Eccentric Civilian Guests Collection on Letterman, 1982-1991

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3 жыл бұрын

A selection of eccentric civilian guests on Dave's Late Night. Dates of their known passings included.
1. Tom Hughes, Potato Museum
February 15, 1982
2. Ruth "Uriel" Norman, Cosmic Visionary
April 29, 1982
Died July 12, 1993, at nearly 93.
3. Elizabeth Tashjian, Nut Museum, 1
May 3, 1983
Died January 28, 2007, at 95.
4. Lowell Davis, Names Keeper
August 22, 1983
5. Elizabeth Tashjian, Nut Museum, 2
May 15, 1984
6. Jean Rath, Purple Lady
May 29, 1984
Died June 13, 2016, at 93.
7. George Mostoller, Food Collector
November 15, 1984
8. Ila Loetscher, Turtle Lady
November 6, 1985
Died January 4, 2000, at 95.
9. George Cook, Songwriter
December 25, 1985 (taped December 4)
10. Myrtle Young, Potato Chip Collector, 1
July 28, 1987
Died August 9, 2014, at 90.
11. Bill Black, Hair Collector
February 2, 1989
12. Dalton Stevens, Button King
March 21, 1989
Died November 21, 2016, at 86.
13. Trudy Shape and Frank Lehman, The Bee People
April 7, 1989
14. Walter Swan, One-book Bookstore
June 22, 1990
Died October 30,1994, at 78.
15. Harold Goebel, Orange-Peeler Man
April 5, 1991
16. Myrtle Young, Potato Chip Collector, 2
September 6, 1991

Пікірлер: 142

@thegrimyeaper 2 жыл бұрын

This is why this channel is lightyears better than the Letterman channel. If you have nothing to do one weekend you can just waste it all on these collections. Pure joy.

@jazcook6126 4 ай бұрын

My dad always told me my uncle was on letterman. I never believed him until I finally found this clip 💕 RIP Uncle George 💕

@katznwords7207 Жыл бұрын

Oh so happy to have found this Ruth Norman interview! Thank you for providing something that couldn't be found anywhere else. I love Dave, and the spaceships were supposed to land near my San Diego neighborhood but sadly never materialized. 😉

@katznwords7207 Жыл бұрын

The crazy thing is that I've seen a "flying saucer," and maybe that's what made her go off the rails 🤷‍♀️

@WEPDRabbitEarsTV Жыл бұрын

Dang Donz, another superb gem collection. Thank you very much.

@ghoststencil 3 жыл бұрын

This is wonderful, these guests are the soul of what made Late Night so special. Please make this an ongoing series.

@larsporsena7115 3 жыл бұрын

A really touching moment when Name Man is introduced to the staff and the staff’s response.

@prmaninla Жыл бұрын

I found that simply charming.

@NIGELANGST Жыл бұрын

I'm so happy to know I'm not the only one who finds this material to be timeless. I loved Johnny Carson and I love Dave as much as the next guy. This is the stuff that set him apart from everyone else. Bringing the nut lady and the potato chip lady into our lives.

@bodyslamhimjeff 3 жыл бұрын

This could be called Good Clean Fun. It’s so innocent and charming. The Turtle Lady absolutely stole my heart. What a delightful woman. You can see Dave’s real affection for all of them, or at the very least Midwestern manners. Asking the audience to show Uriel some respect while also telling her that people are bound to react to her unusual statements was quite tactful. There have been plenty of shows that have non-showbiz folks on and make them look like boobs. This was just lovely. Thanks, Don.

@TimothyGDuffy Жыл бұрын

Mr. pringle

@jamessoltis5407 Жыл бұрын

Dave, without a bit of hesitancy, rattled off the names of his staff/coworkers as he introduced them one by one to Mr. Davis. I wonder how many talk show hosts past and present would be able to do that?

@cyclo1224 2 жыл бұрын

This is one of the BEST compilations EVER!:))

@GeneBurnett 3 жыл бұрын

I've been watching these about one a night since you posted this. It's been a pleasant addition to my evenings for a couple of weeks now. Thanks very much for posting. Dave walked a nice balance with these. The audience liked these folks and Dave did too, they weren't show biz types who've trained for this level of exposure for years, so he couldn't really go after them too hard. On the other hand he had to say something funny about some things that were obviously funny. It seems like it would be easy to under do it or over do it with the humor. Dave seemed to be right in the pocket almost the whole time. The only one I can think of who worked with civilians better was Johnny Carson and that's just a matter of opinion. I think they were both very very good at this.

@Smajsitup 3 жыл бұрын

People who come at life from a different angle make life interesting, and sometimes open our mind to the possibility of allowing us to expand our horizons in ways we would have probably overlooked. In some ways it reminds me of the enthusiasm and inquisitiveness of a child, life seems to drain us of this as we grow, but some manage to hold on to that freedom, I envy that a bit.

@gavin4513 3 жыл бұрын

Oh yes this is the type of thing I love! More unknown/weird random people. Thanks for all your hard work!!!

@nancyhowell4505 2 жыл бұрын

Lowell Davis averaged slightly less than 43 names/year before this show. So sweet that introduction to the staff surpassed that number in one day! 👏👍👍♥️

@NIGELANGST Жыл бұрын

I adore the nut lady she would have been cast in a Cohen Brothers movie. What a face and what a voice. . . A Gem!!

@mr.pavone9719 3 жыл бұрын

0:00 Tom Hughes, Potato Museum - February 15, 1982 7:03 Ruth "Uriel" Norman, Cosmic Visionary - April 29, 1982 22:19 Elizabeth Tashjian, Nut Museum, 1 - May 3, 1983 33:35 Lowell Davis, Names Keeper - August 22, 1983 48:18 Elizabeth Tashjian, Nut Museum, 2 - May 15, 1984 58:33 Jean Rath, Purple Lady - May 29, 1984 1:05:50 George Mostoller, Food Collector - November 15, 1984 1:11:45 Ila Loetscher, Turtle Lady - November 6, 1985 1:21:45 George Cook, Songwriter - December 25, 1985 (taped December 4) 1:27:11 Myrtle Young, Potato Chip Collector, 1 - July 28, 1987 1:35:32 Bill Black, Hair Collector - February 2, 1989 1:40:36 Dalton Stevens, Button King - March 21, 1989 1:46:43 Trudy Shape and Frank Lehman, The Bee People - April 7, 1989 1:53:43 Walter Swan, One-book Bookstore - June 22, 1990 (comedian Doug Stanhope lives in Bisbee AZ) 1:58:43 Harold Goebel, Orange-Peeler Man - April 5, 1991 2:05:35 Myrtle Young, Potato Chip Collector, 2 - September 6, 1991

@FlockOfHawks 5 ай бұрын

i wish i could bookmark or @dongiller would pin this comment !

@winonafrog 4 ай бұрын

@@FlockOfHawksditto! thanks op

@pardonmedoug886 3 жыл бұрын

This is getting me a bit emotional. Something about the way Dave treated these people with respect and the uniqueness they brought to the show. Real people just being themselves, regardless of what people thought of them. A quality that we could use more of now days. Be yourself, be happy.

@markbtelevision 3 жыл бұрын

Yep. Great point.

@jacksonjack7838 2 жыл бұрын

I see the point youre going for, but also you probably shouldnt further some of these peoples delusions and he is only doing it to make light of them for comedy. I love Dave and I dont wish anything bad on him now, but I dont think you could morally do this. People sort of get mad at Dr. Phil because its almost exactly what he is doing except Dr Phil doesnt do it for comedy. And Letterman is probably more qualified than Dr Phil to help I believe. lol

@christophermiller3031 Жыл бұрын

@@jacksonjack7838 lolol I agree on Dave being more qualified than dr Phil... And also about the delusions being supported... I for one think it is pretty sick how often parents lie to their children for either fun or their own good. I really don't understand how betraying the trust of your children will help create better people.

@SkatingErinsMom 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, I was looking for the Ruth Norman interview! "Unarius Academy of Science" (UFO Religion, 1954).

@JCSAXON 3 жыл бұрын

This collection was a blast, made my night. Thanks

@PlanetNewfoundland 3 жыл бұрын

Ruth "Uriel" Norman is giving me good vibes

@ziparis 3 жыл бұрын

Remarkable. You see the life's work and interests and passions of these people.

@misisipimike8020 Жыл бұрын

I admit I cried a little at the end of the “name guy” segment

@AnotherOak 3 жыл бұрын

That lady in purple is great..the great generation born turn-of-the-century..made the 20s roar!

@1962dude 3 жыл бұрын

The trick or whatever she did with the first turtle was a little disturbing.

@KeizerHedorah 3 жыл бұрын

That poor potato guy, you could tell he felt like a complete joke by the end of the interview. I enjoyed the interviews with "the nut lady" Elizabeth Tashjian the most, she seemed like such a nice and creative person

@alfonzowharton1557 Жыл бұрын

...thanks for ms uriel...she holds her own with fellow legend David...

@JackSilbert 3 жыл бұрын

Such a great batch, thanks so much, Don! Interesting how on the very first one, Dave seems a little too snarky, but the rest of the way he's very sweet and respectful, as we true fans always knew about him!

@J.T.Broderick 3 жыл бұрын

I've thought of some of these so many times over the years, how great to see them again! Q: Wasn't there another turtle expert, a British lady, who showed Dave how to tell male from female turtles by a "stub" on the shell? They had an absolutely house-down-bringing exchange. If there's a sequel compilation, I hope it includes Elmer Fleming the Spoon Man! Thanks again for the best channel on KZfaq!

@johnpradarelli9991 3 жыл бұрын

Myrtle the potato chip lady’s voice reminded me a little of Daniel Striped Tiger from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.

@randyj420 2 жыл бұрын

I remember some of these but absolutely missed many. LOVE this type of material from Dave's show. Any time civilians were incorporated on his show - as a guest or on the street - it was a treat. Brilliant. Great comp. The nut lady obviously had a great sense of humor and was a nutty artist and fun. The turtle lady, too. Great moments on wacky late night.

@backissue 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for all the work Don!

@PlanetNewfoundland 3 жыл бұрын

The Nut Lady is giving me Grey Gardens vibes, she is wonderful. i wish she had come back to show her panels.

@mggailitis7231 3 жыл бұрын

I like how Letterman distances himself from the cacklers in the audience. 14:00 She is referring to Nietzschean philosophy, which is studied in universities to this day. Obviously she's coming across as a goof ball, but I want to think she knows it. Notice how she takes a deep breath before the interview begins. P.S. Nut woman is awesome.

@kneedeepinbluegrass3086 3 жыл бұрын

LOVED the potato chip lady's collection!

@quitecomely 3 жыл бұрын

Love that Uriel Norman interview.

@Yobbie72 Жыл бұрын

she's scary

@carriesee8547 4 ай бұрын

I LOVE potatoes. Mashed, baked au gratin, potato salad, German potato salad, potato chips, potato salad, potato au gratin, potato fried with onions, cheesy potatoes, potato gnocchi, need I go on? Cuz I can.

@robertweedman8043 3 жыл бұрын

The Nut Lady. Truly one of a kind. What a style. Pure Nut Passion.

@vjstv0101 Жыл бұрын

He treated old people kindly and compassionate.

@KokoTheGorilla69 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video Don! Will have to check this out later, but I love these kinds of interviews

@spatoola 3 жыл бұрын

dang, Bill Hicks got bumped by mummified food.

@winonafrog 4 ай бұрын

😅 I would be through the roof! if I’d been rehearsing for Letterman and got bumped by a 7 year old hamburger a man keeps in his room 😅 (A bit of foreshadowing of Dave’s editing out Bill’s routine about 6? years later. I presume something from sharing the stand-up world rubbed him the wrong way.)

@richardwatson5437 3 жыл бұрын

Bummed that the nut lady never made it back to show her panels.

@funforalgernon 3 жыл бұрын

Her singing was pretty good! Like Snow White or something.

@richardwatson5437 3 жыл бұрын

@@funforalgernon Like Snow White, haha! I didn't think of that, but now that you said it!

@govansquared4759 3 жыл бұрын

possibly not enough content to justify the hotel bill ... or maybe one of George Miller's anecdotes just meandered on a shade too long the lady from Mars mentioned she'd been bumped on a previous occasion

@maryellenarmour 3 жыл бұрын

I remember the potato chip lady. She is so cute and sweet!

@lisabruno9160 3 жыл бұрын

777777i ppl uhh

@JCO2002 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent, thanks.

@BaccarWozat 2 жыл бұрын

They played the turtle lady off with "Drive My Car"? Why not "Happy Together"?

@em-wn3sm Жыл бұрын

im so excited to watch this

@GeneBurnett 3 жыл бұрын

"Prince honey...I was wearing purple before you were born." ~ Little Richard

@donaldgraham6414 10 ай бұрын

The Nut Lady reminds me of .. .. actually nobody. But I must say, her singing is quite nice 😊

@moaningpheromones 2 жыл бұрын

Guests: We're more eccentric than Dave is. Dave: Challenge accepted.

@Waterpoet1 3 жыл бұрын

The nut lady is awesome 23:46

@msmooreski1 3 жыл бұрын

I love the title of this post! Ha

@patriciamooney928 2 жыл бұрын

There are a lot of people interested in so many different things. Dave is fabulous. I think he is the best interviewer EVER. Scientology, Hailbop, Christian Science etc.

@aamc33 Жыл бұрын

Please get this later portion to the letterman site, the lady sounds like some of my previous normal family 🤣🤙

@kenmiller5670 3 жыл бұрын

I'm finding myself deeply moved by the interview with names keeper Lowell Davis--what a strange and profound way to spend one's life. Any idea what happened to him, Don, or what happened to his book? A quick search for "Lowell Davis, Savannah, Missouri" doesn't yield any helpful information.

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

He was among the few for whom I couldn’t find an obituary. All I’ve found so far was this profile after Charles Kuralt had done a story on him in 1984, a year after his Late Night appearance - m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=255912

@martinsorenson1055 2 жыл бұрын

There's something strangely profound about his hobby (for lack of a better word). Think about it. How many people a day do we come in contact with and have no idea who these people are. People we just pass by for a moment. This man has attempted to keep a record of those people., It's touching.

@kurtramschissel846 3 жыл бұрын

Don, do you have a collection of "James the Drifter" appearances? These "civilian" guests were consistently more interesting than the "celebrity" guests.

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

I haven’t prepared a compilation yet.

@captainscentsible1811 2 жыл бұрын

That lady that said she's from mars will be very loved if we ever find life underground on mars

@amichels 2 жыл бұрын

“I just think they’re neat” - Tom Hughes

@floydfinder 3 жыл бұрын

Great clips! I'd love to see the rocks-that-look-like-food guy again (the one who sounded like George 'Goober' Lindsey)...

@spensert4933 2 жыл бұрын

Hopefully he wasn't left to rot in his bedroom as an experiment

@mmblue3986 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting that these eccentric people all write songs and sing to accompany their strange passions.

@christophermiller3031 2 жыл бұрын

@5:39 "How is it that a potato can provide power?" *Dave sincerely asks* by the time I went to elementary school in the 90s, learning about potato power was in the curriculum! like... the whole potato powering a light is as basic as a erupting volcano experiment. I am surprised this wasn't common knowledge in the 80s.

@winonafrog 4 ай бұрын

It’s also in several art museums as an Arte Povera piece

@christ5783 3 жыл бұрын

Love this collection. Was the Port Arthur Texas bit a one off or did they have announcements for each time they added a new affiliate?

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

It was a recurring segment.

@timmcleaners1987 3 жыл бұрын

that's a helluva coat Dave was wearing with the turtle lady. 1:15:00

@christinacascadilla4473 3 жыл бұрын

You know what I’d like to see? The segment where Dave had Miss Ridged Tool on the show.. I remember that she was obnoxious and he started to rip her to shreds. It that already posted someplace?

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

One of my earliest uploads from late November 2014 - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eOCaitCKrq66nJs.html

@alftanner866 2 жыл бұрын

Elizabeth cracks me up with her nutledge everytime!

@amygeyer1166 3 жыл бұрын

I want The Nut Lady on my spotify playlist

@winonafrog 4 ай бұрын

😅

@gregorybufkin890 3 жыл бұрын

These people are very serious about what others may consider less than serious pastimes. Appalled at the audience's immaturity which could actually hurt people who are perhaps eccentric but truly sensitive human beings.

@JCSAXON 3 жыл бұрын

That got to me as well

@KeizerHedorah 3 жыл бұрын

The audience was there to laugh and have a good time, that's literally what Lettermans show was all about, he began as a comedian and that's how he and his show was perceived (a comedian with a fun talk show), especially in the 80s. Context is key.

@gregorybufkin890 3 жыл бұрын

@@KeizerHedorah Laugh at some of the ideas presented in a comic context, but what I saw was people laughing at people who had a different way of thinking.

@KeizerHedorah 3 жыл бұрын

@@gregorybufkin890 you saw people on a comedians talk show laugh at the shows guests, who were there because of their odd hobbies.

@gregorybufkin890 3 жыл бұрын

@@KeizerHedorah I just love it when anyone, even someone out their in virtuallandia tells me "what I saw" or thought. I stand by my first assertion--they laughed people. Bend that, then bend over, buddy. I hope you know what I' mean now.

@mikecashus2165 3 жыл бұрын

Any insight on why the audience was chanting Myrtle? Was this incited by Paul? and how about the Oohs of delight?

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

Will have to check, but I’m guessing it had something to do with what had occurred earlier in the show.

@spatoola 3 жыл бұрын

sadly, chip industry standards have fallen over the years. anytime i get a bag of the ripple cut chips, it’s like 25 percent “little combs”

@brewer921 2 жыл бұрын

He would have never let that space lady get away with all that three or four years later.

@nigelinasia2088 2 жыл бұрын

Aren't these people more interesting than the usual so-called celebrities?

@gluecement 5 ай бұрын

A shame they dropped these types of guests when they moved to CBS.

@DarkRider69 2 жыл бұрын

He collects dessicated food and he works with shoes. For crying out loud, man. Save some tail for the rest of us.

@parks. 3 жыл бұрын

1:27 Paul "Pick a sound effect" lol

@steveconn 2 жыл бұрын

20:00 This lady probably lived later on in Santa Fe or Sedona.

@sonijam 3 жыл бұрын

"Look at those pants" lol

@jamessoltis5407 Жыл бұрын

I’d much rather watch the interesting characters featured in this video than some vapid celebrity plugging his/her latest project.

@DanJanTube 3 жыл бұрын

It makes no sense, but Dalton Stevens, aka The Button King was only 59 years old in 1989. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_King

@sallyozuna3883 2 жыл бұрын

Really? Seemed so much older....

@nessisasquid 3 жыл бұрын

the nut lady is brilliant and wise

@LeeKav 3 жыл бұрын

For my money, the food guy is more bizarre than the space lady. That's just strange, man.

@LeeKav 3 жыл бұрын

I might add that I mean no disrespect by that.

@johnl5350 2 жыл бұрын

I've thought about the space lady. I figure maybe the audience e thought this was her performance art. I mean Andy Kaufman and rather Theodore hand been on.

@captainscentsible1811 2 жыл бұрын

Sad souls were all born at the wrong time, if they were around today , all of them would have a KZfaq channel and making 💰

@jacksonjack7838 2 жыл бұрын

6:45 what on Earth is this song?

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

I asked Paul. I asked Will. I asked Steve Khan, who often subbed for Hiram. No one knew. Both Hiram and Steve had separately performed it with the band. Always during the last commercial break. I have song copyright data kept in the Library of Congress. There’s a song copyrighted to Hiram in late 1982 titled “Before We Close,” and I’d like to believe that that’s what this is. But I need something more definitive, and that’s not yet come.

@jacksonjack7838 2 жыл бұрын

@@dongiller Thats so official Im almost afraid to talk to you now, coz Im just some idiot on the youtube. Your efforts are very much appreciated, and here I was thinking it was Dire Straits or something. P.S. I thought I read Steve Zhan for a second, lol

@jacksonjack7838 2 жыл бұрын

@@dongiller Any chance you can help me out with the song from the outro at 1:58:00 I thought it was 'All I do is Think of You' at first but its clearly not and now Im drawing a blank.

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

@@jacksonjack7838 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bLmkgrWZtZ3SYpc.html

@winonafrog 4 ай бұрын

@@dongillerO wow, I assumed it was “If You Think You’re Lonely Now…” Great call & I was so pleasantly surprised to hear the audio from the recap of Norm’s “bumped” week 😅!

@dariawells7438 3 жыл бұрын

The purple lady would be considered super normal today.

@johnl5350 2 жыл бұрын

I'd laugh at the lady early in the video, I can't pretend I'm better than the audience. Really that kind of reaction kept the lid on some whacky ideas until social media gave everyone a platform.