Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve

Ruth Wallis


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Meet Ruth Wallis who playfully scandalized America in the 1950s and 60s with her naughty ditties. First a cabaret singer specializing in big band jazz, Ruth found the double entendre novelty numbers she slipped in her set got the biggest response. She reworked her set around those tunes and many albums and tours followed until she was eclipsed by newer comics willing to work much more "blue". But after she retired, Ruth found a new audience courtesy of Dr. Demento and she kept reissuing her recordings for years. As always, find full cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows.

Want more Ruth Wallis?

Here's a bonus -- the full version of Davy's Dinghy -- a classic Ruth number that introduced her to a new generation of fans thanks to heavy airplay on the Dr. Demento show. https://youtu.be/bGHLCeDjH_E

Ruth had a gift for novelty tunes, and they weren't always blue. Her first effort, which reached the lower rungs of the music charts, was Dear Mr. Godfrey, based on Arthur Godfrey's firing of singer Julius LaRosa for "lacking humility." Ruth nominates herself to fill the void! https://youtu.be/-wpznMXAuG4

In the 1950s naughtiness was frowned on by the authorities in most countries, usually with the result that the targeted works became even more popular. Ruth had her tunes "banned in Boston" and her records were confiscated by Australian customs. This rare skit from an Aussie variety show features Ruth in song and a great skit about her legal travails. And as always, it only made her more famous! https://youtu.be/HPf7TRAJkSg

Ruth's songs usually were based on double entendres and there is no better example than this -- The Hawaiian Lei Song, one of her most popular. https://youtu.be/H4PnSX5Oruc

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Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and SteveBy Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan

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