When I lived in Manhattan in the 70' s i saw Brother Theodore sitting alone on an uptown bus on Central Park West during the Holiday Season, and I wished him a Merry Christmas; and am still surprised at how nice and sweet and gentle and sentimental he was, and that he was sincerely touched that someone wished him a Merry Christmas, and it made him so happy to wish me and my girlfriend a very warmhearted Merry Christmas! and he said "You're both very nice people!" And contrary to his very far-out hysterical iconoclastic and irascible comic persona, he was really a very nice loving person too, bless his soul!

@rr7firefly

5 жыл бұрын

+Ronnie -- I always loved watching him on the Letterman show. His crazy demeanor was, to me, absolutely charming because I knew he was putting on a great show. The more demented and dangerously volatile he became the more hysterically I'd laugh. Oh, a true original.

@pronemanoldbutyoung5548

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that Ronnie. I always enjoyed his performance on the Letterman show. Perhaps the last two appearances brother Theodore could have turned down. David started to ignore him at the last two shows, that was painful to watch

@billharris1847

3 жыл бұрын

Yes that one incident proves everything about the man

@Calvaryscout

3 жыл бұрын

well his theodore was his schtick NOT his being

@AIvey

3 жыл бұрын

I came across brother Theodore by chance it's show how great a person can draw in an audience on stage and blend back in to a normal......great artist.

My wife and I saw him in the 80s. He picked her out of the audience and said, “my dear, you are lovely. Lovely beyond repair.” Then he added to the audience, “she looks upon me as a DUCHESS would look upon a BEDBUG.”

@Zepster77

3 жыл бұрын

That’s hilarious!!

@rhythmfield

Жыл бұрын

Great weird funny moment !!

I was a fan of Theodore and saw him in performance. Once, on Broadway between 76th and 77th Streets I encountered him while walking with my friend's mother.. She greeted him respectfully and his charming and kind reply validates the other comments on his fundamental decency and warmth. It has been falsely alleged that he bit off Jerry Lewis' head. Witnesses attest, however, that the head in question had been separated from Lewis' body several years before their encounter.

As a writer and lover of comedians, he was extremely inspiring. Still is, even with little KZread snippets. Wish he was still around. When I saw some of his work here, I realized how much I missed him. I remember he once told Letterman that he was madly in love with his girlfriend but that she was "an itchy chick." That cracked me up, because I knew exactly what he meant...I was one of those "chicks" myself.

I had the pleasure of having Brother Theodore in my cab in the early 80s. He asked about my life & was really interested in what I had to say. I had a social work job hit by Ronald Reagan and he encouraged me that the cab was just a detour. He gave me a pass for his performance in the Village later, but I was unable to attend. He couldn't have been more different from the character (I knew he was only playing) on Johnnie Carson.

@NoOne-kr4jc

2 жыл бұрын

I wonder if there is an interview out there where one interviews him for real outside of the character. He did say that Merv Griffin hated Jerry Lewis and wanted him to confront Lewis. I do not know if it is all the way true. What do you think?

Jeezus Allen, It wouldn't kill you to give someone else some straight forward acknowledgement and praise.

@JeffSumerel

5 жыл бұрын

redrock, thanks for your comment. I know what you mean. However, when preparing to conduct this interview with him, I did a bit of research, and for what it's worth, I noticed he didn't even gush about Ingmar Bergman. So, I adjusted my expectations accordingly, and interpreted that to get the interview with him speaking about Theodore is in itself considered to be high praise. Still, to your point, that would have been nice. By the way, if you've not had a chance to see the full documentary TO MY GREAT CHAGRIN: The Unbelievable Story of Brother Theodore, it's now available on Amazon. And for a short period, currently free to Amazon Prime members. Sometime after the film was completed and it had run the festival circuit, I posted these excerpts because in the film none of the interviewees are seen; only their audio used. The intent being to allow comments and opinions from everyone (celebrity, fan, friend) to carry equal weight. If that makes sense. Thanks again for your comment. Onward, Jeff

@redrock1963

5 жыл бұрын

@@JeffSumerel - I hear you there Jeff. But I struggle a bit with people like Allen who (appear) so insecure that they believe that shining light onto someone else will take light away from them. I only recently found BT on a Merv Griffin clip here on YT where he "performed" a shtick against Jerry Lewis. It did appear that there may have been some friction between them but my guess is they bounced off of each other to carry BT's bit across as genuine angst. The comments on YT indicated that some people believed they hated each other. But I don't think so - At one point, JL can be seen trying not to laugh. So I was interested to hear what Allen had to say about BT - after all Allen is a very insightful comic writer himself - I just underestimated his insecurities and selfishness.

@JeffSumerel

5 жыл бұрын

Turns out the incident with Jerry Lewis, and Theodore's ire toward him, was indeed genuine. Although I only had the opportunity to have four nights interviewing Theodore - or perhaps more accurately, listening to Theodore - one of the detailed stories he told me was about the appearance with Jerry Lewis (which was also Theodore's first television appearance). Unfortunately the story, although, was too clunky to maneuver into the documentary even though I gave it a good try. When I have some extra time, perhaps I'll go back into my archives and pull out that portion of the Theodore interview and post it here.

@redrock1963

5 жыл бұрын

@@JeffSumerel - Yeah thanx that would be great. I know there was some conjecture as to whether it was part of the gig or not. It would be great to hear BT's perspective on the dynamic between them.

@redrock1963

5 жыл бұрын

@@JeffSumerel - Also, I wonder whether Jerry Stiller used some of the BT character to develop his character in Seinfeld?

I was happy to run across this interview, although Woody seemed incapable of capturing the incredible impact of brother Theodore's act. I saw him a couple of times. Many years later I wrote him to find out if he had made a film of his performance. He wrote me back and explained in his special way that because of some "boring details', the project never took off. . . .to my immense disappointment. I keep his letter and pic ture on my bulletin board. I've often thought of doing his act myself, just to preserve it for posterity. Long live Brother Theodore

@rhythmfield

Жыл бұрын

You would attempt to recreate Brother Theodore’s act?? Ballsy! So will you do this?

Look who's talking oddball attraction. Woody's the king of the oddballs.

To my great CHAGRIN , I am quite sure that I married his sister Theodora . Needless to say , things did not work out well .

The part of the Woody was played with gusto and verve and Brother Theodore had a delightful cameo role. It was a puckish satire of contemporary mores, a droll spoof aimed more at the heart than the head. As for me I'm planning on spending the next three days in a brothel.

@sanityassassin8161

8 ай бұрын

Loved Love and Death. 😂

I'll always think of Gollum when I hear Theodore's name.

PS : Taking a date to a performance of Brother Theodore would be a good strategy to ensure that a second date would not occur .

@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1

5 жыл бұрын

depends on the kind of girl you dated...my dates would have loved it

@geoffreyosgood2817

5 жыл бұрын

@@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1 True ! That would have been the girl for me .

@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1

5 жыл бұрын

@@geoffreyosgood2817Indeed, Geoffrey!

@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods

3 жыл бұрын

On the contrary, on the second date I'd probably propose!

@geoffreyosgood2817

3 жыл бұрын

I guess that depends upon the woman. Since I am a 3 time looser in the marriage department , I could propose to myself. I would gladly accept,however Bro Theo would have to officiate .

This seems like the only place I can get the answer to a question I have had since the 90s. In Crimes and Misdemeanors, Allen's character is doing a film on a philosopher. I always thought the guy reminded me to Bro. Theodore. Do we know if this character was perhaps based on him? Please confirm my 30 years of Brother Theodore wonderment.

Excellent lighting.

Jesus, Woody would actually take a date to one of these shows 😂

@KenLieck

6 ай бұрын

That's what every kid in Greenwich Village did at the time... Apparently.

@davidfriscic3009

6 ай бұрын

Why is a comedic satire /theatrical act odd to take a date to?

Today Woody Allen takes his dates to Chuck E. Cheese's for pizza and a show.

@FrankIsAlwaysRight

Жыл бұрын

Did you enjoy the pizza, Dick? Errr Dirk…

funny today at charing cross in London, two American ladies were in front of me in the queue in the supermarket, I said going down to Mississippi to see miss lisa, they said what are you talking about? I said the woody Allen film, take the money and run, one of them said oh yeah, the one where makes a gun out of soap I said that's it, he tries to rob a pet shop but gets chased out a gorilla.

@pauldickinson6943

2 жыл бұрын

every time I send a text I miss words out, I give up.

uncensored? but not Un-edited..... Br Theodore sounds like a comedian using Poe or Poeske theme and mood to do his schtick.... in addition to Kafka.....

Just hearing of him Was he really any good???

@privatepenguin3137

3 жыл бұрын

He was weird. I didn't hear of him until the 80s until he used to make appearances on Late Night with David Letterman. He had an odd performance technique...kind of dark and twisted.

@sclogse1

2 жыл бұрын

Find a copy of Jeff's film, if you can. It's mesmerizing.

@billharris1847

2 жыл бұрын

@@sclogse1 What is the title

Jeff...are you still alive?

It seems obvious that woody doesn't want to participate in an interview that doesn't concern him. That's too bad. He appears to downgrade brother theodore even though they're both from the same side of the tracks, so to speak.

@johndalton3180

2 жыл бұрын

Woody even hates doing interviews about himself. I am surprised he agreed to it when he really didn't have that much to contribute in terms of his feelings, or the experience of going to see him. Still, it was kind of him to give the time to the director.

@williamneumyer7147

6 ай бұрын

Not looking for a quarrel with a stranger, but what do you want from people? Should a guy who's been around a long time like Woody Allen have the enthusiasm of a 17-year-old? My guess is that he still gets something out of life but is understandably a bit tired and jaded.

@davidfriscic3009

6 ай бұрын

No he doesnt.

And As for Woody, If he weren't so lucky to have been discovered for his Overly Thought of So Called Comedy, he Would've been an Ordinary Schlub, Looking for Jailbait, And by this time, Probably Would've Been in JAIL.

@redshiftexperiment

2 жыл бұрын

Wrong! Woody Allen is an amazingly gifted writer and has made some remarkable films.

Good place to take my 10 yr. old on a date. way to go woody.

I don't GET IT, What's Sooooo Special about this guy, I Honestly Find his Whole Act, Silly/Boring, And, Sorry to Tell You s, but, Not Funny,..... At All... Period

@willardsteele4857

3 жыл бұрын

You have to have an appreciation of old school middle Europe.

@boboloko

3 жыл бұрын

I can’t stand a lot of famous people, but I don’t need to disparage them to their fans. (And make false accusations)

@meandmymonkey5137

3 жыл бұрын

That's what he was going for that was his act. Dummy

@meandmymonkey5137

3 жыл бұрын

@@boboloko conan o'Brian sucks more than Theodore...

@aliceborealis

2 жыл бұрын

Are you lonely or something? Why comment on something you dislike? Do you think anybody reading your comments cares? Grump.