It Came From the Internet...

When people say "Hey, it was the '70s..." this is what they mean.

 

He's just a kooky confirmed bachelor!

(Confession time: When I was very young, I thought he was funny on Hollywood Squares, did an impression of him. Mom thought it was funny. Dad? Dad was a little worried...)

 

"This thing has it all, Donny and Marie, Billy Barty, Witchipoo AND the Wicked Witch of the West. Pinky Tuscadero, DISCO!!!
CB Truckers, Carol Brady, TIM CONWAY!!! AND making their first TV appearance EVER KISSS!!!!

DON'T FORGET MISS BETTY WHITE!!!

 

Lynde was a trippy-ass weirdo who looked and acted like he enjoyed sticking his fingers in assholes of little boys.

 

This is frickin' fantastic. I remember watching this show to see KISS.

A microcosm of how awesome and awful the 70s were. And probably more to the awesome side.

 

This includes a great clip of Fred Armisen as Paul Lynde (as well as Bill Hader as David Bowie):

Watch Frost/Other People from Saturday Night Live on NBC.com

 

I'd heard rumors. Thought Lucas bought it back and burned the negatives. Bea Arthur, Jefferson Starship and Harvey Korman....hmmmm.

 

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special is really one of the great under appreciated pieces of American Pop Culture. It really needs one of those "behind the scenes" stories to figure out how it came together.

I have known about this special for less than two years, but love telling people about it. Seriously, the wicked witch of the west is in makeup for the first time in decades. Plus the first national appearance of Kiss. There also is a reference in one of his monologues to him doing a past Halloween special. Wonder what the hell that was like?

 

@DanOregon, I'll see your Paul Lynde and raise you Charles Nelson Reilly ...

 

I've never seen this, but knew of its existence from Family Guy.

 

Is the woman at the start of the video the witch from Wizard of Oz?

 

Yep. Margaret Hamilton.