Allen Lomax’s wonderful documentary about the bayous of Louisiana which have combined French, German, West Indian, native American and hillbilly ingredients into a unique cultural gumbo.
“IRENE RYAN, who became an International star for her iconic portrayal of “Granny” Daisy Moses in the long-running hit TV series “The Beverly Hillbillies” [1962-1971], talks with guest hosts Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and sings a special material version of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller’s “I’m A Woman” [originally written for her Las Vegas nightclub act] on the January 18, 1969 episode of “The Hollywood Palace”. Irene received multiple awards, including Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series” in 1963 and 1964, and was one of the few entertainers who found success in Vaudeville [partnered with her husband Tim Ryan as “Tim and Irene”], Radio [a regular on “The Bob Hope Show”], Films [“Dear Secretary”, “Bonzo Goes to College”, “Blackbeard the Pirate”, etc.]. Television and Broadway, where she received a Tony Award nomination for her performance as another “Granny” in Stephen Schwartz & Roger Hirson’s Tony Award winning “PIPPIN”, directed & choreographed by Bob Fosse. I met Irene on the first day of rehearsal for “PIPPIN” and we became fast friends, in spite of the nearly fifty-year difference in our ages; at the time I was 24 and Irene was 72. As standby by for the title role [originated by my friend John Rubinstein], I had the pleasure of playing “Pippin” to her “Granny” on numerous occasions, and not only was she an audience pleaser, she was one of the most generous performers I have ever shared a stage with. A wonderful actress, comedienne and …
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Tim Westcott
December 24, 2012 at 8:57 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Another point of contention comes at 14:46 of the full-length video at folkstreams . net
My Lomax states that Cajuns are descendants of the Huguenots (French Protestants) of New Rochelle, France. This is profoundly incorrect as the French people that settled Acadia (Nova Scotia) were devout Catholics. When expelled by the British for refusing to renounce our Catholic faith, we came to Louisiana in the early 1760s.
Today, Cajuns are still proud Catholics…
Otacon144
December 24, 2012 at 9:15 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
What’s that song, the banjo-tune over the bumper at the start? It’s pretty.
girlycajun
December 24, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Wonderful stuff! My own father was one of the “beaten kids” for speaking French in school. He never forgot this and even at 90 years old it drew tears from his eyes just telling us about this. Of course, he was a musician, as well as his late brother. This is a wonderful little film.
Robin White
December 24, 2012 at 10:44 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Thanks iamcreole. While I don’t feel like this film is 100% inaccurate, your point is well taken. Clearly the Acadians were influenced by Louisiana culture which is as you point out Creole. On another note, I am really bothered when Alan Lomax says at the beginning…”wooow, that is not French you’re speaking…” Well, it isn’t English, Portuguese, or Spanish…so, I guess we should call it French.
barbsreviews
December 24, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Thanks for the entertainment
iamcreole
December 24, 2012 at 12:12 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
This documentary acts as if my African and Native American ancestors were influenced by the Acadians…..who were the foundation of Louisiana culture. The “Blacks” portrayed in this documentary are Creoles from mixed background whose families had been in Louisiana for upto a century BEFORE the Acadians, I am sharing this video with the Louisiana Creole community, so all can understand why CREOLES are misunderstood for Cajuns, because videos like this shows us as “Adopting their culture”
iamcreole
December 24, 2012 at 12:19 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I saw this documentary and realized it was almost 100% inaccurate. This documentary comes from ONE mans opinion who is NOT of Louisiana heritage. This video is a disgrace to Louisiana Creoles who are the ORIGINAL ethnic group formed in Louisiana. We did not “ADAPT/ADOPT” to Cajun culture as the video portray, we created this video…Gumbo is AFRICAN, the music is from our CARIBBEAN roots. The French language was already in Louisiana BEFORE the Acadians by our White-French Creoles ancestors.
Megan Breaux
December 24, 2012 at 12:46 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
my dad plays the accordion for Beausoleil
puremongrel
December 24, 2012 at 1:11 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
cajun is french/canadian …not usa…so its french/british ok
CavllNorthNorth
December 24, 2012 at 1:26 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Gotta’ love those Cajuns! Lots of love from your cousins in Maine.
JCPUTT
December 24, 2012 at 1:58 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
So what! enjoy whatever the
history of your genes are. Mine are Italiian
Welch, Souhegan Indian Tribe and
Serbian. And I love your Cajuns, & Creoles
and our Canuks (French Canadians)
from here in the NE. Long as they’re not
low-life cut throat Muslims.
jacksblack1
December 24, 2012 at 2:08 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Most people that say they are cajun are not and maybe only have a little bit of cajun blood. Ignorance plays a key role here. I was even told I was cajun when I was growing up. Not so, I dont think I have even a small amount just like a lot of us. Most are Creole which meant direct decendant from France.
jacksblack1
December 24, 2012 at 2:50 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Worse is right. I was born in a town where the first Stelly settled and died in 1791. He was in Louisiana since 1723. The cajuns didnt arrive till 1755. And then it was not even 3000 of them. More like half that. There were already 15,000 colonist there at the time that settled it. The cajuns were only welcomed to live where we already settled. But somehow, the small amount of cajuns took over the french that was already here. I dont think so. Ignorance plays a key role.
faelismaegnus
December 24, 2012 at 3:22 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Mais dat’s whay I watch it too, sha.
faelismaegnus
December 24, 2012 at 3:49 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
You ain’t even half Cajun.Your just half asshole, whole jackass.
faelismaegnus
December 24, 2012 at 4:48 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
You ain’t Cajun. It ain’t got nothin’ to do with doing your sister.
Peter Schmeltzer
December 24, 2012 at 5:04 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I infact know cajuns who have admitted to and have done jail time for screwing their sister,you inbred retard!!!Thank god i am half cajun.What is there to proud of?
falcanary
December 24, 2012 at 5:46 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
…and neither do any other Cajuns. So, why bring this up at all? You hav ea guilty conscience?
Peter Schmeltzer
December 24, 2012 at 6:44 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Im cajun and not proud.Atleast i didnt fuck my sister.
blafleur886
December 24, 2012 at 7:18 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Yeah, Alan takes a lot of analytical liberties, and fits a few things to his idea. I liked it because a lot of it was filmed in my home area and has my greatgrandfather and high school girl friend in it. The footage is all real, the commentary is skewed. But having moved away, it sure makes me homesick when I watch it.
Francesco De Giuli
December 24, 2012 at 7:40 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
bello
falcanary
December 24, 2012 at 7:44 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I’m born and raisee in south La. I have this video as well as others, and this one happens to be one of the worst docs on Cajun culture. Sure, there’s some facts, but Alan’s focus on certain things are all misguided. Ignore this one, there are better documentaries on my culture.
00mgill
December 24, 2012 at 8:18 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
if U are reading this and horny and bored u should check out my PROFILE and msg me on MSN messenger!!! i like 2 cyber. i think im a nympho!! u
EmoRocker124
December 24, 2012 at 8:45 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
im a cajun, that stuff doesnt hapen like dancing
soaringtonewheights
December 24, 2012 at 9:16 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Thanks so much for posting this! As a kid, I remember thinking Irene Ryan was so great on “The Beverly Hillbillies”. She contributed greatly to making that show one of the greatest sitcoms of all time!
Is there any video that exists of Irene performing in “PIPPIN”? I would love to see that!
BroadwayGoldnAge
December 24, 2012 at 9:57 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
— The Good Ol’ Days, indeed! From her early years in Vaudeville a Century ago right up to her show-stopping performance as my Granny in PIPPIN, nobody did it better than Irene. So much Love, so much Joy!
BroadwayGoldnAge
December 24, 2012 at 10:32 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
— I’m so pleased to know you appreciated the description as well as Irene’s performance. Sometimes I get the feeling not everyone bothers to read them, and since all of the videos posted on my channel have a very special personal connection to me, I enjoy sharing the stories behind the clips, So Thanks Again for your kind and encouraging words.
Ilia9396
December 24, 2012 at 11:07 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I like this! The good ol’ days!
love,
Ilia Willison