Thursday, November 13 (7:30 p.m.)
Here’s Edie: The Best of Edie Adams on Television (1962-1964)
Edie Adams (1927-2008) may be best known as the Muriel Cigar girl, for her movie roles in The Apartment and It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, or for being the wife of actor and comedian Ernie Kovacs. Her work as creator/producer/star of her own variety series on ABC or as a pioneer television conservationist is often overlooked. Adams’ tireless efforts going back to the 1960s to locate, acquire and save the television programs of her late husband won Kovacs a new generation of fans in the 1970s, and two recent DVD box sets have done even more to boost his reputation as “television’s original genius.” This program of highlights from Adams’ successful and inventive variety series Here’s Edie (ABC, 1962-64) will be presented by Ben Model, archivist for the Kovacs/Adams collection. The 21 episodes of the show were released on a DVD box set last year, thanks to the work of Adams’ son Josh Mills, and had been unseen since they first aired. Look for guest stars Sammy Davis, Jr., Terry-Thomas, Rowan & Martin and Soupy Sales among others in the songs and sketches that will be presented.
Friday, November 14 (7:30 p.m.)
Marcel Perez: International Silent Comedian Rediscovered (1912-1925)
Probably the greatest silent film comedian you’ve never heard of is Spanish-born Marcel Perez. Part of the first generation of sc