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10 Comments on “I’m a Lonely Little Petunia: Imogen Heap”
Arthur Godfrey was a racist and an anti semite. He was also a megalomaniac who wanted to control everything and everyone on his radio and TV show. Godfrey called the talent on his show, “His little Godfrey’s” and he was going to be their parent who controlled their professional lives. He fired Julius La Rosa because he had the audacity to hire his own agent and wanted to control his own career. Godfrey also was a part owner in a Miami Beach hotel which displayed the sign at the front door, “No dogs, No Jews, no Negros”. Godfrey’s influence on the music industry was over rated because he was a shameless self promoter and his popularity waned after firing La Rosa.
The history of radio and television in the post war years would be better off relegating Godfrey to the scrap heap with other no talent bigots such as Walter Winchell.
Bob,
That horrible and I didn’t know that. I did know about him firing Julius LaRose, and I think it was live. I won’t post Burl Ives because of his politics so I’m going to do the same with AG.
Dick Cavett is entitled to have his opinion.
The anti semitic and racial charges may have been overblown and have to be analyzed in the light of the mores of the early 1950s, but firing of La Rosa on the air was purely an ego thing and Godfrey deserved the public’s punishment. He just got too big for his own good.
Arthur Godfrey fires Julius La Rosa on the air. Fans are shocked.
Jack Paar quits the Tonight Show and walks off the set on the air. Fans are shocked.
Charlie Sheen talks ragtime on the air. Fans are shocked (but mostly amused).
Fans are always shocked. Critics always play the ego card. Enemies come out of the woodwork and charge the offender will all kinds of nastiness.
I was too young to “get” Arthur Godfrey when he was popular and I still don’t but I suspect the truth about him lies somewhere between the extremes of those two links.
I’m curious about the additional research. I do like the song. I recall one of my favorite Dick Cavett shows was when he had Lester Maddox on his show, and Maddox walked off, because Cavett didn’t apologize.Two versions of Arthur or two versions or two Arthurs in one man.
i remember this song from captain kangaroo….i must admit there are times when i’ve found myself singing this in my head when
surrounded by certain crowds…
June 2, 2013 at 11:00 am
https://www.box.com/s/oaarodmhoidjbgx0w5bu
June 2, 2013 at 11:25 am
Arthur Godfrey was a racist and an anti semite. He was also a megalomaniac who wanted to control everything and everyone on his radio and TV show. Godfrey called the talent on his show, “His little Godfrey’s” and he was going to be their parent who controlled their professional lives. He fired Julius La Rosa because he had the audacity to hire his own agent and wanted to control his own career. Godfrey also was a part owner in a Miami Beach hotel which displayed the sign at the front door, “No dogs, No Jews, no Negros”. Godfrey’s influence on the music industry was over rated because he was a shameless self promoter and his popularity waned after firing La Rosa.
The history of radio and television in the post war years would be better off relegating Godfrey to the scrap heap with other no talent bigots such as Walter Winchell.
June 2, 2013 at 11:40 am
Bob,
That horrible and I didn’t know that. I did know about him firing Julius LaRose, and I think it was live. I won’t post Burl Ives because of his politics so I’m going to do the same with AG.
June 2, 2013 at 3:32 pm
I think Arthur may have somewhat been the victim of rumor and innuendo. Here is a different take on AG:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/16/more-of-our-man-godfrey/
June 2, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Xurando,
It does seem he got a bum rap. I should put up another of his song in the next few days as atonement!
Thanks!
June 2, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Dick Cavett is entitled to have his opinion.
The anti semitic and racial charges may have been overblown and have to be analyzed in the light of the mores of the early 1950s, but firing of La Rosa on the air was purely an ego thing and Godfrey deserved the public’s punishment. He just got too big for his own good.
http://www.yourememberthat.com/media/6099/Arthur_Godfrey_Fires_Julius_LaRosa/#.UaugSpVim68
June 2, 2013 at 4:22 pm
Bob,
It seems there are two versions of Arthur. I’ll have to do a bit more research.
June 3, 2013 at 5:44 am
Arthur Godfrey fires Julius La Rosa on the air. Fans are shocked.
Jack Paar quits the Tonight Show and walks off the set on the air. Fans are shocked.
Charlie Sheen talks ragtime on the air. Fans are shocked (but mostly amused).
Fans are always shocked. Critics always play the ego card. Enemies come out of the woodwork and charge the offender will all kinds of nastiness.
I was too young to “get” Arthur Godfrey when he was popular and I still don’t but I suspect the truth about him lies somewhere between the extremes of those two links.
June 2, 2013 at 9:03 pm
I’m curious about the additional research. I do like the song. I recall one of my favorite Dick Cavett shows was when he had Lester Maddox on his show, and Maddox walked off, because Cavett didn’t apologize.Two versions of Arthur or two versions or two Arthurs in one man.
June 3, 2013 at 11:04 am
i remember this song from captain kangaroo….i must admit there are times when i’ve found myself singing this in my head when
surrounded by certain crowds…