September 28, 2003

Donald O'Connor, 1925 - 2003.

Donald O'Conner "The man who performed the most sensational solo number in the history of musical comedy is dead. 'Make 'em Laugh' was like an expression of Mr. O'Connor's showbiz philosophy. Using a movie set as a backdrop, he danced, did acrobatics, tumbled to the floor, engaged in a one-sided fight with a dummy, and ran up a wall to do a backflip - singing most of the time."

- Roger Ebert.

Make 'em laugh
Make 'em laugh
Don't you know everyone wants to laugh?
(Ha ha!)
My dad said "Be an actor, my son
But be a comical one
They'll be standing in lines
For those old honky tonk monkeyshines"

Now you could study Shakespeare and be quite elite
And you can charm the critics and have nothin' to eat
Just slip on a banana peel
The world's at your feet
Make 'em laugh
Make 'em laugh
Make 'em laugh



Bookmark and Share

Posted by dwhudson at September 28, 2003 12:43 PM

Comments

I'm sorry Ebert didn't mention the splendidly second-string "I Love Melvin," but that's no reason we shouldn't.

Posted by: Ray at September 28, 2003 3:29 PM

Make 'em Laugh, indeed. Amen.

Posted by: Matt at September 28, 2003 5:21 PM

Yep, you'd definitely have to make 'em laugh after Kazan finked 'em out.

Posted by: Ed at September 28, 2003 6:38 PM

Donald O'Connor is all-round the most outstanding performer I can think of. He will always have my utmost praise! God bless him!

Posted by: Elaine at August 3, 2004 6:39 PM