I thought you might be interested to hear the different (and similar) stories of fellow Kovacs fans who've written in (I've left out names and e-mail addresses for authors' privacy).It's nice to see Ernie's still getting fan mail.
I was thrilled to find your Ernie Kovacs home page. I consider myself to be somewhat of an "involved" expert and fan of/on Kovacs. I don't know what it is about Kovacs, but when I was a teenager and first learned about his work, watched the Chicago PBS series introduced by his good friend Jack Lemmon, and explored further, I totally felt connected somehow, some way. It was impossible for me to have seen any of his work because I was born in 1963, but it was like deja vu. I felt like I knew the work and had seen it all before but there was just no way. Weird.As a broadcast journalism major at Temple University in Philadelphia form 1981-1985, I spent much of my formal studio education in every one of Kovacs's old studios on Walnut Street. The Temple Center City building, which was originally WPTZ, then KYW, was given to Temple by Westinghouse Broadcasting when they moved to Independence Mall in the early 70's. The Mike Douglas Show originated from the same studios. I swear the studios were haunted! I ended up beginning my career (also in local radio) in Philadelphia, eventually moving on to public relations.
I, too, am a cigar chomping Hungarian in the Kovacs mold. In fact, in 1986, Temple Center City, in association with the MOB in NYC, held a Kovacs video series, including a live event with Edie Adams. When I met Edie, it was like we both connected before ever saying a word. Also at that event was many of Ernie's old tech crew (Andy and the like) who had some great memorabilia, including original E.E.F.M.S. membership cards and the like.
I have many of the commercially-available tapes of Ernie but sometimes it's like beating a dead horse to get anyone to watch from our generation. For the folks who were around in the 50's and early 60's before Ernie's untimely death, I feel his memory is just a footnote in the history of comedy although his influence has been great.
Thanks for doing this. I am glad there are people like you who take initiative. I always liked Kovacs. I will also always remember his wife's commercial for Muriel Cigars.
Congrats on setting up a page that's overdue! I'm now living in Sydney, Australia, but was fortunate as a kiddie to be on the Kovacs show, as part of my public school choir, at xmas, circa 1952. I met the man and his lovely wife, and was a card carrying E.E.F.M.S. member for several years.
Few people realize his influence on modern comedy. Lenny overshadowed him a bit...
I'm a HUGE fan of Ernie Kovacs! I think the man was absolutely brilliant. I remember a long time ago when I first got on the web I looked for a site but to no avail.
I'm so glad you've built a website for Ernie Kovacs! And, despite the fact that he was not a silent film comic, I AM going to link your site to my links page (which, as you know, is solely dedicated to silent film links) - I feel strongly that his greatness is rooted in the tradition of the "sight gag," and he so beautifully married the new technology of television with the concept of words NOT needed to accomplish the laugh.
Hi. I just wanted to let you know that my dad is a big fan of Ernie Kovacs and I've searched for sites about him before with no luck. I was glad to see your page! I'll be checking back from time to time to see how it is going...I don't know anything about Kovacs, but your site is a big help in filling in that gap. Thanks!
Thank God for more Kovacs fans! Kovacs is my comedy guru and I've often wondered why there were no good web pages for him. Yours is great. If we can get a fan club going, I'm in! Ernie's the best! I'm a member of MTR and spend much time there watching Kovacs. I'm always looking for tapes. If anybody has a copy of "Three To Get Ready," I'd love to get my hands on it. I'm also interested in where you got "Zoomar." I'd love to get a copy and a friend of mine who deals in rare books couldn't find it. The book holds particular interest for me because I majored in broadcasting. Another interesting Ernie book is "How to Talk at Gin." Its his humorous outlook on the proper etiquette while gambling at various rummy games. I was able to find it at the Yonkers library, unlike Zoomar. Your facts are very straight and I didn't notice any mistakes. Things I've wanted to do:
Video Yesteryear used to sell great Kovacs tapes ("Kovacs on the Corner" "Take a Good Look") but I think they lost the rights and had to stop selling them. Great clips at MTR of Kovacs hosting "Tonight" when Steve Allen (another favorite of mine) got too busy with his Sunday night variety show. Also, the Whitestar thing you mentioned is great. Warning to Kovacs fans: I ordered it on sale and the tapes were loaded with dropout and glitches. It does come with a pack of "Dutch Master" cigars (which Ernie really despised, he loved his Cubans) which was a nice touch. When I returned the tapes they sent me a new set which was better, but not by much. Was watchable though. Look for video stores going out of business. A friend of mine saw all five volumes at one, called me, and the next day when I went back all they had was volume three! Had I been there the day before I could have gotten each one for three bucks each! People grab Ernie when the see his stuff because its hard to find! There is also a tape that Rhino used to have (they may still) called "Kovacs! He Broke The Rules That Made Us Laugh." Its pretty decent.
Hi, and thanks, from a long-time Kovacs fan who has found there is a great scarcity of info (and fellow fans) on Kovacs. It's good to know I'm not the only person who has heard of Kovacs (or thinks he was one of the funniest, most under-rated persons on TV).
I was an e.k. fan & even had an EEFMS red member card signed by Ernie in pencil. Now I can't find it. It was from his radio show in NYC. He was a true innovator. Who can forget the Nairobis, Percy Dovetonsils, and of course the Kapusta Kid in Outer Space?
THANX FOR YOUR TRIBUTE TO THIS GENIUS. I AM 34, AND WAS TURNED ON TO ERNIE IN THE LATE '60 S BY MY FATHER. MY UNCLE WAS AN AQUAINTANCE OF ERNIES, AND WAS ALSO A COMEDY WRITER... ANYWAY THANX AGAIN.
thanks for setting up this page. the last kovacs stuff I saw was the PBS show that aired years ago. I'm looking forward to getting some of his tapes. One of my favorite music bits was his treatment of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. Sort of more quirky than funny. Great stuff. thx again.
I have been a Kovacs fan since the late 50s. It was such a joy to find his show on tv as it was on a very obscure schedule. I was born in 1952 and have been influenced by Ernie's humor most of my life. I have a rock band and we go by the name of The Nairobi Trio. Keep up the good work!
Thank you. Keep up the good work. I gave a seminar on Ernie Kovacs at Oberlin College here in Cleveland. The kids were amazed that every sight gag they had ever seen was originally done by Kovacs.
I have heard OF Ernie Kovacs but I never actually have seen any of his work. From what I read on your site, I probably should. When did he die? I swear he reincarnated as Joel Hodgson [of MST3K] (although I think Ernie was still alive when Joel was born -- shoots that idea to hell).
My home town is Trenton, N.J. and I lived a couple of blocks from where Ernie lived...(Ashmore Ave.). My uncles, who lived near Princeton NJ, in a farm ladden town called Pennington, personnally knew him and used to tell me stories about him. He and Edie Adams used to visit the Wargo Farm. Even though we both have the same last names, there is no family relationship.(Kovacs means Smith in Hungarian). I've been told but I cannot verify that my grandmother was his god-mother! If you have any questions I might be able to help out.
Last night I was sitting at home watching Nick at night. I saw the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Ernie was the guest star. That was the last time Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel appeared together. I think it was Ernie's last TV apperance besides the ABC special that was shown after his death. I resolved last night to search the Web for an Ernie page. Thank you, this is wonderful.
I am a big fan of Kovacs and have been for a long time. He doesn't get the recognition or credit he deserves. Good luck with the site.
God, I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find a Website about Ernie Kovacs. I was born & grew up in NYC, graduated from Hunter College, and left the NE soon afterwards. One of the most disturbing aspects about being away from large cities, there is hardly anyone I can communicate with who remembers early TV or Ernie. My husband, 49, grew up in the poor south, and didn't have TV until nearly college age. I was more fortunate, my Dad owned a bar/restaurant in NYC, and we had TV in the early-mid 50's, when it was first available. He bought one for the bar, and one for our home.
I just loved Ernie Kovacs, and was very impressed with Edie Adams' talents also. I was so upset when he died, and how he died, and felt bad when Edie somewhat dropped out of the industry, even though I know she was in bad financial need.
I also remember the front page of the Daily News (daily rag) when they showed Ernie's car, and body slumped across the seat. It was awful. In those days, they got away with that sort of tastelessness.
I was on rec.arts.tv, following the thread discussing the current TV Guide's pick of the top 50 TV personalities, past and present, and I posted a message stating that I can't trust any such list if it doesn't included Ernie Kovacs.
I received an email this morning from someone who asked, "Ernie, who?"
I'm directing them to your Web page.
Came across your web site through a link from Annette D'Agostino's Harold Lloyd site. I'm a big Harold and silents fan, but one of my earliest TV memories is of Kovacs -- specifically, the night he died. Fave bits: The Nairobi Trio, "John!", the great branch-sawing closing, and the dancing kitchen appliances. Ernie lives!
This holiday, in a rare display of inter-generation unity, my mother and I forced my teenager to listen to our discussion of the intellectual superiority of '50 comic TV over current offerings (part of our continuing discussions on the dumbing down of America series). Of course the discussion eventually hit the "Comic Genius of Ernie Kovacs" thread. As we attempted to impart our collective knowledge of Ernie to the MTV-brained kid, we were dismayed to realize that neither of us could remember who Ernie was married to. Thankfully, I found your webpage and filled in this gap in my memory banks.
Thanks again for providing this service!
Thanks for taking the time to create your Ernie Kovacs website. From the first time I was exposed to Ernie, which happened to be at the Dallas Video Festival, his work has been about the strongest influence on my perception of what broadcasting should be. I had already found the Whitestar home video collection and the Ernie Kovacs Phile but I appreciate the additional stuff you have. Anyhow, this Thursday (Jan 9) is the beginning of the 10th annual Dallas Video Festival and I believe they are awarding the Ernie Kovacs award to Joel Hodgson (of MST 3K fame) and Edie Adams is also scheduled to appear. Once again, thanks for your site!
I've been hooked by the Kovacs mystique since 1977, when I was 15. Since then I've aquired a lot of "stuff" on Ernie, and had some pretty interesting experiences, which I owe to the fact that I live in L.A....one (I think) good story: in 1978 Ernie's home on Bowmont Dr. was for sale(by Edie)-I talked my mom into "fronting" for me as a potential buyer, and we toured the house, which Edie no longer lived in but had been renting out. To my shock and delight, the place was literally and *completely* unchanged since 1962. I mean, the legendary Den was untouched, and all of Ernie's books & records were lining the "study". Also the phones had not been "modernized",etc.
A few years later, by sheer coincidence, a woman I worked with mentioned to me that she knew Kippie and Bette as teenagers and young adults-and had known Mary, Ernie's mother,very well. I eventually met Kippie-and Kippie's daughter Keigh, Ernie's only grandchild. Kippie was once married to Bill Lancaster-Burt Lancaster's son-so Keigh's grandparents were Ernie and Burt! Strange but true!
Congrats again on the site!
Thanks for doing the Kovac's page. He has been an inspiration to me and many in the comedy group I am in.