Smothers Brothers facts for kids
The Smothers Brothers are a famous American comedy and music duo. They are brothers Thomas ("Tom" – born February 2, 1937) and Richard ("Dick" – born November 20, 1938). They are known as folk singers, musicians, and comedians. Their special act involved singing folk songs. Tom played the acoustic guitar, and Dick played the double bass. Their performances often turned into funny arguments between them. Tom would often say, "Mom always liked you best!" Tom usually played the "silly" brother, while Dick played the "serious" one.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the brothers were often on TV variety shows. They also released many popular music albums. Their own TV show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, became one of the most talked-about American TV programs during the Vietnam War era. Even though it was very popular, the brothers often included jokes and songs that were critical of the government. They also supported the new youth movement of the 1960s. Because of this, the CBS network fired them in 1969. One episode of their show was never even shown.
After their show was canceled, the brothers kept working. They performed on stage, on TV, and in movies for many years. Sometimes they worked together, and sometimes they worked on their own projects.
Contents
The Smothers Brothers: Comedy and Music Stars
Growing Up and Starting Out
Tom and Dick Smothers were both born on Governors Island in New York Harbor. Their father, Thomas B. Smothers Jr., was a U.S. Army officer. Tom was born in 1937, and Dick was born in 1938. Their father sadly passed away during World War II while he was a prisoner of war. Their mother raised them in the Los Angeles area.
The brothers went to Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California. Later, they attended San Jose State University. They first started performing together as a duo in February 1959. Their first show was at The Purple Onion in San Francisco. They quickly became popular in clubs. They released several successful albums, with Curb Your Tongue, Knave! in 1964 being one of their biggest hits.
Their first national TV appearance was on The Jack Paar Show in January 1961. In 1963, they appeared on The Judy Garland Show on CBS. Later, in 1967, the Smothers Brothers took over Judy Garland's time slot with their own variety show. They also starred in a TV comedy show called The Smothers Brothers Show from 1965 to 1966. Tom played an angel, and Dick played his brother. This show did not do very well.
Their Famous TV Show: The Comedy Hour
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour began in 1967. At first, it was a typical comedy show. But it quickly became a show that pushed the limits of what was allowed on TV. The Smothers Brothers were brave in their comedy. They also had many talented writers and performers on their team. These included famous people like Steve Martin, Don Novello, Rob Reiner, and Albert Brooks. The show also introduced singer Jennifer Warnes to many people.
Music and Messages on TV
The show was special because it featured many new musical artists. Other TV shows often did not give these artists a chance. This was sometimes because of their music style or their political views. Famous musicians like George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Joan Baez, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, and even Pete Seeger appeared on the show.
Pete Seeger had not been on network TV since the 1950s. His appearance became controversial because he sang "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy". This was an anti-war song. The network thought it was disrespectful to the President at the time, Lyndon Johnson, and his Vietnam War policies. The song was removed from Seeger's first performance. However, it was allowed on a later show.
In 1968, the show aired "music videos" for The Beatles' songs "Hey Jude" and "Revolution". Jimi Hendrix also dedicated a song to the Smothers Brothers during a concert.
The Who's Explosive Performance
A very memorable moment happened in 1967 when the band The Who performed. The band was known for destroying their instruments at the end of their songs. During their performance of "My Generation", they added small explosives for a cool effect.
That night, a small amount of explosive was placed in a cannon inside Keith Moon's bass drum. It did not go off during rehearsal. But before the live show, a stagehand added more explosive. Then, Keith Moon added even more! When he set it off, the explosion was huge. A piece of metal from a cymbal cut Keith Moon's arm. Pete Townshend, the guitarist, was in front of the drums. His hair was singed by the blast! You can see him putting out sparks in his hair. Tom Smothers looked very shocked. This big explosion is thought to have caused Pete Townshend's long-term hearing problems.
After the Comedy Hour
The Smothers Brothers starred in several other TV shows after their famous Comedy Hour. These included The Summer Brothers Smothers Show in 1968 and The Return of the Smothers Brothers in 1970. They also had The Smothers Brothers Show in 1975. This show tried to be like their original comedy show but without the controversy.
In 1978, the brothers performed in a Broadway musical called I Love My Wife. In 1981, Tom and Dick played characters who were not brothers in a TV drama called Fitz and Bones. They worked at a TV station in San Francisco. The show was canceled after only five episodes.
In 1985, they appeared as themselves on the TV show Benson. They also starred in a movie called Speed Zone in 1989.
In 1988, Tom and Dick reunited with CBS for a special show. It celebrated the 20th anniversary of their variety show. The brothers used the special to thank the network. They also joked about being canceled 19 years earlier. Many of their old writers and guests, like Steve Martin and Glen Campbell, appeared. This special was so successful that it led to a new Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from 1988 to 1989.
Also in 1988, Tom released The Yo Yo Man Instructional Video. In this video, Tom's silent "Yo-Yo Man" character taught people how to do basic yo-yo tricks. The video sold over 200,000 copies!
In 2004, they were guest stars on Bonnie Hunt's show Life With Bonnie.
The brothers also worked on their own projects. Dick had a serious acting role as a senator in the movie Casino. Tom appeared in a TV movie called Once Upon a Mattress in 2005. They were also in the documentary The Aristocrats in 2005. In 2009, they had separate small roles in the movie The Informant!. In December 2009, they were guest stars on an episode of The Simpsons.
After more than 51 years of touring, the Smothers Brothers announced their retirement from touring in May 2010. Their last performance was in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 2019, the Smothers Brothers made their first public appearance together in almost ten years. They spoke about their careers and answered questions at a charity event. They also donated many items from their career to the National Comedy Center. In 2022, the brothers announced they would go on tour again in 2023.
Tom Smothers, with his wife, also runs the Remick Ridge Vineyards in Sonoma County, California.
Awards and Recognition
In 2003, the brothers received the George Carlin Freedom of Expression Award. This award recognized their amazing comedy and their strong support for the First Amendment. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech in the United States. In the same year, they both received honorary degrees from San Jose State University. The Boston Comedy Festival gave them a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
In September 2008, at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, Tom Smothers received an Emmy award. This award was for Outstanding Writing in a Comedic Series from 1968. Steve Martin, who was one of the show's original writers, presented the award. In 1968, Tom Smothers had refused to have his name on the list of writers nominated for the Emmy. He felt his name was too controversial at the time. So, when the writing staff won, he was the only one who did not get the award.
The Smothers Brothers were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2010. In June 2022, they received the Johnny Carson Comedy Legend Award.
Their Music Albums
- 1961: The Smothers Brothers at the Purple Onion
- 1962: The Two Sides of the Smothers Brothers
- 1963: Think Ethnic!
- 1963: Curb Your Tongue, Knave!
- 1964: It Must Have Been Something I Said!
- 1965: Tour de Farce: American History and Other Unrelated Subjects
- 1965: Aesop's Fables
- 1966: Mom Always Liked You Best!
- 1966: The Smothers Brothers Play It Straight
- 1967: Golden Hits of the Smothers Brothers, Vol. 2
- 1968: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
- 1988: Sibling Revelry: The Best of the Smothers Brothers
Singles Released
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
US chart | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | "Down in the Valley" b/w "Where the Lilacs Grow" (from The Two Sides of The Smothers Brothers) |
The Songs and Comedy of The Smothers Brothers at the Purple Onion | |
| "Fly Ezekiel" b/w "They Call the Wind Maria" (from The Songs and Comedy of The Smothers Brothers...) |
Non-album track | ||
| 1963 | "Jenny Brown" b/w "You Go Thisaway" (Non-album track) |
84 | It Must Have Been Something I Said |
| 1964 | "Slithery Dee" / "The Civil War Song" b/w "The Coo-Coo" (Non-album track) |
||
| 1965 | "The Three Song" b/w "The World I Used to Know" (by Dick Smothers) |
Mom Always Liked You Best! | |
| "The Toy Song" b/w 'Little Sacka Sugar" (from Play It Straight) |
Non-album track | ||
| 1966 | "Lark Day" b/w "The Write of Songs" (by Dick Smothers) |
Play It Straight | |
| 1969 | "The Christmas Bunny" (Two parts) | Non-album track |
