I remember listening to Ernie way back in WTTM days. His transition to television was really the beginning of his career as a national and world wide personality. My memory is hazy but I seem to remember Ernie being on Philadelphia's WPTZ channel 3 back in the black and white 10 inch TV years. He was a guy with an imagination that allowed him to bring all those funny things he imagined to life and when he brought them to the public, he was absolutely hilarious. My favorite Kovacs figment was "Percy Dovetonsils." As I write this I am smiling ear to ear as I recall those coke bottle glasses and those eyes! He died much too young, and had he lived, he would probably have gone on to a late night show that would put today's funny guys to shame.
5 comments:
HI TOM...ERNIE KOVACS WAS IN SCHOOL THE SAME TIME AS I. I RECALL HIS JOB IN THE CIGAR STORE ON STATE AND WARREN AND ALSO HIS TIME IN MERCERVILLE. HE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CUSTODY OF HIS DAUGHTERS DURING THAT TIME. THE BEST ACT HE HAD WAS THE NIROBI TRIO AND MANY, MANY OTHERS. EADIE ADAMS WAS LEFT WITH MANY OF HIS OBLIGATIONS WHICH FRANK SINATRA TOOK CARE OFF, I'M TOLD. HE TOOK PART IN PLAYS AT JUNIOR 4 WHILE I WAS THERE. BEST REGARDS
Tommy
IThink Ernie was on WTTM radio and had an Hungarian program. I think he was on channel 10 from Philly. Like Ralph my favorite was the Narobo trio. I remember his accident. i had just returned from overseas and was stationed about 95 miles from L.A.I had driven that same freeway that Ernie died on the day before. The L.A Examiner had a picture of the accident. Rrnie sill had his cigar onhis fingers. I think that next to Johnnie Carson Ernie had the most talentof all T.V. Hosts.
Lee
I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING ABOUT ERNIE KOVACS. MY BROTHER'S WIFE, IRENE, WAS A BABY SITTER FOR ERNIE'S MOTHER WHEN THEY LIVED ON GENESEE STREET IN THE 1920'S, REGARDS.
Hi Tom, I have the very, very, very slightest connection to Ernie Kovacs, a true comedic genius. When I was about 12 to 14 years of age, I took piano lessons from Eddie Hatrak, Ernie's musical director. Eddie lived off of Park Ave. in Hamilton Twp. At the time, I didn't realize how great Ernie would become, or I would have had the wherewithal to ask Eddie about Ernie. I think, possibly, he had a morning show, out of Philadelphia, at that time. Not certain. Anybody know? This was around 1952, rayfromvillapark
Tom:
Like Ray, I had somewhat of a connection with Ernie.
My very good friend and tennis partner ( he did all the work) Edgar Levy, was Ernie's best man at his original wedding.
Edgar mentioned that Ernie's first wife "Kitt" ( I think) took Ernie's kids after the divorce and disappeared. Eggs knew of my background in "Skip Tracing" for the Finance Companies. He asked to see what I could do. Within 2 weeks, I located her, passed the info on to Eggs, and he to Ernie.
Got a really nice note of thanks.
Mike (the man of many talents & Jobs) Kuzma
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