Ms. Buzzi is perhaps best-remembered as the spinster 'Gladys Ormphby' (photo below) on the comedy-sketch tv show, "Laugh-In". She'd wear a long dress and her hair in a bun covered by a visible hairnet. In those sketches, Arte Johnson would play the 'dirty old man' character 'Tyrone'. A typical exchange would have her sitting on a park bench, and along would come Johnson who'd sit down next to her. He'd ask, "Do you believe in the hereafter?" She'd reply, "Of course I do!". Then he'd say, "Well then, you know what I'm here after!" and she'd proceed to bash him with her purse.
In 1982 I sent Ms. Buzzi this photo and she returned it within two weeks. I was hoping she'd also send a photo of herself as 'Gladys Ormphby' but no such luck.I wasn't able to find a video from "Laugh-In", but here is a video of Ruth (as 'Gladys') 'roasting' George Burns on a Dean Martin show.
Do you remember her doing a shirley temple impression and singing "On the good ship lollipop? I want to know what show that was on.
ReplyDeleteShe sang it on a battleship and did a hell of a striptease. I believe that was on one of the The Bob Hope Christmas specials.
ReplyDeleteHere is an episode of Donnie & Marie featuring Buddy Hackett....AND RUTH BUZZI!! Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI really like the Ruth Buzzi photo from 1982. She has aged very well! I'm doing an art project about comedians, and I'm looking for a photo of Ms. Buzzi to get me started. Can I use your photo as a model for a drawing of Ms. Buzzi (or a subject based on Ruth Buzzi)? I'm going to get back to my research, but I wanted to congratulate you on your website. Very cool! Peace.
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