Oh my goodness! My Mother told me today that when I was three years old back in 1957, Jimmy Dean came out of a restaurant in the town where I live. My parents and I were in the car. My Father asked Jimmy Dean to please talk to me and he did! Jimmy was just getting started on his career and was in his 20's. He was also with his band. I wish I could talk to him again now that I'm grown.
Rowlf is the right spelling. He was the first Muppet to ever appear regularly on television and yes, this is before Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and anything else. Rowlf never got his due later on for being a pioneer Muppet! ;)
As a little kid I always watched the Jimmy Dean Show with my parents because I was always wanting to see Rowlf. Got to see some good entertainment and Jimmy was a gentleman. They sure dressed nice back then!
i love this! and have always wanted to see it thanks for posting this please post more if u have them! Man this should come out on dvd "the best of Rolwf the dog on Jimmy Dean!"
I wonder what these people would all say if you could go back in time and tell them the only "person" to receive any success from this show would be the dog puppet... and that they all will probably all develop throat & lung cancer from the show's sponsor.
Dean may be gone, but here's a good way to but it: He's up in heaven with Henson & they can reminesce their favorite moments when Rowlf was on the show.
At the end, an ABC announcer reminds us that "THE LES CRANE SHOW" (he recently passed away) is on "later tonight" [at 11:15pm(et)]. Donald O'Connor then informs us he'll be the guest host on "this Saturday's" edition of "THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE" [December 19th].
speaking as a martial artist, there is some truth in that 'karate grunt' line. Supposedly, you can put some extra power into your attacks by exhaling as you strike. Similar principle in tennis.
Kraml Milk commercials by Jim featured his Wilkins and Wontkins puppets doing almost the exact same things that they did in the Wilkins coffee commercials. If you look them up you can probably find them
I named my first dog Rolfe....I spelled it wrong, but it was suppsed to be after this muppet. Rowlfe....either way and anyway, my first dog was a stray off the street, no one would claim him, and every time he looked at me, this was the voice he used, the face that he made, and I can't even begin to explain it, but he still speaks to me. We have a new dog and even a cat and he hated cats, but whenever I hear this muppets voice, I hear my old dog's voice giving me advice...hey, I hope that something better comes along! lol!
"Rowlf" was originally created for a series of Purina Dog Chow ads in the fall of 1962....and became popular enough to become a "cast member" of Jimmy's show in the fall of '63.
Thx Barry. Gem of a sketch! Henson/Rowlf in total control, also improvising. But isn't it amazing that already by 1964 Henson had a a couple of "muppets" as we learn from the closing credits of the show? The Rowlf we see here was almost the complete that we know from the famous show much later.
You wouldn't know how to get in touch with him would you? I live in Leesburg Va. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive to Richmond for me. My Mother said I called him "Jiggy Dean" and he and his band laughed. Wonder if he remembers? My sister thinks he would because the band probably didn't let him forget that some little kid called him "Jiggy."
@gorakismungo ...I remember Rowlf and Lassie but it seems I remember Lassie was his LOVE...then when Lassie was on the show...he was speechless...kinda like a little school boy meeting his "secret crush"...lol
No, you're mistaken on two counts. Henson created the Muppets in 1955, so Rowlf was a Muppet from the start. He was the first nationally-known Muppet, thanks to Jimmy Dean. Rowlf appeared in the second episode of the first season, which aired Sept. 26, 1963.
Yes. Rowlf was the first muppet on network Television, appearing as a many episodes of this show from 1963-1966. That is Jim and Frank preforming him. Funny, though, is that he made is first appearances on Purina Dog Chow commercials in 1962.
Does anybody have the clip where Rowlf says "My belly button blew out." I saw a clip of that on some special or another, but I don't remember which one.
Jimmy Dean had a somewhat successful variety show {guided by the same producer who brought you "THE GARRY MOORE SHOW" and the early "CAROL BURNETT SHOW"}, but every season he was on, he was scheduled on different days and/or times. After three seasons, ABC finally cancelled him. This excerpt is from a December 17, 1964 telecast, when the show was on Thursdays at 10pm(et), opposite NBC's "KRAFT SUSPENSE THEATER" and CBS' "THE DEFENDERS"...
i was two then and some of my earliest tv memories are his show(not when 2 but maybe 5 years old 1960-61).. him singing "on top of old smokey" i believe..Jim Henson lol.. Jimmy lives not far from me, near Richmond, Va.
My brother and I used to watch the Jimmy Dean show just to see Ralph.(I know that's not how you spell his name but Jimmy always pronounced it that way.)
This is fantastic. There are a few clips on the "The World of Jim Hensen" videos that showcases how funny the Rowlf character was. Please, whoever has the rights to these episodes, realease them to the public. This stuff is priceless.
Jimmy's ABC variety show was on from 1963 through '66. This segment originally aired on December 17, 1964 (Donald O'Connor's turn as host of "THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE" [9:36] aired the following Saturday, December 19th).
I have to agree this isn't one of the better Rowlf segments, but you need to check out some others before you dismiss Jimmy Dean. Dean set the standard for human/Muppet interactions. Even on live TV, he never, _ever_ failed to address Rowlf as an independent being, nor did he have any qualms about playing straight man to a Muppet. Jimmy Dean brought the Muppets to national TV, and Jim Henson's career blossomed. Henson was so grateful, he offered Dean 40% of Jim Henson Productions. Dean declined, because he didn't feel he had really done anything to earn it. Heck, if Dean had accepted even 4%, he probably would have died twice as rich as he did.
Wow, Jimmy Dean has such a striking face. Was he mixed with Native American? I LOVE Rowlf but wow had no idea Rowl was that old (he looks good for his age lol). I can SEE where Miss Piggy learned to beat the crap of Kermit with that Karate chop and kick of hers lol!
Indian Wrestling? I always thought it was Arm wrestling.? That camel's cigarette advert... Replace the word Cigarette, with Marijuana... And i see how in a generation or two, it'll be similar to this one.
A tv show with a Muppet and tobacco as a sponsor??? Man there is some nostalgia I don't miss!! I liked Jimmy and will always love the Muppets but after watching this it's easy to see why Dean got out of show business and started making sausage!!
Joe Comer Until cigarette advertising was banned, cigarette advertising was the main reason Television shows were profitable. Other advertisers filled the gap after they became illegal, but its possible television may not have been so successful if it weren't for all the money they spent on commercials and sponsorship when television was emerging. The Jimmy Dean Show wasn't the last time Jim Henson had any association with a tobacco company though. As part of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement that among other thing made decades of the tobacco companies documents public, it was revealed that The Philip Morris Company gave the cigars that were seen in The Muppet Movie. In my opinion, I doubt he thought anything of it, cigar smoking was and still is something many people in show business partake In. It probably would have been weirder at the time For Orson Well's character not to be smoking a cigar, because he was a frequent cigar smoker and it fit the character he played. Of course if The Muppet Movie was being made today, there wouldn't be any smoking in the script or on the screen, but it was probably in the script before Phillip Morris gave the cigars, and Jim probably thought nothing of it. Smoking was still very common in movies and TV shows at the time, so I doubt he though a few characters with cigars in his movie would encourage young people to smoke. There was an anti smoking ad about a decade ago that was more critical about it though.
+Randy Please read my comment again. It was in reference to the fact that at the time of Dean's show, EVERYONE smoked on television. And television shows thought nothing of the effect they had on their viewers in the advertising of tobacco products. It seemed as though it was expected. As I said, I don't miss that all. Whether Jim Henson had any obscure association with a tobacco company or not behind the scenes is irrelevant. There was no blatant attempt to sell such a habit forming and dangerous product to the public in THE MUPPET MOVIE or on television's "The Muppet Show". And whether or not smoking was still seen on television and in the movies during that period is also beside the point. Advertising of tobacco products by the late 1970's on television had been halted entirely. More and more reports of the health dangers of smoking were common. Had it still been allowed and any of Jim's characters been associated with an obvious attempt to sell such products at that time, it would have ruined him. And "Orson Welles' (correct spelling) character", merely smoking a cigar is not promoting the product either. My comment was merely an expression of thanks for the fact that shows like "The Jimmy Dean Show" that showed no regard for the negative influence they may have had on children were off the air some 16 or 17 years later, and a little intelligence was applied to what could and couldn't be advertised on television.
Rowlf at his finest! I wish there were more segments with Rowlf and Jimmy Dean on UA-cam.
I love how jimmy struggles to keep a straight face! also, for all forms of martial arts, the "karate Grunt" is actually called a Kiai!
My boy has aged better than any dog I know.
Oh my goodness! My Mother told me today that when I was three years old back in 1957, Jimmy Dean came out of a restaurant in the town where I live. My parents and I were in the car. My Father asked Jimmy Dean to please talk to me and he did! Jimmy was just getting started on his career and was in his 20's. He was also with his band. I wish I could talk to him again now that I'm grown.
Rowlf is the best muppet ever. Everything with him is Serious Business. =w=
Rowlf is the right spelling. He was the first Muppet to ever appear regularly on television and yes, this is before Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and anything else. Rowlf never got his due later on for being a pioneer Muppet! ;)
Actually was Kermit when the Show "Sam and Friends" aired Rowlf is the second muppet character that started to appear regularly
Hear- Here!
Regularly on *national* television.
As a little kid I always watched the Jimmy Dean Show with my parents because I was always wanting to see Rowlf. Got to see some good entertainment and Jimmy was a gentleman. They sure dressed nice back then!
i love this! and have always wanted to see it thanks for posting this please post more if u have them!
Man this should come out on dvd "the best of Rolwf the dog on Jimmy Dean!"
I wonder what these people would all say if you could go back in time and tell them the only "person" to receive any success from this show would be the dog puppet... and that they all will probably all develop throat & lung cancer from the show's sponsor.
How often do you fight a piece of wood lol
Rowlf has always been my favorite Muppet.
Mine too!
Rowlf is so funny, and he always manages to crack Jimmy up.
The muppets had been invented and Sesame Street was not the first muppet production. It started with Sam and Friends, a small time show in washington.
to think Jimmy Dean went on to make sausage meats later on & is still enjoyed to this day
Jimmy Dean sold his sausage company to Sara Lee years ago.
Loved watching this with my dad every week when I was a little kid, between 8 and 11 years old.
"THE JIMMY DEAN SHOW", for clarification's sake, was on ABC's prime-time schedule from 1963 through '66, 'tokyo'.
THAT WAS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!!
Dean may be gone, but here's a good way to but it: He's up in heaven with Henson & they can reminesce their favorite moments when Rowlf was on the show.
7:03 Henson loved breaking Dean
After, Colleen. This was originally telecast on December 17, 1964- a year and almost four months after Dr. King made his speech on August 28, 1963.
As a Kid Used to Hate It When I Watch the Whole Show and They Didn't Show Rowlf the Dog.
Welcome to republican land. Where cigarets are sponsors, men are handsome and Muppet are having girl troubles. What i wouldn't give bring it here,,,,
At the end, an ABC announcer reminds us that "THE LES CRANE SHOW" (he recently passed away) is on "later tonight" [at 11:15pm(et)]. Donald O'Connor then informs us he'll be the guest host on "this Saturday's" edition of "THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE" [December 19th].
I love my Jimmy Dean!!! He's awesome and soooo sweet!!!!
@twometertwo So that's why I keep expecting for Rowlf to tell someone to slap into a slim jim
speaking as a martial artist, there is some truth in that 'karate grunt' line. Supposedly, you can put some extra power into your attacks by exhaling as you strike. Similar principle in tennis.
Jimmy: Rowlf you didn't break the board
Rowlf: So what how often do you fight a piece of wood?
Wisdom in its purest form. ✌😁
Too bad they advertised cigarettes on the show, now it can't go on broadcast television.
Who's having more fun? Rowlf or Jimmy?
Henson did commercials for dozens of regional advertisers in the late '50s and during most of the '60s- I'm not familiar with "Kraml Milk".
Kraml Milk commercials by Jim featured his Wilkins and Wontkins puppets doing almost the exact same things that they did in the Wilkins coffee commercials. If you look them up you can probably find them
I named my first dog Rolfe....I spelled it wrong, but it was suppsed to be after this muppet. Rowlfe....either way and anyway, my first dog was a stray off the street, no one would claim him, and every time he looked at me, this was the voice he used, the face that he made, and I can't even begin to explain it, but he still speaks to me. We have a new dog and even a cat and he hated cats, but whenever I hear this muppets voice, I hear my old dog's voice giving me advice...hey, I hope that something better comes along! lol!
"Rowlf" was originally created for a series of Purina Dog Chow ads in the fall of 1962....and became popular enough to become a "cast member" of Jimmy's show in the fall of '63.
Does anyone remember the segment where Jimmy sings to Rowlf "Big Bad Dog"?
It would be great if someone could post it.
ua-cam.com/video/ckOWI4Nunms/v-deo.html
Jimmy Dean once had Fred Flintstone on the show. The cartoon, not the guy who does the voice. Does anyone remember that?
Thx Barry. Gem of a sketch! Henson/Rowlf in total control, also improvising. But isn't it amazing that already by 1964 Henson had a a couple of "muppets" as we learn from the closing credits of the show? The Rowlf we see here was almost the complete that we know from the famous show much later.
Easily funnier than anything on TV today.
i-remember watching this live on tv, it was 1960-62 if i recall
1963-66.
"That's not flab. I've got a tiger in my tank!"
You wouldn't know how to get in touch with him would you? I live in Leesburg Va. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive to Richmond for me.
My Mother said I called him "Jiggy Dean" and he and his band laughed. Wonder if he remembers? My sister thinks he would because the band probably didn't let him forget that some little kid called him "Jiggy."
@gorakismungo ...I remember Rowlf and Lassie but it seems I remember Lassie was his LOVE...then when Lassie was on the show...he was speechless...kinda like a little school boy meeting his "secret crush"...lol
So is this how Jim Henson started?
Heru- deshet no this is how Frank Oz started
Freddy Richards
You're right, but this was way before my time. Thanks.
Heru- deshet Jim had a show in the 50s called "Sam and Friends"
R.I.P. Jimmy Dean
how often do you fight a piece of wood, ha ha smartass
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? was nothing new... I remember Fred Flintstone as a guest on The Jimmy Dean Show.
oh look, they left out Frank's credit
The Jimmy Dean Show started in 1955. Kermit the Frog was introduced on Sam and Friends in 1955. Source: Wikipedia.
Jimmy: Rowlf you didn't break the board
Rowlf: So what, how often do you find a piece of wood?
Where are all the Muppet commercials for camel cigarettes?
does anyone else think that Macho Man Randy Savage copied Rowlf?
I HEART ROWLF;););)
I'm a bit confused. Is that Jim Henson's Rowlf? But 1963-66 the Muppets hadn't been invented yet and even Sesame Street hadn't started, or had it?
ua-cam.com/play/PLplWWKocAfTYIGzH8eQ0x0kEQgoV9CpYm.html
This is the 1st time Rowlf was appeared in The Jimmy Dean Show before he joins the Muppets
No, you're mistaken on two counts. Henson created the Muppets in 1955, so Rowlf was a Muppet from the start. He was the first nationally-known Muppet, thanks to Jimmy Dean. Rowlf appeared in the second episode of the first season, which aired Sept. 26, 1963.
Was this before Rowlf was on Muppet Show?
Yes. Rowlf was the first muppet on network Television, appearing as a many episodes of this show from 1963-1966. That is Jim and Frank preforming him. Funny, though, is that he made is first appearances on Purina Dog Chow commercials in 1962.
Does anybody have the clip where Rowlf says "My belly button blew out." I saw a clip of that on some special or another, but I don't remember which one.
Jimmy Dean had a somewhat successful variety show {guided by the same producer who brought you "THE GARRY MOORE SHOW" and the early "CAROL BURNETT SHOW"}, but every season he was on, he was scheduled on different days and/or times. After three seasons, ABC finally cancelled him. This excerpt is from a December 17, 1964 telecast, when the show was on Thursdays at 10pm(et), opposite NBC's "KRAFT SUSPENSE THEATER" and CBS' "THE DEFENDERS"...
i was two then and some of my earliest tv memories are his show(not when 2 but maybe 5 years old 1960-61).. him singing "on top of old smokey" i believe..Jim Henson lol.. Jimmy lives not far from me, near Richmond, Va.
My brother and I used to watch the Jimmy Dean show just to see Ralph.(I know that's not how you spell his name but Jimmy always pronounced it that way.)
This is fantastic. There are a few clips on the "The World of Jim Hensen" videos that showcases how funny the Rowlf character was. Please, whoever has the rights to these episodes, realease them to the public. This stuff is priceless.
Jimmy's ABC variety show was on from 1963 through '66. This segment originally aired on December 17, 1964 (Donald O'Connor's turn as host of "THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE" [9:36] aired the following Saturday, December 19th).
i love rowlf but there are somethings about him i will never understand. he is so serious and halirous at same time
Let's smoke Camel!
Apparently Rowlf was getting more fan mail than Jimmy Dean during this show.
This show was from Washington DC and Jim Henson was from nearby MD and went to the U of MD
Was the show on Before or after Mr. King Jr said his I have a dream speatch?
lol rowlf would totally be elvis's dog. :) that would be a match made in heaven!!
@zackman86 I think Rowlf said, "So what. How often do you FIGHT a piece of wood?"
Indeed, Rest in Peace, Jimmy. The passing of an era. Memories of simpler times.
That was weird to watch in a good way. It felt modern somehow.
Dont forget the Muppets on early Kraml Milk commercials
Rowlf is great, but Jimmy sucks. lol
I have to agree this isn't one of the better Rowlf segments, but you need to check out some others before you dismiss Jimmy Dean. Dean set the standard for human/Muppet interactions. Even on live TV, he never, _ever_ failed to address Rowlf as an independent being, nor did he have any qualms about playing straight man to a Muppet. Jimmy Dean brought the Muppets to national TV, and Jim Henson's career blossomed. Henson was so grateful, he offered Dean 40% of Jim Henson Productions. Dean declined, because he didn't feel he had really done anything to earn it. Heck, if Dean had accepted even 4%, he probably would have died twice as rich as he did.
I wanna know what happened to Rowlf and Barbara!!!
some of the greatest people came from the DC area .
GJ
Rowlf is so cute and cuddly.
Lets shave our ladies!
Wow, Jimmy Dean has such a striking face. Was he mixed with Native American? I LOVE Rowlf but wow had no idea Rowl was that old (he looks good for his age lol). I can SEE where Miss Piggy learned to beat the crap of Kermit with that Karate chop and kick of hers lol!
I HEART ROWLF;););)
RIP Jimmy Dean.
RIP Jimmy Dean
RIP JIMMY =(
Oh I see!
Indian Wrestling? I always thought it was Arm wrestling.?
That camel's cigarette advert...
Replace the word Cigarette, with Marijuana...
And i see how in a generation or two, it'll be similar to this one.
Ralph? not Rolwf LOL
A tv show with a Muppet and tobacco as a sponsor??? Man there is some nostalgia I don't miss!! I liked Jimmy and will always love the Muppets but after watching this it's easy to see why Dean got out of show business and started making sausage!!
When you put it that way, I guess he wasn't a fan of women shaving their legs either.
Probably not...LOL!!!
Joe Comer Until cigarette advertising was banned, cigarette advertising was the main reason Television shows were profitable. Other advertisers filled the gap after they became illegal, but its possible television may not have been so successful if it weren't for all the money they spent on commercials and sponsorship when television was emerging.
The Jimmy Dean Show wasn't the last time Jim Henson had any association with a tobacco company though. As part of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement that among other thing made decades of the tobacco companies documents public, it was revealed that The Philip Morris Company gave the cigars that were seen in The Muppet Movie. In my opinion, I doubt he thought anything of it, cigar smoking was and still is something many people in show business partake In. It probably would have been weirder at the time For Orson Well's character not to be smoking a cigar, because he was a frequent cigar smoker and it fit the character he played. Of course if The Muppet Movie was being made today, there wouldn't be any smoking in the script or on the screen, but it was probably in the script before Phillip Morris gave the cigars, and Jim probably thought nothing of it. Smoking was still very common in movies and TV shows at the time, so I doubt he though a few characters with cigars in his movie would encourage young people to smoke. There was an anti smoking ad about a decade ago that was more critical about it though.
+Randy Please read my comment again. It was in reference to the fact that at the time of Dean's show, EVERYONE smoked on television. And television shows thought nothing of the effect they had on their viewers in the advertising of tobacco products. It seemed as though it was expected. As I said, I don't miss that all. Whether Jim Henson had any obscure association with a tobacco company or not behind the scenes is irrelevant. There was no blatant attempt to sell such a habit forming and dangerous product to the public in THE MUPPET MOVIE or on television's "The Muppet Show". And whether or not smoking was still seen on television and in the movies during that period is also beside the point. Advertising of tobacco products by the late 1970's on television had been halted entirely. More and more reports of the health dangers of smoking were common. Had it still been allowed and any of Jim's characters been associated with an obvious attempt to sell such products at that time, it would have ruined him. And "Orson Welles' (correct spelling) character", merely smoking a cigar is not promoting the product either. My comment was merely an expression of thanks for the fact that shows like "The Jimmy Dean Show" that showed no regard for the negative influence they may have had on children were off the air some 16 or 17 years later, and a little intelligence was applied to what could and couldn't be advertised on television.
when you post vintage tv clips please post the year so we have some idea of when it was made