PURE EDU-TAINMENT!

Lowell Fox, comedy historian and creator of the Classic Comedians presentation series, has been referred to as having an encyclopedic knowledge of 1950’s TV comedy with footage to back it up. He is a native of Clayton, MO and a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. Fox has created 20 different presentations.

His subjects include legendary comics that appeal to cruise audiences, i.e. Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Johnny Carson, Red Skelton, Jack Benny, George Burns & Gracie Allen, Jonathan Winters, Sid Caesar and numerous others. His presentations are accompanied by scores of historical photos, anecdotes and the best samples of his comedians' humor from vaudeville, radio, Broadway, film, and television.

Lowell spent 40 years in the magazine industry, representing publishers of Fortune, Forbes, Time, Smithsonian and others. Based in Palm Springs, CA, he lectures around the world on six-star cruise lines. He has entertained throughout the U.S., California State University-Riverside in Palm Desert and other Southern California venues. He’s been interviewed on radio, television and newspapers where his laugh-filled presentations are described as “innovative and highly entertaining.” Everywhere Mr. Fox has lectured, he has been invited back to lecture again.

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CLASSIC COMEDIANS

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A presentation series created by Lowell Fox

20 PRESENTATIONS
NOTE: FIVE OF THESE WERE CREATED AS TWO-PART PRESENTATIONS (45 MINUTES EACH). EACH OF THESE FIVE CAN BE EDITED TO ONE 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION.

OR 25 PRESENTATIONS
THESE ABOVE FIVE PRESENTATIONS, IF PRESENTED AS TWO-PART PRESENTATIONS (as originally created), REPRESENT 25 DISPARATE 45-MINUTE PRESENTATIONS.

Lucille Ball - We Love Lucy
99 pre-presentation slides that will be scrolling while the cruise passengers are entering the theater. These slides include Lucy trivia, quotes and photos. This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 53 historical photos. An overview of Lucy’s life and career, her early life, the 60 films she made pre-I Love Lucy and her success in radio. How Lucy and Desi Arnaz met, the formation of Desilu Studios, and how I Love Lucy was created. Her co-stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley (Fred & Ethel Mertz) and her multiple post-I Love Lucy TV series. Awards and tributes she received and her passing.

Bob Hope - America's Entertainer
56 pre-presentation slides that will be scrolling while the cruise passengers are entering the theater. These slides include Hope trivia, quotes and photos. This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 75 historical photos. His early life and evolution from vaudeville to Broadway to radio to his 60 movies (including the famous “Road Movies” with Bing Crosby). His USO tours and his 60 years with NBC. Also included are awards and tributes he received as well as his passing at age 100.

Carol Burnett - The Queen of Sketch Comedy
72 pre-presentation slides that will be scrolling while the cruise passengers are entering the theater. These slides include Burnett trivia, quotes and photos.
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 74 historical photos. Her early years in Los Angeles, her dysfunctional family, and her years at UCLA where she developed her acting skills. The secret benefactor who provided her move to New York to attempt a career in acting. Her success on The Gary Moore Show, her smash Broadway debut in Once Upon a Mattress, and the dynamic success of The Carol Burnett Show. Background information of her co-stars: Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner. Her additional successes in movies, books and television. Awards and tributes she has received.
NOTE: THIS IS A TWO-PART PRESENTATION. BOTH ARE 45 MINUTES. CAN BE PRESENTED AS ONE 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION IF NECESSARY.

Johnny Carson - Here's Johnny!
94 pre-presentation slides that will be scrolling while the cruise passengers are entering the theater. These slides include Carson trivia, quotes and photos.
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 141 historical photos. His life before The Tonight Show including his difficult relationship with his mother and his early enthusiasm for magic as The Great Carsoni. His entire career in radio and television leading to The Tonight Show. His 24,000 guest stars and his 57 guest hosts. His favorite characters and sketches as well as his farewell to television, The “real” Johnny Carson, his troubled personal life and his four marriages. His deluxe Malibu estate, his passing and his philanthropy.
NOTE: THIS IS A TWO-PART PRESENTATION. BOTH ARE 45 MINUTES. CAN BE PRESENTED AS ONE 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION IF NECESSARY.

George Burns & Gracie Allen - Before, During and After Gracie Allen
74 pre-presentation slides that will be scrolling while the cruise passengers are entering the theater. These slides include George Burns & Gracie Allen trivia, quotes and photos.
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 74 historical photos. Their early lives, their struggles in vaudeville and George and Gracie’s partnership. George and Gracie’s career in vaudeville, film, radio, television and nightclubs. Gracie’s “illogical logic,” the story behind The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and George’s successful transition to a solo performer following Gracie’s passing as well as George’s passing at age 100.

Red Skelton – The Clown King
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 164 historical photos. His 70 years as an entertainer, comedian and pantomimist began as a part of a traveling medicine show. His performances on showboats, minstrel shows and the burlesque circuit. His career in radio and films and his dynamic success in television. His second career as a successful artist where he earned more money through his paintings than from his television work.

Milton Berle – Uncle Miltie
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 51 historical photos. His career in vaudeville, burlesque, film, Broadway, radio, nightclubs and his pioneering entry into television. Details of his early life, his rise to stardom and how he became “Mr. Television.” His post-television life, his close relationship with his mother, his gambling issues, awards, tributes and his passing.

Sid Caesar - – The Art of Sketch Comedy
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 72 historical photos. His early life, the origins of his famous “double-talk” and his musical talent. His career in nightclubs, Broadway, television and film. His explosive entry onto television at age 26 and his early exit from the medium at age 36. Also included are details about his supporting cast, the infamous “Writer's Room,” his 20-year “lost weekend” and subsequent recovery. His later films and his post-television career.

Jack Benny– The Man Who Did Nothing Better Than Anyone
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 150 historical photos. An overview of his early life and his career in vaudeville, film, radio and television. His running gags and his supporting cast of The Jack Benny Show. His close friendship with George Burns and his love affair with the violin. His tributes, awards as well as his passing.

Jackie Gleason – The Great One
Numerous anecdotes and 72 historical photos. His family’s poverty and then his start in burlesque. His career in night clubs, Broadway, television and films including profiles of his co-stars Audrey Meadows and Art Carney. His famous television characters i.e. Ralph Kramden, Reginald van Gleason III and others as well as his musical legacy. His later films, awards, tributes and his passing.

Jonathan Winters– Winging It
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 30 historical photos. His early life, an analysis of his humor and his ultimate success. Why he was never truly successful in television. His teaming with Robin Williams on Mork and Mindy. His struggles with mental illness as well as his post-television life. His talents as a painter.

Laurel & Hardy – Two Minds Without a Single Thought
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 50 historical photos. Their individual careers in silent movies and then their teaming. Their successful transition into “talkies.” Hal Roach and The Hal Roach Studio, the differences between their on and off-screen personalities and an analysis of their comedic style and their passings. Also a screening of their Academy Award-winning short The Music Box.
NOTE: THIS IS A TWO-PART PRESENTATION. BOTH ARE 45 MINUTES. CAN BE PRESENTED AS ONE 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION IF NECESSARY.

Ernie Kovacs – Nothing In Moderation
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 53 historical photos. His early life and his beginnings in radio. His entry into television, his innovative use of technology in this new medium and his influence on future television shows. His unusual lifestyle, his significant tax troubles and early passing.

The Marx Brothers – Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Sometimes Zeppo
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 67 historical photos. Their early lives as part of an impoverished family and their struggles during their 20 years in Vaudeville. An in-depth review of each of the brothers. Their careers on Broadway and a review of the famous 13 Marx Brother films. Their post-Marx Brothers lives and their passings.

Danny Kaye – Renaissance Man
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 129 historical photos. His early life and his start in nightclubs and Broadway. His marriage (and breakup and reunion) with Sylvia Fine Kaye, who wrote most of Kaye’s material and was influential in his career. Also included are his successes in films, including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Hans Christian Anderson. His versatility as a chef, an orchestra conductor, a baseball team owner, a pilot and the spokesperson for UNICEF.

Jerry Lewis – The King of Comedy
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 190 historical photos. His early start in the Catskills, his 10-year partnership and then breakup with Dean Martin. His success in films and his evolution into film “auteur.” The love affair the French had with him. His charitable work on behalf of The Muscular Dystrophy Association.

W.C. Fields – The Great Man
60 pre-presentation slides that will be scrolling while the cruise passengers are entering the auditorium. These slides include Fields trivia, quotes and photos.
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 236 historical photos. His early life, his talents as a world class juggler, who at age 19 began multiple international tours. His entry into the early world of burlesque, then vaudeville, and then Broadway, where he became a star of numerous editions of The Ziegfeld Follies. How he became a film star, both in 20 silent films and his 30 “talkies.” Details of all of his films. His foray into radio. His personal life, his alcoholism, and his final years. His influence and his legacy.
NOTE: THIS IS A TWO-PART PRESENTATION. BOTH ARE 45 MINUTES. CAN BE PRESENTED AS ONE 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION IF NECESSARY.

Don Rickles – The Merchant of Venom
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 72 historical photos. His evolution from a student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to a world-renowned insult comic, and peripheral member of The Rat Pack. His career as a stand-up comedian and actor on television and in movies. His headline performances in Las Vegas, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and his frequent hosting and performances on The Tonight Show.

Lowell's Favorites-The Best of the Rest
This presentation includes numerous anecdotes and 16 historical photos. Some of the funniest comedy from the original 19 Classic Comedians not presented on the ship that just wouldn’t fit into the schedule. However, sketches from other classic comedians including Abbot & Costello, Red Buttons, Monty Python, The Two Ronnies and others.
NOTE: THIS IS A TWO-PART PRESENTATION. BOTH ARE 45 MINUTES. CAN BE PRESENTED AS ONE 45-MINUTE PRESENTATION IF NECESSARY.

George Carlin - The Evolution of a Stand-up Comic*
*NOTE: I have presented this lecture in a college environment and can provide the details; however, while George Carlin is an important and well-regarded figure in both comedy and freedom of speech circles, I feel this lecture contains adult language for a limited audience.

Mel Brooks (in development)

Robin Williams (in development)

I've lectured on 5 & 6 star cruise lines for 11 years. 25 hilarious biographical presentations, mostly on the pioneers of early TV, comedians the passengers remember with great nostalgia.
Each covers the comedian's entire life story & is accompanied by historical photos and video clips.

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.