- September 23rd, 2013, 11:22 pm#460651
From a book I highly recommend, It Came From Bob's Basement, Bob Burns writes:
In 1973 I mentioned to Rick [Baker] that I'd like to overhaul [my gorilla suit] Kogar, and he volunteered to do a new headpiece that reflected the direction I wanted to go. He was beginning a lifelong fascination with gorillas that would culminate in his incredible creations for films like the 1976 remake of King Kong, Greystoke, Gorillas in the Mist, and [the 1998 remake of] Mighty Joe Young.
The finished product was perfect. Where Kogar promised menace, Rick's creation was mischievous and friendly in a childlike way. It was a face designed to instill chuckles rather than fear. [My wife] Kathy and Rick also revamped the suit, and Kogar II was born.
It wasn't long before my new simian partner would get his lucky break. While attending a night course on television production, a colleague of mine from CBS struck up a conversation with guest lecturer and televsion producer Lou Scheimer.
"Oh my God, what a day!" he moaned, head in hands. "We've got this show with Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch, and we had a guy lined up to star as the gorilla sidekick, Tracy. But at the last minute this guy's agent started jerking us around, and all of the replacements we've looked at are pitiful. We might have to cancel the whole show." My friend told Lou his troubles were over.
Scheimer had me in his office the very next morning for an audition in front of various writers and directors for the series. I could see an immediate positive reaction to my suit. Mark Richards, the creator and writer of the show, filled me in on the role.
"The character is called Tracy the gorilla," he said. "He's a real gorilla, but he'd love to be a human. He's restricted insofar as he can't talk, but through gestures and pantomime he can emulate humans." Then he asked, "If you were Tracy, what would you do?"
I thought for a moment as all eyes in the room studied me. I walked over to a nearby desk, picked up a copy of Variety, and sat down, legs crossed, to read it. They all said, "There's Tracy the gorilla!"
Three days later I was doing Filmation's "Ghost Busters" with the legendary duo of Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker. They were, of course, very comfortable together after years of honing their act on "F-Troop". As the rookie and odd man out, I was a bit worried. I'd heard Forrest, who was known to one and all as "Tuck", could be pretty gruff. On the first day of rehearsals I did all of my schtick as Tracy, but I throttled back noticeably when we actually started to shoot.
The director, Norm Abbott (nephew of Abbott and Costello's Bud Abbott), called a break and took me aside. "Bob, you were doing great stuff during the rehearsals, but when the camera rolls you're not giving me the broad action I need."
It was clear to me what was holding me back. "Norm," I said, "I've got a problem. I'm worried about Tuck and Larry."
He responded, "Man, you better take care of it because we've got fifteen shows to do!"
I screwed up my courage and approached Larry and Tuck. "Guys, can I talk to you for a minute? I've got a problem."
Tuck fixed me with a sinister glare and said, "What could possibly be your problem?"
At that point, had there been a shovel handy I would have dug and crawled into a hole in the ground. I pressed ahead, however. "Norm's telling me that I'm not doing the outrageous schtick he wants, and, frankly, I'm concerned about offending you guys by upstaging you. You're the stars, I'm just the new guy in the gorilla suit."
Tuck's stern expression did not change. "That's your problem?" He looked at Larry and then back at me. "Listen, I'm too old to worry about that ego crap, and Larry's too stupid."
Larry chimed in with "Yep, yep."
"We're here to make people laugh," Tuck continued. "That's the whole reason for the show. If you can run around behind me and make faces, then do it! You're going to walk off with this show anyway-- let it fly!"
[more to come]
BB:an
In 1973 I mentioned to Rick [Baker] that I'd like to overhaul [my gorilla suit] Kogar, and he volunteered to do a new headpiece that reflected the direction I wanted to go. He was beginning a lifelong fascination with gorillas that would culminate in his incredible creations for films like the 1976 remake of King Kong, Greystoke, Gorillas in the Mist, and [the 1998 remake of] Mighty Joe Young.
The finished product was perfect. Where Kogar promised menace, Rick's creation was mischievous and friendly in a childlike way. It was a face designed to instill chuckles rather than fear. [My wife] Kathy and Rick also revamped the suit, and Kogar II was born.
It wasn't long before my new simian partner would get his lucky break. While attending a night course on television production, a colleague of mine from CBS struck up a conversation with guest lecturer and televsion producer Lou Scheimer.
"Oh my God, what a day!" he moaned, head in hands. "We've got this show with Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch, and we had a guy lined up to star as the gorilla sidekick, Tracy. But at the last minute this guy's agent started jerking us around, and all of the replacements we've looked at are pitiful. We might have to cancel the whole show." My friend told Lou his troubles were over.
Scheimer had me in his office the very next morning for an audition in front of various writers and directors for the series. I could see an immediate positive reaction to my suit. Mark Richards, the creator and writer of the show, filled me in on the role.
"The character is called Tracy the gorilla," he said. "He's a real gorilla, but he'd love to be a human. He's restricted insofar as he can't talk, but through gestures and pantomime he can emulate humans." Then he asked, "If you were Tracy, what would you do?"
I thought for a moment as all eyes in the room studied me. I walked over to a nearby desk, picked up a copy of Variety, and sat down, legs crossed, to read it. They all said, "There's Tracy the gorilla!"
Three days later I was doing Filmation's "Ghost Busters" with the legendary duo of Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker. They were, of course, very comfortable together after years of honing their act on "F-Troop". As the rookie and odd man out, I was a bit worried. I'd heard Forrest, who was known to one and all as "Tuck", could be pretty gruff. On the first day of rehearsals I did all of my schtick as Tracy, but I throttled back noticeably when we actually started to shoot.
The director, Norm Abbott (nephew of Abbott and Costello's Bud Abbott), called a break and took me aside. "Bob, you were doing great stuff during the rehearsals, but when the camera rolls you're not giving me the broad action I need."
It was clear to me what was holding me back. "Norm," I said, "I've got a problem. I'm worried about Tuck and Larry."
He responded, "Man, you better take care of it because we've got fifteen shows to do!"
I screwed up my courage and approached Larry and Tuck. "Guys, can I talk to you for a minute? I've got a problem."
Tuck fixed me with a sinister glare and said, "What could possibly be your problem?"
At that point, had there been a shovel handy I would have dug and crawled into a hole in the ground. I pressed ahead, however. "Norm's telling me that I'm not doing the outrageous schtick he wants, and, frankly, I'm concerned about offending you guys by upstaging you. You're the stars, I'm just the new guy in the gorilla suit."
Tuck's stern expression did not change. "That's your problem?" He looked at Larry and then back at me. "Listen, I'm too old to worry about that ego crap, and Larry's too stupid."
Larry chimed in with "Yep, yep."
"We're here to make people laugh," Tuck continued. "That's the whole reason for the show. If you can run around behind me and make faces, then do it! You're going to walk off with this show anyway-- let it fly!"
[more to come]
BB:an
What a knockabout of pure fun that was!
- By The amazinga16
- By mike_waclo