Saturday 9: Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh

Saturday 9: Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (1963)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) TV writer Allan Sherman based this song on his own son's letters of complaint from camp. Did you go away to summer camp?  No. I've usually lived in rural areas or small towns. It just wasn't something that was done. At least not by anyone I knew.

2) Our camper is afraid of both bears and alligators. What animal scares you?  Snakes. 

3) One of his fellow campers developed poison ivy rash. Have you ever experienced redness and itching caused by poison ivy or poison sumac?  No. I used to be one of the luck few who seem to be immune. I haven't been exposed to any recently, though, so I don't know if that's still true or not.

4) Early in his career, Allan Sherman created the game show I've Got a Secret, which became a big hit. What's your all-time favorite TV game show?  I don't watch game shows very often these days, but I just saw The Price Is Right with one of my clients. I still enjoyed it...even though Drew Carey is no Bob Barker! Back in the day I used to like To Tell the Truth. I think that was the name, anyway. Three people would claim to be the same person and the celebrity panel would ask questions to try and figure out which one was telling the truth.

5) In 1959 he moved from New York to Hollywood, where he transitioned from writing to performing almost by accident. As a lark, he entertained at the parties of his next-door neighbor, Harpo Marx. A recording company executive heard him and offered him a contract. Tell us about the last party you attended.  Uh....I think it might have been our grandson's birthday party in December! We're partying today, though. It's not the actual day, but we are celebrating our granddaughter's 2nd birthday today. Last year's party was a big blowout with a huge fireworks display at the end. This year is just family and no fireworks.

6) Allan Sherman got unexpected press attention and a boost in record sales when it was discovered that President John F. Kennedy was a fan. What's something you purchased because of a recommendation from someone else (friend, relative, celebrity endorsement ...)?  I can't think of anything specific, but it was most likely a book. I don't take the advice of others that much when choosing anything else.

7) In 1963, the year "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh" was popular, Studebaker stopped producing cars in the United States. What was your family car when you were growing up?  I remember a Mustang, a Grand Torino station wagon, a Caprice Classic, a Bronco, a GMC Jimmy, a Fiesta, and a Renault Alliance.

8) Also in 1963, Vogue magazine did a cover story on how make wearing white "new and exciting." What color do you look best in? Is it the color you wear most often?  I don't know what I look best in. Tim always says pink, but....ew, pink. I wear a lot of black with one color to brighten it up.

9) Random question: Have you ever gone on to have a platonic relationship with a former lover?  No.

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