BS: Victor Borge (puttt)

Subject: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Dec 00 - 10:42 PM

One of my favorite performing artists, Victor Borge has died today at the age of 91.

He was an amazing pianist and hilarious comedian. He thrilled audiences all over the world with virtually the same routine for much of his career - it never became stale. I can think of no other comedian to compare in that regard. I admired him. I will miss him.

More details are here:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/entertainment/DailyNews/borge_0001223.html

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: GUEST,bflat
Date: 23 Dec 00 - 10:49 PM

Wasn't he wonderful. So talented. So humorous. I am sad. I can see him now with his brillance and his pratfalls. Thank you Mr. Borge, you were unique.

bflat

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Jimmy C
Date: 23 Dec 00 - 10:51 PM

Very sad to hear this bit of news, I watched him just a few weeks ago on the BUffalo Public Television membership drive. He was hilarious. The sounds for the period, comma, question mark etc was a stroke of comical genius. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Dec 00 - 10:55 PM

Geez.....I am really sorry to hear of his passing. A truly talented and funny man. Just loved his jokes and his great ability with an audience.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Alice
Date: 23 Dec 00 - 11:09 PM

Oh, my God. I recently saw a long tribute to him on public television. I had not laughed so hard in a long time. What a special talent, a unique man. He was wonderful. A great loss to the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Dec 00 - 11:50 PM

Oh, that is so sad. I enjoyed him so much. We saw a lot of him on CT public tv as he lived there. Never got tired of watching him poke much fun and subtley show his musical brilliance. Hope he's keeping them in stitches on the next Plane.

So long, Mr. Borge and thanks...

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 12:00 AM

Funny, the news doesn't seem to have reached the UK yet, and I've been listening to the radio at home more than usual. We had 3 mins on Sir Jimmy Shand, but nothing about Mr Borge. Guess which one I'm going to regret passing more.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 12:43 AM

A child prodigy on the piano, this Danish Jew who had to leave his homeland in WW II because he made fun of the Nazis, who came to the U.S. and learned English from watching movies, and then, in his adopted language, made us laugh hysterically. One of a kind, and a real great Dane. God, I'll miss him. One of my heroes.

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 01:02 AM

I got lucky- I dreamt about him just last week! Rick Fielding, I think it was, had reminded us of how funny Mr. Borge was and that night in a dream I attended a public concert where he was performing! And he was in rare form. (Not to worry- I have always had vivid dreams- and I like it.)

Victor Borge was a oner- I enjoyed him very much. One of those people I would love to have known. I hope he knows how much fun and laughter he brought to people.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Sourdough
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 01:17 AM

I am sorry to hear of Victor Borge's passing. Everyone who has seen hm is aware of his tremendous ability as a humorist. In particular, his timing was extraordinary.

He was also a great storyteller. I have a privately cut LP somewhere of Borge telling the story of the Nazi occupation of Denmark. The Gauleiter had insisted that Jews of Denmark all wear the Star of David. The King of the Danes came out on the balcony on the day the law went into effect. He was wearing the Jewish armband. As soon as his subjects saw what he had done, Danes throughout the city, and then the country, began wearing the armbands. They refused to let the Nazis single the Jews out of the population. Borge went on to tell how the Danes then smuggled the Jews out of the country by boat at night, risking their lives to save the lives of their countrymen. There was not a laugh in the forty minute story. It was however, gripping and in an important way, lovely.

I think Borge was a remarkable man.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Extra Stout
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 01:59 AM

Saw him in concert once. He was an awesome example of the triumph of the light. A Jewish refugee from the Nazis, he built his career on the universal bases of humor and music, without any of the bitterness that he was entitled to.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: bobby's girl
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 09:39 AM

I loved his humour - he could make me laugh til I cried. A sad loss indeed

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: sophocleese
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 09:50 AM

I saw him live once years ago when I was 15. I laughed until I fell over. He will be missed here but welcomed with open arms wherever he's gone.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 10:11 AM

I always enjoyed his comedy. A very unique and talented individual, Vitor will be missed deepy. Sail in peace to the great beyond. Neil

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: GUEST,Scott Wilkes
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 10:15 AM

I do believe the above messages convey all our feeling for a man with the best sense of timing and comedic ability that he could only share wiht those of his genre.Hasta la vista.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 10:52 AM

Generations of people had their ears opened to the beauty and meaning of classical music through the subtle teachings of this man: His humor, broad enough for young children but sophisticated and brilliantly timed enough to make adults laugh until their ribs ached -- even at something they knew was coming -- was a delightful vehicle to instruct. When he would ease the program into a full passage of music, small children in the audience would sit enthralled, wide-eyed and perfectly stilled.

What a great gift he gave to us all. What a great gift he was.

Sarah

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Sourdough
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 11:08 AM

Many of you may know that Victor Borge also gave us Rock Cornish Game Hens. Not literally - or maybe literally come to think of it.

In the early or mid-Fifties, his career was in full swing. It was simple to hire Victor Borge. You agreed to pay him $10,000 and he showed up at your hall. He handled all his own travel arrangements and expenses, etc. He had a tiny staff, perhaps just family. As a result, he was a favorite of the IRS. He had no deductions, no business expenses. He thought he was making a lot of money and was spending it as though he did. He bought a beautiful place in Denmark, for instance, although his home was in Connecticut.

One evening, at a cocktail party, he met Seymour Ziff who atr that time was the President and major owner of the New Haven Clock and Watch Company. As they talked, Ziff discovered Borge's problem and offered to help him out.

They started looking for tax shelters and found a big one under the wing of a Rock Cornish Game Hen. Borge founded Vi-Bo Farms and introduced the Game Hen to the US Mass market.

I don't know much about tax law but there was a limited period that it could be used to lose money against Borge's earnings. By the time it ran out, the Game Hen had been discovered and Vi-Bo Farms was a financial success.

I lost touch with the people involved so I don't know whether or not he kept the farms but every time you cook up a Rock Cornish Game Hen, give a thought to The Great Dane who led it there.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Musicman
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 12:07 PM

a great comedian....... they are few and far between.... ike bill cosby, those who can make us laugh without insulting, swearing and without telling a battery of bad jokes....... he had timing, wit, and subtlety. A wonderful sense of the physical humour as well....

yes, although I never saw him live (would have loved to) he will me sorely missed.......

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 12:44 PM

A bit like losing Steve Allen -- hard to think of it as a loss, more like a sense of a full life lived, and immense pleasure given. Grateful to have been graced by his presence. I remember talking to a stagehand in London once who was a curtain puller or something during an extended Borge series for a month during the 60's I think, and he said that the stagehands would stand in the wings or sneak out front every single show, he was so funny. That is pretty good homage.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Micca
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 01:15 PM

He will be sadly missed, I saw him live in the early 70s here in London,
One of his key phrases from one of his routines has gone into the English language and I heard it used on a serious news programme, earlier this year, and that is what I call a memorial...the phrase....."Its not over til'the Fat lady sings"

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: kendall
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 02:53 PM

I never laughed at Victor Borge..I was always afraid I would miss a line if I did. He was a genius alright..imagine being that funny in a foreign language! But, think of this..who is going to replace Borge, Heifitz, Segovia, Jack Benny, George Burns, Jackie Gleason etc? where are the potentially great performers? Mark Russell? funny yes, but not great. Bill Cosby? maybe. Benny Hill? hardly. Of course, it's all a matter of opinion, I like Tim Conway and Red Skelton.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: JedMarum
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 03:09 PM

I loved this man's humor and light! He was a gem.

One of my favorite Victor Borge stories was one he told on Johnny Carson some years ago. Victor said that he and his father (who was also a classically trained pianist) had been feuding, druing Victor's late teens/early 20 years - over Victor's staying out too late and enjoying the night life. So one night, when Victor came particularly late (and apparently 'merry') and decided to make a statement. He sat at the piano and played a loud flourishing major 7th, letting it die out slowly, and then went to bed. Sure enough, some moments later after he'd reached his room, he heard his father come down stairs to the piano in order to resolve the chord!

I had to laugh at that story. Such a lovely way to fight!

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: GUEST,LEJ
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 04:29 PM

Allan,great thread title.Victor is probably laughing about it somewhere in the hereafter.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Allan C.
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 04:35 PM

I had forgotten that story, Jed. Thanks for remembering it.

LEJ, I sorta thought he would, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 06:18 PM

A sad week indeed, Borge was a true genius, and will be sorely missed.

btw, Jed, I loved your story, and I really do hate to be a pedantic old git especially on Christmas Eve, but I suspect it was a dominant 7th chord he played, rather than a major 7th.

Merry Christmas

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Sourdough
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 09:40 PM

Peter T.

The stagehands became a part of his show when he worked a union house. His one man shows were considered under union contracts to be musicals so he had to hire a basic stage crew even though there was nothing for them to do. In NYC, he took to introducing them to the audience! All done with good humor, there was no bitterness, just a kind of naive wonder.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Troll
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 09:59 PM

I had the good fortune to see Victor Borge live a few years ago when he played Gainesville to a sold-out house. He had the ability to make all his old jokes and routines seem fresh and new and I laughed at them as hard as I did when I used to see him on Ed Sullivan.
At one point he asked if we were there for the music. On hearing that we were, he said that HE was there for the money. He then grabbed a piece of sheet music and walked to the front of the stage. Bending down, he asked a lady in the front row if she would like to buy the piece of music,"Only 85 cents."
The whole place went nuts.
One of the truly great comedic figures of our time is gone but the joy he brought to millions will live on.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 10:09 PM

Well, considering all the passings this year, and esp in the last few weeks, he is in good company.......

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 25 Dec 00 - 02:42 AM

When I saw him for the first time in Massachusetts 25 years ago, he was introduced, and walked in from the wings to center-stage into the spotlight, wher he proceeded to bow to the right side of the house, then to the left side of the house, and then to the center seats. He straightened up to thunderous applause, and when the applause had died down he exhaled a huge lungful of cigarette smoke. The crowd went nuts!

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: GUEST,Bernard Wilson
Date: 25 Dec 00 - 03:24 AM

I saw him twice in person, within 3 years. The act had few changes, but I laughed continuously from beginning to end both times.

One of my favorites - Borge playing some kind of Chinese sounding song, getting about halfway through, stopping, studying the sheet music, turning it right side up and starting over again with the William Tell Overture.

He also had a story about leaving Denmark ahead of the Germans, keeping a receipt for shoes that he dropped off to get re-heeled. The receiopt was a link to home. After the war, when he returned to Denmark, by now a famous man, he was out for a walk, passing the shoe repair place. He went inside, showed the receipt, told them he had kept it as a souvenir etc. The man said "My father probably gave that to you, he still works here part-time, is here today. I'll get him." Old man comes out, looks at the receipt and says "They'll be ready Tuesday."

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: Peter T.
Date: 25 Dec 00 - 12:56 PM

Thanks for the illumination, Sourdough. Must have been something similar in England. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 25 Dec 00 - 03:29 PM

I too was saddened to hear of his passing. I think it was he who first made me appreciate, dry, subtle humour. I'm sorry that I never got to see him perform in person, but I have seen him on T.V. several times and my parents had a couple of his albums. A brilliant comic.

God Bless you Victor.

Subject: RE: BS: Victor Borge (puttt)
From: JedMarum
Date: 25 Dec 00 - 09:54 PM

Murray - you're probably right about it beig a dominant 7th! Great story anyway!