Czardas jocks: If you're going to play their tunes...

[BVD Press]

Wait we don't fake..ah never mind...fun video!

[BVD Press]

Sounds and looks fake to me, but if not holy crap! I think it is the last note is why I think it fake. Seriously entertaining and if fake, someone played it well!!

[djwesp]

Nope, very real.

Baran Buika made his one and only appearence in the states on May 24, 1959 performing at the Ed Sullivan Theater.


Now, of course, the violin playing is not real. It is done by a famous comedian.


For 1,000 meaningless tubenet jeopardy points... name that comedian.

[ZNC Dandy]

For 1,000 meaningless tubenet jeopardy points... name that comedian.

I'm going to go with Jack Benny

[tbn.al]

I sent this to my violin section. The 3 old heads all said "FAKE" no doubt about it. In fact the oldest head at 72 said he knew it was a fake when he saw it the first time back in the 50's. They kept talking about impossible positions, fingerings and sounds not matiching those. I don't understand any of it. I do think it is really cool and fun and don't care if he was faking it.

[imperialbari]

I sent this to my violin section. The 3 old heads all said "FAKE" no doubt about it. In fact the oldest head at 72 said he knew it was a fake when he saw it the first time back in the 50's. They kept talking about impossible positions, fingerings and sounds not matiching those. I don't understand any of it. I do think it is really cool and fun and don't care if he was faking it.

My violin reference says the same: faking. There may be an extremely good reason this fartist made only one appearance in the US. And googling his name again and again leads back to this video.

Klaus

[skeath]

I happen to be working on that piece now, for a recital. I will definitely try some of those stunts.

I'll write again from the hospital.

SK

[imperialbari]

I happen to be working on that piece now, for a recital. I will definitely try some of those stunts.

I'll write again from the hospital.

SK

What will you use to bow your tubas? A bottom bow?

K

[djwesp]

We have already established he is faking the performance.

I'm still taking guesses on the comedian.


Jack Benny is incorrect.

One clue, the gap between the front teeth. This comedian rarely smiled for the camera because he was so ashamed of this gap. He was also known to wear a homemade plaster of paris bridge to cover up the gap for camera shoots.

Most of the time when you see him smiling he is pulling his upper lip over his top teeth. This is one of the rare occurances of getting a real smile out of him.

[eupher61]

Take my wife...please!

[tbn.al]

It is him! Here's a clip from seven years later and it's obvious the violinist is Youngman. Look at the smile. That is hilarious! The reason Buika made only one appearance is that he was a figment to start with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nz5TWRRv8A" target="_blank

[djwesp]

Good Job Al!


This is in fact a younger, skinnier Youngman.

Buika was a common character used in his stand up, but only once did he use it on TV.

Youngman and Ed Wynn could both play the violin and had both incorporated violin gimmicks in their stage acts. Ed Wynn commonly helped Ed Sullivan get acts for his show. Hence, Youngman being on the show, doing the violin gig.