forced him out of the cast entirely, and he was replaced as the Tin Man by Jack Haley. Bert Lahr played the Lion.

Also, to Ebsen's credit, he told MGM exec Louis Mayer to shove it when Mayer offered him a $2000-a-week contract that would have given the studio total artistic control over Ebsen's work. It cost him in the short term, but as well we know, he bounced back with aplomb on TV. We'll miss ya, Buddy/Georgie/Jed/Barnaby.

Pobby

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: Willie-O
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 05:39 PM

Beverly Hillbillies was one of the few 60's TV shows that my Marxist dad approved of. That would have probably horrified Buddy. I understand he was so conservative that after Nancy Kulp (Miss Drysdale) ran for office as a Democrat in the early 80's, he never spoke to her again (she died later that same decade).

Weeeel dogie, I'd a like ta see Dad and Buddy git' ta jawin' tagether sumtime. Dang.

And yup, that show stands up. You don't get a cast like that today for any amount of money. (Each of the six "Friends" gets a million bucks per episode. Jethro got $800 a show. Sheeeeeeeeesh.)

Subject: RE: Obit: Buddy Ebsen RIP
From: thehiker
Date: 08 Jul 03 - 07:22 PM

Another good one gone
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n'anam