Leifer remembers that when she was growing up, her parents had “a lot of these albums, and I do remember as a kid hearing these albums at parties.” This was a time when it was really different and kind of underground.” Now, you turn on cable and you can see any of these acts at your disposal. At that time, to go see a comedian doing dirty jokes was a really hip, cool thing to do. In fact, while doing research for the special, Leifer discovered that Belle Barth “had an album called ‘The 4 a.m. Leifer acknowledged that not many have heard of these women, “but they really contributed to comedy.” Although the nature of their acts kept them from appearing on television during their heyday, “they played nightclubs all over, the true after-hours nightclubs.” “In this special the jokes are pretty racy, but I wanted to do it because I’ve always been a fan of these women who were out there at the time, like Rusty Warren and Pearl Williams and Belle Barth.” I really don’t work blue at all,” she said. Cut to Wembley crowd cheering.)Ĭontinue to the next sketch.Leifer’s comedy style is nothing like Berman’s. He doesn't get very far as a sixteen-ton wright is dropped on his head. Wiggin: And now Marcel will mime a man being struck about the head by a sixteen-ton weight. Wiggin: And now a short intermission during which Marcel Marceau will impersonate a man walking against the wind.

The head of John the Baptist has a Graham Hill moustache, obviously stuck on. (A head on a platter is pulled by a string across the floor.

Gumby: (Michael Palin) I would like to see John the Baptist's impersonation of Graham Hill. As he passes out of shot there is an explosion.) A sign hangs below his belly saying R101. (Cut to a sky backgrouned Napoleon comes into frame horizontally, moving along a wire very slowly. One of their top statesmen, Napoleon as the R101 disaster. Slowly his head starts to revolve as a musical box plays Swiss-type music. Ivan the Terrible comes in and splits the man in the middle in half with an immense two-handed sword: the model splits in two.) Three people are sitting in chain, only the middle one is a dummy. Wiggin: And now for our most ambitious attempt tonight - all the way from Moscow in the USS of R - Ivan the Terrible as a sales assistant in Freeman, Hardy and Willis. A boxing bell goes, slight pause, then she is hit on the side of the cheek with a boxing glove, and fallls straight on her back. (Florence Nightingale stands them with a lamp, simpering femininely. It's the very lovely Florence Nightingale as Brian London. Our next challenger comes all the way from the Crimea. Wiggin: Well done indeed, Julius Caesar, a smile, a conquest and a dagger up your strap. And now your favourite Roman Emperor Julius Caesar as Eddie Waring.Ĭaesar: (Eric Idle, in Waring voice) Tota gallia divisa est in tres partes Wigan, Hunslett and Hull Kingston Rovers. Wiggin: Cardinal Richelieu - sixteen stone of pure man. Richelieu: (Michael Palin) 'Don't sleep in the subway darling and don't stand in the pouring rain'. (Cut to Cardinal Richelieu, he mimes to the phrase from the record.) And we kick off tonight with Cardinal Richelieu and his impersonation of Petula Clark. Wiggin: (Michael Palin) Hello, good evening and welcome to Historical Impersonations. (Caption on screen : 'HISTORICAL IMPERSONATIONS' Fade applause and music.) And here is your host for tonight - Wally Wiggin. When you in the present can make those in the past stars of the future. Voice Over: (John Cleese) Yes, it's Historical Impersonations. Glittery linkman set, showbizzy music and applause.)

Dont sleep in the subway darling