Satirathon ’68 with The Committee

While digitizing some open reels from the collection of Peter Bergman in October 2012, I found this recording of a live Committee performance. The original is a 7” open reel, with no markings and no box. Track names are my own guesses.

I gave copies to some original Committee members and here are their replies...

Howard Hesseman:

References to payment for specific scenes suggests this tape is portion of recordation of the 2^nd Satirathon (Summer 1968) involving SF and LA companies, taking place in SF and recorded by (RIP) Paul Rothschild (in remote truck in front of 622 Broadway) for possible release as comedy album on Elektra Records. Beyond that, it offers proof that Garry Goodrow was still alive at that time.

Alan Myerson:

Frankly, I have no idea of its provenance but Howard Hesseman’s explanation seems as good as any I could possibly come up with.

I can only make an educated guess about the actors’ identities but I believe that “Dick” was played by Garry Goodrow, “Jane” was Irene Riordan/Jessica Myerson (She switched names somewhere around the time these pieces were being performed.), “Mickey Mouse” was Carl Gottlieb, “Goofy” was Chris Ross, “Donald Duck” I’m guessing was Garry Goodrow, “Minnie Mouse” was Irene Riordan/Jessica Myerson, “Etienne Decroux” was Rusdi Lane, the “Translator” was Chris Ross, “Kiki” was also Chris Ross. The “MC” for the “Dick & Jane” piece was Carl Gottlieb and for “Etienne Decroux” it was Garry Goodrow. Particularly in the scenes with the Disney characters because of the very high or very low voices it’s difficult to be certain but I believe all the others are sure. Because all of those players were in a company together I’m not certain that Howard is right about the Satirathon but it’s a decent story so maybe you should stick to it.

In any event, it was good to hear the distant and, in too many cases, now-missing voices of some loved and funny folks. And ironic that it would come from trove of the massively missed and very important Mr. P. Bergman.

Getting Together Song [incomplete] (0:52)

Dick and Jane’s Date (4:03) with Garry Goodrow (Dick), Jessica Myerson (Jane)

Behind the Magic (4:35) with Carl Gottlieb (Mickey), Garry Goodrow (Donald), Chris Ross (Goofy), Jessica Myerson (Minnie)

Étienne Decroux (10:24) with Rusdi Lane (Étienne Decroux), Chris Ross (Translator)

Let’s Hear It for Kiki Hall (7:29) with Chris Ross (Kiki)

Holy Moly [incomplete] (3:21)