Americathon
The Skits Behind the Screenplay
Published on 4. December 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
94 pages
978-1-62933-229-1 (ISBN)
Description
Phil Proctor, co-founder of the legendary, surrealist comedy group, the thrice Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre, in cahoots with Peter Bergman, Phil Austin and David Ossman, helped to create the most revolutionary comedy recordings ever made. Over a 50-year career, starting in the ‘60s and ending with them all in their 70s, they predicted reality TV, hackers, computer viruses, virtual reality, the fall of the Soviet Union, 9/11 and much more still to come. But during a breather in the Firesign career, Phil joined up with Pete to launch Proctor & Bergman on a crazy ride that took them on the road through the hip back pockets of the U.S. including Hawaii and even Canada with their own brand of surreal silliness, resulting in radio series, three records: TV or Not TV, Give Us a Break and What This Country Needs, and films including the cult hit J-Men Forever, and the topic of this story: Americathon. It started as Gothamathon, a cabaret skit that soon evolved into The Americathon, hosted by Bergman as the manic Jerry Jerry, and me as everyone else, designed to raise money to pay off the national debt. When Director Neal Israel, on the road to promote his hit, Tunnelvision (in which I have a fun role), caught our act in Boston – well, you’ll have to buy the book to learn "the rest of the story." I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, and only wish that Peter was still here to relive these crazy daze. I dedicate this book to him.
More details
Language
English
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight
150 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-62933-229-1 (9781629332291)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Phil Proctor was born of Amish/Irish ancestry in Goshen, Indiana, and is a founding member of the thrice-Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre, (one of the "Thirty Greatest Acts of All Time") whose archives were purchased last year by the Library of Congress. He's appeared on-and-off Broadway, toured the USSR with the Yale Russian Chorus, and also toured the US and Canada with the L.A. Guitar Quartet as Don Quixote. He has appeared in scores of commercials, audiobooks, video games, radio and TV shows and films including Window of Opportunity, written and directed by his partner, Samuel Joseph. Phil received Theatre World, LA Weekly, LA Free Press and Drama Critics' awards over his long career.
His voice credits include memorable characters in Academy Award-winning films for Pixar and Disney, the Drunken French Monkey in Dr. Dolittle, Dr. Vidic in Assassin's Creed, Simon Stagg in Batman: Arkham Knight, and Howard in the multi-Emmy-winning Rugrats, which has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He recently appeared in the world premiere of Dan Castellanata's For Piano and Harpo at the Gary Marshall Theatre, is a 15-year member of The Antaeus Theater company, and has written several new books including his autobiography, "Where's My Fortune Cookie?" co-authored by Brad Schreiber, and What to Say to Your Crazy Right-Wing Uncle: Talking Points for Liberals, with Samuel Joseph, while their political comedy, God Help Us! starring Ed Asner, has toured to rave reviews.