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The Van Johnson Saga on Letterman, April & May 1985
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- Опубликовано: 1 май 2016
- 1. April 8, 1985: Van Johnson guests on the show. Dave senses it didn't go well.
2. April 9, 1985: Dave asks for Paul's perspective.
3. April 25, 1985: Viewer Mail #5, with Sandy Frank.
4. May 6, 1985: With Jeff Daniels, who was in the film "Purple Rose of Cairo" with Johnson.
5. May 15, 1985: Night #3 in Los Angeles: the bumper into the show's first break
6. October 5, 1989: Four and a half years later, "Johnny Graham" asks Dave what happened.
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I loved Van. He was my next door neighbor in New York. You couldn’t ask for a better, more caring friend. Miss him so.
Charming memory. Thank you.
I am a huge classic film buff and watch them all the time . I get so caught up in them that I forget just how old they really are. It was strange for me to see Van Johnson as an old man. In my mind all the old stars are forever young and I almost forget that they are gone and the lucky ones grew old years ago. I rarely ever see them in their older years and it is strange when I do. Its funny how that works when you think about it. These old stars I love would be over 100 years old now! Bogart is one of my faves and its hard to believe he died 65 years ago! Yet he is constantly on my screen as alive as ever.
Me too Chad, I Love the classics! Sadly, the reason we saw very little of our favorite stars, later in life, I that Hollywood always has valued youth and beauty over experience and talent.. The quality rolls just weren't there for older actors.
Including item number 5, the bumper showing Van Johnson's Hollywood walk-of-fame star, is some damn thorough curation. Well done, Don.
A really fun interview showing the charm and spunk of Van Johnson, two of the countless reasons he was so adored!
he was a dope
@@moncorp1 You are an asshole.
I hate spunk
I saw Van Johnson is LaCage and he was great (and it was a matinee day)... seemingly fit and young when you know because of the dates of his films he is old, old, old. A sweet and always friendly performer. The humor of Johnson is that is such a big ham and laughs at himself about it.
I remember watching a Van Johnson movie with my great-grandmother when I was about 6 years old. She was an old Jewish lady. While we were watching she said, "Oy, I love that Sam Johnson."
Van Johnson seems very comfortable in his own skin in this interview. He was always a charming gentleman. I just find that later in life, he was less concerned about acting the masculine leading man persona. What a Wonderful Actor he was!
His role that he is playing at this time was a gay man happy with his sexuality. Pay attention to what he said about MGM.He did what he was told......
There seems to be no problem at all, it's just Van's way of banter. It's all very quick, ascerbic and ironic. It just looks like he's annoyed when he actually isn't. Any idea there was a problem is misguided. Van was creating the whole atmosphere himself.
I'm reminded of how people got so mad at Charles Grodin for how he would act on Carson and later Letterman. He would act like a complete asshole but it was a bit. The guy was uncomfortable being himself on a talk show so he did this over the top jerk that would be acerbic to the host. People thought it was the real deal without even thinking that if it were, the two shows would not consistently keep having him back. It made him one of the all time best guests, it was so funny.
@@Beeznitchio the best are the ones that challenge dave lol but like this or grodin where he can play off of - even Pekar.
True, it's just Van's "way of banter." But, it's awkward and unfunny, because he's not reading the audience or the host. His comments, while understood, are not catching on with Dave or the audience, yet he continues. When that happens, smart guests would pivot to Dave to re-direct the show.
That’s one way of looking at it. Another is calling him a Hollywood weirdo.
Yeah ... a lot like Paul Lynde XD.
What a great old school character, witty, intelligent, well-spoken and drunk.
Either drunk, or gay.
@@jeffw1267 both
no he is not He was always super chatty a real character
@@jeffw1267 no just a real character
Van would often get ugly when he was drunk.
Letterman likes to be in charge of the interviews, mainly for the good reason that he's the host. But I think he was clearly annoyed over Van Johnson's boisterous personality and that made it difficult to steer the conversation the way Dave wanted it to go.
Great compilation, thanks!
Van seems liked good people
Van Johnson - one of the many from the golden age of motion pictures and the studio system. I enjoy hearing this stories and his banter with Dave. Van has some interesting mannerisms. 131 pictures - wow!
He definitely has a stage presence! I like characters like him.
"An old suit of Keenan Wynn's". Nice joke that went over the heads of 99% of the audience.
That is because 99 percent of the audience did not know who Keenan Wynn ng.was.....they were too young.
robert szvetics
Keenan Wynn's wife left him to marry Van, at Louis B Mayer's direction. Van needed to be married to forstall rampant rumors about his being gay
The woman was really a piece of work, Van being the honorable gentleman he was after their split. Paid her child support and the allotted money the court demanded he give her. But due to her mismanagement and bad luck in her later years, when she was virtually poverty stricken. She was forced to sell off her vintage wardrobe which she had always been known for. Blamed Van for her predicament full heartedly.
I bet 80 percent of the audience didn't know who Van was.
You're wrong. At the time, 1985, he was probably well known to the Letterman audience. His movies were on TV quite a bit and had been since the early 1960s. Limited channels on TV in those days. The audience applause on his entrance proves you wrong.
jeez he's good value. great interview. thanks for posting 😀
Don, I'm really surprised that I had no memory of the Van Johnson appearance (unbelievably awkward and funny) and once again I'm amazed by your collection and how you were able to string together all the Van Johnson follow-ups; just wonderful! Thanks for sharing all of these treasures.
Thanks! As soon as my You Tube "strike" is removed in October, I'll be able to post more than 15-minute clips, and with that, more compilations.
@@dongiller youtube is a lot worse now lol
Van dancing with Lucy on I Love Lucy was priceless.
So happy to see Van come out! What a wonderful actor and a great man!
Come out? Of where???
Wonderful actor in many memorable roles.
Van had been through a messy divorce where he got exposed as a homosexual.(not that there's anything wrong with that, but in Van's day it was a career killer)
After this he only did talk shows with his friends like, Dinah Shore and Merv Griffin.
But he was performing on stage in New York and one of his publicists suggested it would be good for the gate it he did Letterman.
Many Hollywood celebrities were afraid of David's non talk show talk show approach and I am sure Van was a little intimidated by Dave and maybe sought a little liquid courage in the green room. I don't blame him.
In the end Dave took care of Van and came across respectful.
And I think Van did a fine job too, even a little tipsy he was still a grand star well dressed and never worked blue.
I love Van' facials in the thumbnail, he's still got it and lived to be 90.
RIP Mr. Johnson, you were a rare gem.
I'm Generation X'er. Is it me or is Van fucking honestly too cool for Dave here? And I love Dave..
Van was like a good acid trip. Dave just ain't hip enough.
I'm 43, GenX. I TOTALLY AGREE
Some tend to forget that Letterman's show in the 80's was considered cutting edge, younger-focused. I think Johnson was trying to fit in, in his own way. In the end, an entertaining interview. He actually was quite funny in retrospect. Then it became a running joke, but that was expected.
The night I started watching the Letterman Show ended any chance of me getting a good night sleep in High School - I had to watch it every night. When he strung these stories together over multiple nights, I felt rewarded as a fan of the show.
Dave certainly lacked the Carson finesse. Van Johnson was a delight! Great to see him and hear at least part of his many stories, in spite of the constant interruptions. Thanks, Dave!
It's not really a talk show with Dave, if you want that watch Cavett on PBS
I kind of think they are both in on the bit. Maybe not 100% but they get each other and they allow each other to have these bizarre exchanges with an interest to the absurdity of it.
I guess it’s helpful to be an old geezer like me but having said that I found Johnson’s stream of conscience, liquid lubricated blather to be insightful, informative, entertaining and quite hilarious. A bit bittersweet as well…
Wonderfully off the wall. Thanks for posting!
A Hollywood actor with personality and wit. He carried a alot of movies and they are still around on RUclips. Battleground, The Caine Mutiny...
He got a lot of roles in the 40's when many stars were in the war.
The Keenan Wynn reference was good - Van referring to his suit as being used, having belonged to Keenan Wynn. Van’s first wife had been recently divorced from Wynn....and Van adopted the kids, raising them as his own. But I think I recall that Johnson and Wynn were able to remain friends. All of which I think, speaks highly of Van Johnson’s character.
she was a beard. he was gay
Wynn & Johnson were gay or bisexual so they didn't mind who their former wife ended up with!
Strange that Walt Disney fired child star Tommy Kirk for being gay but kept Wynn also gay.Note: Disney did hire Tommy back for at least one picture.
Not prejudiced because you can't help what you are but to keep so many others as well hidden from fans etc for so long was amazing.
Letterman never seemed to be a fan of older actors unless they were of the stature of Clark Gable or Spencer Tracey. Too bad as Van Johnson was a big star during the forties. He had a hugely scarred face after an automobile accident and surgery involving a metal plate. He continued to work after his healing as Spencer told the powers that be to do so. He was forever grateful to Mr Tracey.
Another guest that was not respected by Letterman was Robert Morley who was a brilliant raconteur but dismissed by Letterman. He could have asked him so many questions about the huge stars he worked with such as Humphrey Bogart and Charles Laughton to name just two.
Love love love this interview
He still looked good. I love Van Johnson movies.
I thought he was beyond hip, Mr. Van Johnson, and that his shtick was going over some heads. Total New York. He was hilarious and brilliant. Letterman is one freaky guy, and I always hated when he put on the I am so straight and normal I am practically a staunch Republican act, because he was not. I would have thought he would find Van Johnson being so silly and over the top really fun. I did. He is a legend and he was chic. Would have loved to have seen him with Peter O'Toole and Richard Harris, who also liked to wind people up, and were also chic, brilliant and very bad boys.
IsaDesOsiers dude... NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU THINK. You’re So wrong anyway
don't listen to her. i care! that's what happens when you let lesbians run loose on the internet.
He should have had Oliver Reed on at the same time. Those 2 together would have run the show.
People 55 and above recall Van. He was hot stuff in terms of his celebrity status and was a natural on all the talk shows-Carson, Merv Griffin, etc. He was a true celebrity of his era.
I doubt anyone under 70 has seen any of his movies..
@@lms2932Sure, Golden Era Hollywood doesn’t interest many younger folks, but Van was in some classic ones that are still well remembered; not to mention he guest-starred in “I Love Lucy,” which has remained a popular classic sitcom.
what a well edited delight!
Thanks!
"I have to make them. Do I also have to watch them?"
God bless Van; he made a lot of sacrifices to be a successful actor. I hope it was worth it.
Van was in his late 50's ( like me) and drank a lot (like me) Thanks for posting!
He doesn't look a day over 80
He was 69 or 70 in 1985.
Hey. I like Van Johnson.
A VERY GOOD ACTOR IN THE 1940S AND 50S
Methinks Van was an old queen.
viviandarkbloom100 I think his daughter said he liked both.
Definitely, but what a delight! You don't stick around as long as he did for nothing.
INTERNETWORK: Triggered.
it takes one to know one!
@@captainactionman01: Right up there with "I know you are, but what am I?", the classic fallacy that confounds any 6-year-old who expects minimal logical thinking in his fellow man.
Paul playing, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want:” Perfect.
Watch the Caine mutiny where he had very visible scars from a wreck. Don't see them here....
Yep....I definitely,
Remember this,
Great show.
I just think it was a generational mismatch is all. Van was trying to be coy, but it just didn't work. Like he was channeling a little Don Rickles. Dave didn't seem to know how to handle it. Nothing really wrong happened. It just wasn't a good match.
Dave has admitted in the past that he was a jerk (Dave, not Van)
@@angelhairlaser i think maybe cher gave it away.
In the late 80's, I had a papasan chair with a third speaker (hooked up to the positive terminals) positioned behind it. I could really tell when they turned up the audience microphone. Ah, the memories.
He was a charming, witty guy.
I thought Van Johnson was hilarious, it was the audience that didn't get it and Dave wasn't any help. I may not have gotten all Van's references but he was a blast
This guy is a gem!
I don't think he can do anything wrong. Have you seen him dance in Brigadoon....amazing stuff . He sings too. I enjoy his film , he's a comedian too......What a hoot..... He wasn't fazed by Letterman either. How Fun Is That!
That was Gene Kelly who danced in Brigadoon. Van played his wingman.
Battleground! Yeah baby!
Van was so versatile in films!
Good lord, 5 years late to the party but this was a hoot. Van made an off-hand comment about wearing Keenan Wynn's suit, and it turns out he had married Wynn's wife 1 day after she and Keenan were divorced, so now I get the joke. Then it turns out that she left a statement that was published after her death which revealed that her marriage to Van was engineered by MGM to cover up Van's homosexuality. And I had been wondering about exactly that while watching Van's flamboyantly awkward behavior with Dave.
And not one mention of my favorite Van Johnson movie (actually the only Van Johnson movie I’ve ever seen): “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.”
It was one of the first made-for-TV movies, from 1957; Claude Rains was hilarious as the mayor.
Funny he mentioned the Caine mutiny because one of my all time favorites
Van was great. He had a great wit and personality.
Van Johnson came on with a bit of a superior air about him not really taking the show seriously. So all he really offered was a caricature of himself dishing out canned responses and old-school quips without much thought. Dave had a list of questions to find out about the man and the career, but that man didn't show up.
I read his bio. He wasn't a pleasure chap with this family. Completely 180!
ohnson married former stage actress Eve Abbott (May 6, 1914 - October 10, 2004) on January 25, 1947, the day after her divorce was finalized from actor Keenan Wynn. In 1948, they had daughter Schuyler. By this marriage, Johnson gained stepsons Edmond Keenan (Ned) and screenwriter Tracy Keenan Wynn. A statement by Eve was published after her death at age 90. She said MGM had engineered her marriage to Johnson to cover up his alleged homosexuality. "They needed their 'big star' to be married to quell rumors about his sexual preferences and unfortunately, I was 'It'-the only woman he would marry.
In contrast to his "cheery Van" screen image, Eve claimed that he was morose and moody because of his difficult early life. She reported that he had little tolerance for unpleasantness and would stride into his bedroom and seclude himself at the slightest hint of trouble. He had a difficult relationship with his father growing up, and he was estranged from his daughter at the time of his death.[3]
@@KP-go4rp You should read the biography by Van's stepson, Ned Wynn, called "We Will Always Live in Beverly Hills". It's pretty good.
@@hensonlaura Thank you. Will do!
11:49 Thirty seconds over Tokyo... hahaha... he's too fast !
That was pretty good.
"Who are you, Van Johnson?"
- Uncle Leo (Seinfeld)
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is a 1944 American war film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer!
It is basically like this. Van Johnson could do a Broadway musical AND the Late Night show, but David Letterman CAN'T do a musical, ONLY Late Night.
@INTERNETWORK
Craig Ferguson was the best by far, then Dave.
Dave won an Oscar for his cameo in Cabin Boy. Epic performance
But David could pound a pussy.
@AbsoluteTruth shut up you ignorant moron
@AbsoluteTruth you're a classic idiot.
Van wasn't mad, he was just being the kind of quickwitted funny that wasn't quite... working at this time... it's called "banter" and he's obviously had a few drinks, like they did in the Carson Green Room or Jack Paar... he didn't seem like he didn't like Dave... he was just being himself...
This guy is great
I'm guessing Van didn't dig the band. He showed it in his so very subtle way.
He should have performed with them in character as the Minstrel from Batman.
I've seen your work. You're good, Van Johnson good.
Van obviously had a few drinks.
A bloody Mary and a beer.
Definitely liquored up.
A few drinks of LSD
He was a showman through and through. He had lost most of his hearing, but he was very aware of everything and extremely witty. David was a jerk here. Van Johnson was a longtime star with over 100 movies under his belt and he should have been more respected. This would have been a much better interview if it had been Johnny Carson interviewing him.
@@angelzap100 He definitely had a nip or two before coming out onstage. Dave did just fine. The only difference with Carson would have been one of power dynamics - everyone either respected or feared Carson because his viewership was enormous and he had this veto power over Hollywood. You should read Kenneth Tynan's portrait of Carson. That power changes things in how a subject and interviewer view and treat each other, but it didn't necessarily make Carson a better interviewer.
I met him 2 weeks before he died.i was sitting right next to him in a bar and asked him your an actor but I can't remember your name.he replyed to me im a has been.i said no way.i remember you in a lot of movies.2 weeks went by and the news said he died in Nyack ny.and then they said his name Van Johnson and I said that's right.
Wiki has him in hospice care when he died in mid-December 2008 at 92.
So it’s tough imagining him sitting at a bar then.
I did happen and i'll never forget it.it was in November 2 weeks three whatever.why would I lie.but I don't care whether you belive me or not.
I didn’t say I didn’t believe you. I said, “it’s tough imagining him sitting in a bar” while he was then in hospice care.
He looks amazing! 85! Who'd a thought it?!?
Van was joking about being born in 1900. He actually was born in 1916 so he was 68 going on 69. I thought he was serious at first, but thought he looks no where near 85. I remembered he was good friends with Lucille Ball who was older than he, I had to google it myself to get dates.
i love the red socks
Never seen him this flamboyant.
Me too. ; he was beefcake back in the day. But, he was doing La Cage aux Folles at the time and no doubt was in the swing of it. Also, I think when people get older they get to a point where it just doesn't matter any more. In a good way; I'm there myself.
I have seen a few of Van Johnson's movies. I have Caine Mutiny and 30 Seconds Over Tokyo on DVD. I had no idea he was gay until the first few moments after he sat down.
prokesuk Now that was funny
Whats the Big Deal with V. J. seemed like a regular interview..why are they calling it a saga?
“They” aren’t; I am.
@@dongiller thanks for clearing that up. i wondered that, too. lol... i bet you've posted a lot of cool stuff over the years. ^5
I think Letterman was rude (he didn’t let him talk, he kept interrupting him) and Van Johnson didn’t care and was annoyed by him. You can tell Van was annoyed because he was called to be interviewed and Letterman was more interested in other people he worked with and the behind the scenes scandals or rumors (same with Mickey Rooney in interviews later in his life). He was not interested in Van Johnson himself and Van came to promote his newest project and talk about himself but David didn’t let him. I’ve never seen such a bad interview, Letterman was drowning out there and it was so bad there was still time to spare. Letterman was horrible, he didn’t even try and promote Vans new project and got annoyed by Van having to promote it himself. Van was upset by him, I don’t blame him but it came off as completely awkward. Letterman said “it was nice to meet you”, Van says “was it?”, ouch! Van was right though, by Letterman taking digs at him later on in his shows because he was embarrassed by Van. Still Letterman clearly was no match for Van Johnson in person. Van wasn’t going to be pushed around by some “kid” in Vans eyes. Van was such a pleasant guy in other interviews and with other people I’ve seen so it’s surprising to see someone upset him like this, shame on Letterman for putting a great actor like Van through that.
Johnson was full of himself.
Drunk as hell...Dean Martin impression??? Lmao!!
Well, I'll give Chris Elliott this much, he didn't give up on that piano bit.
I couldn’t agree more. The more I see of him, the more I enjoy his talent--even when it might go awry!
The Johnny Graham sketch was a great way to wrap up the Van Johnson saga. "Why were you so mean to Van Johnson when he was on your show?" Classic Elliott bit.
Paul's song choices , was that ? Walk on the Wild Side & You Can't Always Get What You Want
The 60s generation must remember him from BATMAN he played the wicked minstrel in a 2 part episode.. I thought they shoulda made him a regular bad guy like the joker or riddler...
Van was working so hard. Slow down about five percent, let the audience catch up.
@Adam Donaldson Why what? He was (I imagine) very nervous, and afraid, so he was trying waaaaay too hard and the audience was not picking up what he was laying down. If he had slowed down the interview wouldn't have been so fucking ugly ... That's why.
More Johnny Graham please, so good.
+worsley1 There were only two "Johnny Graham" shows on LN -- the one included here from October 5, 1989, and the other two weeks later on October 19. I haven't digitized that one yet.
The Johnny Graham Show was a parody on "John's Cabaret," a Manhattan Cable show, with John Wallowitch, who took requests over the phone. John died in 2007.
have been in love with Van since I was a little girl, and now I am in my mid 70's........
awww
Dave was too young to appreciate and make a great fun interview interaction with one of the Last movie legends of Hollywood's golden era, an a fun, witty one. Johnson did not get the respect nor the interviewed he deserved. He was older and maybe the volume was really too loud, at least for him.
VJ was born in 1916 not 1900.
He's from my hometown!
Newport RI rules ✓
awesome
Amazing...love it
I always liked van.
What am I missing? I thought Van was the Man.
That's Van Morrison.
Stan was the Man. Stan Musial.
Spencer Tracy was one the greatest actors ever.
By that time Van Johnson was almost 70, and as older people do tend to be very sensitive to loud noise, this might account for his behaviour. Then again maybe he was just kidding around. Johnson didn't seem to do a lot of talk shows, so it's hard to tell if he was teasing, or, he really was a jerk. Now, if this had happened later in the show's run, I don't think we would've seen Dave handle the situation quite the same way (remember Shirley MacLaine's appearance?), so much respect to Dave for being so patient and tolerant with this old Hollywood star.
Gall ery ... TELL US About Shirley McClain and Dave shell I never heard anything about that
one of my favorite singers...your my brown eyed girl
That's Van Morrison. Different people.
he was hilarious ... what was the problem?
He feels like a legend............Last of his kind
p
Vintage Chris Elliot in there at the end for the kids who like Schitt's Creek.
Letterman should’ve interviewed Van Johnson, Van Halen, and Van Morrison in a Van down by the river.
Frank Booth Too damn funny I love it
@@nancybogart3899 Throw in Van Helfin, with them all in the road company of Ven Helsing, and we've got a deal. Wanna' buy 20% of the show?
Doug Herendeen ...well what do I get if I do?
JOHNNY GRAHAM talks "Dump Trucks" 17:55
It’s interesting to compare Van Johnson with the Peter O’Toole and Richard Harris appearances.
There's a Charlie Rose interview on RUclips with Van Johnson, Cyd Charisse, Ann Miller - Van is great in that. Here, it's like he's playing to the audience rather than having a conversation with Dave.
I would have never recognized the voice as Holley worldly -wise soldier of Battleground’ .
@don giller: Thank you for your uploads. I remember when Letterman first came on TV I never watched it as I assumed it had something to do with "The Lettermen" that annoying trio of goofuses.
I thought maybe it was because Joan Rivers voiced Letter Man on Electric Company.
@@TS-qq7vr it's a bird? It's a plane? No, it's...Letter Man!
He didn't mention, Miracle in the Rain or In The Good Old Summertime.
I knew that Dave despised the "show biz" folks who assumed that their lives were somehow more interesting than ordinary people , but he relished in the opportunity to pretend that they mattered. But Dave knew Van would bring the goods
God, he is so good looking for his age there! ❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊