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Thread: Phil Harris

  1. #1
    Danny62 Guest

    Phil Harris

    Bandleader, Vocalist, Actor. Phil Harris was a versatile performer excelling on many levels as a performer. After settling in California at an early age, he formed the Phil Harris Band which performed in the late twenties and early thirties while recording many novelty songs..."Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette," "Up A Lazy River," "Stars Fell on Alabama," "Row, Row, Row," "Is It True What They Say About Dixie," and his most successful "Thats What I Like About the South." Harris had a fledgling career in the movies with a film debut in RKO's "So This is Harris" which won the 1932 Academy Award for best short subject, comedy category. Phil became part of the popular radio show starring Jack Benny as the musical director. He would sing and lead the band while exchanging comedy quips with Jack. His signature song was "That's What I Like About the South." He would marry Actress Alice Faye and the couple would forever be linked synonymously. With Alice Faye, Harris hosted the "Fitch Bandwagon" radio series until the couple starred in their own radio program, The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, a domestic situation comedy where Harris and Faye played themselves while actresses played their real daughters. Work was scare in the 60's and 70's but he turned to appearances on popular television shows such as The Kraft Music Hall, The Dean Martin Show and Hollywood Palace but a few. His career was revitalized and children were delighted with his work in Disney films providing the voice in the animated feature, "The Aristocats" for Thomas O'Malley and again for Little John in the animated movie "Robin Hood." Probably his best, "The Jungle Book" an animated tale about a boy raised in the woods by animals where he provided the voice for Baloo the Bear while singing the tune, "The Bare Necessities." He was born Wonga Phillip in Linton, Indiana the only child of Harry and Dollie Harris his father a vaudeville musician. His dad would put him on the path to show business by teaching him to play several musical instruments including the drums. At age nine, he was drumming at the Nicklo Theater in Linton as well as doing various theatre sounds. The family moved to Nashville when eleven and although still a teenager found employment as a drummer with the Francis Craig's orchestra. He discarded Wonga Phillip becoming simply Phil Harris going on to form his own group called 'Dixie Syncopators" which performed throughout the south with Phil singing comedy vocals. In World War II, he served in the Merchant Marines. He kind of simply faded away from the Hollywood scene to being a business man in Palm Springs while becoming a spokesperson and benefactor for the famous resort with all the golf courses. A health problem forced a brief Palm Springs hospital stay. He would pass away some two years later at age 91 from a heart condition at his Rancho Mirage residence. Cremation was performed and his wife of fifty four years, Alice Faye kept his ashes until her own death. After her cremation, both urns were placed in a companion niche in the outdoor Palm Springs Mausoleum located at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Legacy...He had great empathy for his home town and gave back to Linton, Indiana. The Linton Library is the repository for the donated show business memorabilia collection of the famous couple. The small town is also home of the Phil Harris Celebrity Weekend. This is an annual event with friend Roy Clark continuing the tradition the couple began. It is held during the 4th of July weekend which includes a variety show featuring Clark. Phil was an avid golfer and the winner of many amateur golf tournaments. A namesake golf course outside Linton hosts a tournament with proceeds funding scholarships for local graduating seniors from Linton-Stockton High School. Many celebrities have taken part in this tournament including Jimmy Dean, Boots Randolph, Tommy Smothers but a few. Phil would attend annually until his death and relished strolling around the course signing autographs and huddling with the participants in picture taking sessions. He was inducted into the Indiana Hall of Fame two years before his death. Harris was a longtime resident and benefactor to the California desert city of Palm Springs. He was an early 1930 homeowner at the Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, the first prototype community to be constructed surrounding a golf course. Many such area enclaves would follow and copy the concept while spawning a slew of classic golf tournaments televised nationally. Harris was a tireless promoter of the sport in the Palm Springs area chairing many charity events while doing golf commentary during tournaments. The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce noted this and honored both Harris and Alice Faye "Honorary Mayor & Mayoress" holding this distinction until 1971

    June 24, 1904-Aug 11, 1995

    Last edited by Danny62; 11-06-2007 at 07:48 PM.

  2. #2
    Jaxxx Guest
    I liked Alice Faye, she was a real beauty. I saw her when she was getting old on "State Fair" with Pat Boone (EEK!)

  3. #3
    Danny62 Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Jaxxx View Post
    I liked Alice Faye, she was a real beauty. I saw her when she was getting old on "State Fair" with Pat Boone (EEK!)

    GAG ME!!!! LOL

  4. #4
    poppie Guest
    Phil Harris was da man!!!! When he appeared with Jack Benny, Phil was never funnier. I think it was he who said about Benny - You could put a dress on him and take him any where. Harris has the samewhat reputation that Dean Martin had - Always a drink in his hand or under his belt, and a who gives a damn attitude. It is such a shame that some of the younger Forum members never got to hear Phil Harris/see him on TV.

  5. #5
    Danny62 Guest
    I listen to alot of the old Phil Harris, Alice Faye radio shows...they are pretty damn funny!!

  6. #6
    blair Guest
    Here's a great Dean Martin & Phil Harris on YouTube bit where they do their own rendition of the old Gallagher & Sheen routine.

  7. #7
    radiojane Guest

    Phil Harris




    I absolutely love this guy, and I'm tired of non death hags and non hollywood buffs looking at me and going "Who the hell is that?" I'm hoping some of you remember this guy and have a few tidbits, or at least know his wife. She made a few movies..... Her name was Alice Faye.

    Here's what I know

    Phil Harris
    1904- 1995

    Married To Marcia Ralston '27-'40 divorced
    Alice Faye '41-'95


    Wikipedia says that he and Ralston adopted a son. Weird thing is, the only thing I have ever seen on this kid is a caption on a photo in Joan Benny's book about her father Jack Sunday Nights At Seven, of a "Tookie Harris". The two daughters he had with Faye are mentioned often (There names are Phyllis and Alice....hmmm.... Guess Lucy and Desi weren't the only egomaniac parents), and even were portrayed on the radio sitcom. There is virtually nothing on the boy. I would love to know more.

    He hosted the Bing Crosby golf Pro Am after Der Bingle bit it.

    Disney himself courted him to voice Baloo

    When he was appearing on Jack Benny's radio show and his own, he used to half to do the first half of Benny's show then run down the block to his own because Benny's aired on CBS and Harris' was on NBC

    He sang novelty songs like "The Thing" and "Ain't Nobody Here But us Chickens". His signature song was "That's what I like about the south"

    His loutish drunken radio antics were said to have inspired the later Dean Martin stage personae.

    His last film work was the voice of Patoo in Rockadoodle. He was in his late 80's.

    He started his career as a bandleader at Ciro's and the Trocadero.

    His whole band enlisted in the navy during WWII.


    This is a bit from the Dean Martin show that cracks me up...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2mjU-_PnEE

    .....and more funnies.....

    Internet Archive: Details: The Alice Faye / Phil Harris Show

    I love his old radio shows, and his movies. Some of his dialog was priceless.

    " One of these days, I'm going to Doo- waaa his ditty!!!!"

    -Walter Tetley was one of the voice actors on his radio show, another big talent with an odd and tragic life. Love to have more on him too.




    Last edited by radiojane; 10-15-2008 at 12:19 AM.

  8. #8
    Giada Guest
    Just remember the bare necessities, mother nature's recipe's, the simple bare necessities of life ...

    My fav Phil Harris

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o

  9. #9
    radiojane Guest
    I also liked him as little john in the Disney Robin Hood


    ..." and he calls for mom, while he's suckin' his thumb..... you see..... he doesn't wanna play....."

  10. #10
    ByrdSar Guest
    Wow...he was the voice of Baloo the bear? Didn't know that. Learn something new everyday I guess...

  11. #11
    lobosco107 Guest
    I read the the son he adopted, Phil Harris Jr. died a few years ago. I'll see what I can dig up.

    Phil Harris was a great bandleader, singer, comedian, actor...he could do it all.

  12. #12
    radiojane Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by lobosco107 View Post
    I read the the son he adopted, Phil Harris Jr. died a few years ago. I'll see what I can dig up.

    Phil Harris was a great bandleader, singer, comedian, actor...he could do it all.

    That would be great! He truly was amazing... I love his work.

  13. #13
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    I liked how he always called Jack Benny "Jackson". Cracked me up. And I loved Baloo, but who didn't.

  14. #14
    lobosco107 Guest
    The only thing I could find is Phil Harris Jr. died of a heart attack in 2001 at the age of 66.

  15. #15
    Danny62 Guest
    I have alot of episodes of THe Phil Harris and Alice Faye show on tape..they were great shows!!!

    I think he had great timing as a comedian.

  16. #16
    radiojane Guest
    This is a peripheral thing, but I didn't feel it warranted a new thread. If you've heard any of the Phil Harris/Alice Faye show recordings with the warm-up done by Harris still intact, you hear him thank "The kid who steals the show every week". Walter Tetley. He played the grocery boy Julius Abruzzio. Well, I was curious about him so I did some digging. Turns out he had some disease or defect that caused him to basically be a man trapped in a boys body (and consequently with a boy's voice) all his life. He did voice work all over all mediums, including on Rocky and Bullwinkle later on. He died relatively young too. I haven't been able to find much more out. I don't even know where he's interred. But he looks like an interesting story, and apparently Harris really liked him.

    This is him

  17. #17
    lobosco107 Guest

  18. #18
    GoldwynGal Guest
    I loved Phil Harris! When I was growing up he was actually a big TV personality. He did all the variety shows. I remember seeing the gawdawfullest performance with him and Johnny Cash. They were singing Phil's theme song and Cash was either stoned or just plain didn't know the words. It was bad.

    Harris rocked though. I loved his Disney movies, and my kids loved Rockadoodle. I think it was cool he was married to Alice Faye. They seemed so mismatched, but they lasted a long time

  19. #19
    GoldwynGal Guest
    Oh god. The Cash thing is on youtube. What a hell of a bad performance!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4kkjzdYOok

  20. #20
    radiojane Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by GoldwynGal View Post
    Oh god. The Cash thing is on youtube. What a hell of a bad performance!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4kkjzdYOok

    Oh my.....

  21. #21
    Marauder Guest

    Phil Harris Junior

    I worked with Phil Harris Junior for many years. He was an Air Traffic Controller. I know he worked at Denver, but I worked with him for many years at the Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center. He was a manager there, then worked with new systems etc.

    We worked many project together till all hours and used to eat together. I enjoyed working with him, but he was a character.

    Then then went to be the assistant manager at New York, but later returned to Fort Worth and I once again worked with him.

    He didn't talk about his father ever, but did mention being with his mother when he was pretty young. She was doing a part and everyone brought him ice cream and other goodies.

    He had two children, both girls. He married a second time, then retired. He died while on vacation. I think he was is Ireland at the time. I was glad he was happily married and enjoying himeself.

    I didn't know that he was adopted. He looked a lot like Phil Harris, Sr. And had a similar voice, but not quite as low. He could be hard to work with at times, but we worked well together and I miss him.

  22. #22
    radiojane Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Marauder View Post
    I worked with Phil Harris Junior for many years. He was an Air Traffic Controller. I know he worked at Denver, but I worked with him for many years at the Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center. He was a manager there, then worked with new systems etc.

    We worked many project together till all hours and used to eat together. I enjoyed working with him, but he was a character.

    Then then went to be the assistant manager at New York, but later returned to Fort Worth and I once again worked with him.

    He didn't talk about his father ever, but did mention being with his mother when he was pretty young. She was doing a part and everyone brought him ice cream and other goodies.

    He had two children, both girls. He married a second time, then retired. He died while on vacation. I think he was is Ireland at the time. I was glad he was happily married and enjoying himeself.

    I didn't know that he was adopted. He looked a lot like Phil Harris, Sr. And had a similar voice, but not quite as low. He could be hard to work with at times, but we worked well together and I miss him.
    That's so cool to know. I am a huge, huge Phil Harris fan, and while there was a good deal of info on Phyllis and Alice (his daughters from his marriage to Faye), there was little on Phil Jr. In my copy of the Benny bio, there's a pic of him playing with Joan Benny and George Burns' daughter, and they called him "tookie". I think thats the only pic I ever saw of him.

  23. #23
    Giada Guest
    Thanks for the post Marauder ...

    Phil Sr's bio states two daughter and an adopted son, nothing more.

  24. #24
    steve6 Guest

    with john wayne

    He was terrific in "The High and the Mighty," a sort of cultish, very 50-ish plane-disaster film starring John Wayne and Robert Stack.

    In fact, "Airplane!" was very much based on this film.

  25. #25
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    Love Phil. Always called Jack Benny "Jackson". Loved that. He was one of those characters that I wish we had more of.
    Cindy

  26. #26
    radiojane Guest
    I love using old movie quotes and dialogue as ringtones on my blackberry. Everytime my best friend calls I have Joan Crawford saying "There's a name for you ladies, but it isn't used in high society, outside of a kennel", and when my mom calls it's Paul Lynde going "Does your mother know what you're doing?" (My boyfriend makes me shut my phone off during "private" time now because that one creeps him out).

    If I ever have time, I'm sitting down and listening to every second of my Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show and Jack Benny Program recordings and clipping Phil's audio for ringtones. I'd love to have "Hi ya Jackson" or even Remley's "I know a guy" as ringtones.

  27. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buttercup View Post
    Love Phil. Always called Jack Benny "Jackson". Loved that. He was one of those characters that I wish we had more of.
    Check this out from Wiki about how he balanced his Show and his time on Jack Benny:


    "Because the Phil Harris show aired immediately after Benny's on a different network (Harris and Faye were still on NBC, whereas Benny jumped his show to CBS in 1949), Harris would only appear during the first half of Jack's show; he would then leave the CBS studio and walk approximately one block to his own studio down the street, arriving just in time for the start of his own program."

    Now that is cool. You can imagine him halfway through the Benny show shouting out a 'Later Jackson' during the commercial break (no doubt a Lucky Strike Makes Fine Tobacco aka LSMFT one) as he left that Studio and walking in the door of his own Studio with a 'Heya Alice!'
    Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
    Check out Floyd's new Band:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8

  28. #28
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    I saw him I think on Here's Lucy and I remember him singing a song he wrote to a woman who he hadn't seen in a long time. He sang the song and the tears were just rolling down his eyes it seemed so real it was spooky.
    Now I have to go watch some porn after writing this emotional thread.
    When you lose a parent you lose your past. When you lose a spouse you lose your present. When you lose a child you lose your future.
    R.I.P Kim: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...336317&df=all&
    R.I.P Dad http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=93315851
    R.I.P Mom http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=97780420

  29. #29
    radiojane Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by johnny View Post
    Check this out from Wiki about how he balanced his Show and his time on Jack Benny:


    "Because the Phil Harris show aired immediately after Benny's on a different network (Harris and Faye were still on NBC, whereas Benny jumped his show to CBS in 1949), Harris would only appear during the first half of Jack's show; he would then leave the CBS studio and walk approximately one block to his own studio down the street, arriving just in time for the start of his own program."

    Now that is cool. You can imagine him halfway through the Benny show shouting out a 'Later Jackson' during the commercial break (no doubt a Lucky Strike Makes Fine Tobacco aka LSMFT one) as he left that Studio and walking in the door of his own Studio with a 'Heya Alice!'
    John Dunning's encyclopedia of OTR describes it more like having to run between studios. Something that wasn't uncommon among in demand radio workers like Bea Benederet, Gale Gordon, Elliot Lewis etc.

  30. #30
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    very true, very true. Bea Benederet, Gale Gordon, Elliot Lewis, Mary Croft, and Phil Harris were in huge demand.

    I love the podcasts that are available. Jack Benny, Phil Harris and Alice Faye, etc

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/j...st/id291367201
    Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
    Check out Floyd's new Band:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8

  31. #31
    radiojane Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by johnny View Post
    very true, very true. Bea Benederet, Gale Gordon, Elliot Lewis, Mary Croft, and Phil Harris were in huge demand.

    I love the podcasts that are available. Jack Benny, Phil Harris and Alice Faye, etc

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/j...st/id291367201

    It really is a gift that so much otr is in the public domain. At the same time it's truly frustrating to know how much was never preserved .

  32. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by radiojane View Post
    It really is a gift that so much otr is in the public domain. At the same time it's truly frustrating to know how much was never preserved .

    very much, so.

    but still lots to left to savor.
    phil harris singing 'the thing' is a classic.
    Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
    Check out Floyd's new Band:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8

  33. #33
    radiojane Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by johnny View Post
    very much, so.

    but still lots to left to savor.
    phil harris singing 'the thing' is a classic.
    I love his version of the preacher and the bear.

  34. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by radiojane View Post
    I love his version of the preacher and the bear.
    the preacher and the bear, very good stuff.

    here is the steve allen show with guest star phil harris circa the late 50's. nice period piece (fun to see the other stars of steve allen: jonathan winters, don knotts, pat harrington jr, etc.)
    catch the intro in which they parody 'that's what i like about the south'

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF09agVUetM
    Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
    Check out Floyd's new Band:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8

  35. #35
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    nice bit of phil harris and the jubilee four plus andy williams

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAZSEe-LVd4

    plus singing 6 days on the road...wish they would have arranged it with just phil, rhythm section and maybe a horn.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ821...eature=related
    Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
    Check out Floyd's new Band:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8

  36. #36
    radiojane Guest
    Thanks for these Johnny. I'm going to start reading my Alice Faye bio tonight (Since no one's written one about ol' Curly yet)

  37. #37
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    Alice and Phil, now that's a great pair.
    Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
    Check out Floyd's new Band:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8

  38. #38
    radiojane Guest
    They seemed like such an odd, but cool couple. I remember reading in Joan Benny's book that the European tour the Benny show took was basically Phil and Alice's honeymoon and they didn't surface from their cabin much. However it could have been morning sickness too. I think she was pregnant when they got married

  39. #39
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    if you're phil harris and you got alice faye in your cabin, are you gonna let her out?
    Delusion. Life's Best Coping Mechanism
    Check out Floyd's new Band:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYA5iAAJg8

  40. #40
    Bayou Queen Guest
    O.k. Hags, I adored Alice Faye as a child and I can remember running home after school in the 50's and 60's to catch some of her old movies that came on in the late afternoon. I can also remember dreaming of wanting to look like her. But what was their connection with New Orleans? I think one of their daughters lived down here because I remember them both always being in the society columns here attending functions, and on local t.v. shows. Does anyone know anymore info?

  41. #41
    radiojane Guest
    I'll get back to you after I'm done the bio. But I do know that Alice jr (now Alice Regan) married a stockbrocker from New Orleans.

    I have a mardi gras coin from the seventies with Phil's face on it somewhere... should dig it out.

  42. #42
    radiojane Guest
    This is Alice and Phyllis (The daughters) today.:

    Click image for larger version. 

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  43. #43
    radiojane Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Bayou Queen View Post
    O.k. Hags, I adored Alice Faye as a child and I can remember running home after school in the 50's and 60's to catch some of her old movies that came on in the late afternoon. I can also remember dreaming of wanting to look like her. But what was their connection with New Orleans? I think one of their daughters lived down here because I remember them both always being in the society columns here attending functions, and on local t.v. shows. Does anyone know anymore info?

    I finished the bio today. Their connection to NO was through their daughter, and most of their public engagements in later years were at the behest of family and friends. On a side note though, Alice became severely I'll after the birth of her first child while touring with Phil, and was hospitalized there for a time.

  44. #44
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnny View Post
    if you're phil harris and you got alice faye in your cabin, are you gonna let her out?
    Gawd, I still think Alice Faye is drop dead gorgeous!

  45. #45
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    lol this took me a bit to figure it wasnt about the crab fisherman guy

  46. #46
    Redbelle Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by johnny View Post
    Alice and Phil, now that's a great pair.
    Quote Originally Posted by radiojane View Post
    They seemed like such an odd, but cool couple. I remember reading in Joan Benny's book that the European tour the Benny show took was basically Phil and Alice's honeymoon and they didn't surface from their cabin much. However it could have been morning sickness too. I think she was pregnant when they got married
    Just to defend the honor of my avatar..... They were married before she got pregnant. They had a Tijuana wedding early in the year, but Phil's divorce from Mascotte wasn't actually final, so they had to wait out the time requirement and remarry in the states later on. By the time of the SECOND wedding, she was pregnant. I know this because I once spent 6 weeks recuperating from surgery with nothing to read but a collection of fan mags from the 30's and 40's I bought at an old ladies garage sale! I didn't know who Alice Faye was until then !

  47. #47
    lobosco107 Guest
    Does anyone have any pictures of Phil Harris Jr? I am working on an article on him and can not find any pictures.

    Thanks!

  48. #48
    radiojane Guest
    I haven't ever seen a picture of Tookie Harris, but the daughters are alive and apparently on Facebook. Perhaps you could contact them and see if they have any photos of their half brother?

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