Who Was This Person?

[CG6468]

A DREAMER AND HIS DREAM

Let me tell you, Jesse hated this job. And you would too, I imagine, if you had to do it. Jesse was a chicken plucker. That's right.

He stood on a line in a chicken factory and spent his days pulling the feathers off dead chickens so the rest of us wouldn't have to. It wasn't much of a job. But at the time, Jesse didn't think he was much of a person. His father was a brute of a man. His dad was actually thought to be mentally ill and treated Jesse rough all of his life.

Jesse's older brother wasn't much better. He was always picking on Jesse and beating him up. Yes, Jesse grew up in a very rough home in West Virginia. Life was anything but easy. And he thought life didn't hold much hope for him. That's why he was standing in this chicken line, doing a job that darn few people wanted.

In addition to all the rough treatment at home, it seems that Jesse was always sick. Sometimes it was real physical illness, but way too often it was all in his head. He was a small child, skinny and meek. That sure didn't help the situation any.

When he started to school, he was the object of every bully on the playground.

He was a hypochondriac of the first order. For Jesse, tomorrow was not always something to be looked forward to.

But, he had dreams. He wanted to be a ventriloquist. He found books on ventriloquism. He practiced with sock puppets and saved his hard earned dollars until he could get a real ventriloquist dummy.

When he got old enough, he joined the military. And even though many of his hypochondriac symptoms persisted, the military did recognize his talents and put him in the entertainment corp. That was when his world changed. He gained confidence.

He found that he had a talent for making people laugh, and laugh so hard they often had tears in their eyes. Yes, little Jesse had found himself.

You know, folks, the history books are full of people who overcame a handicap to go on and make a success of themselves, but Jesse is one of the few I know of who didn't overcome it. Instead he used his paranoia to make a million dollars, and become one of the best-loved characters of all time in doing it!

Yes, that little paranoid hypochondriac, who transferred his nervousness into a successful career, still holds the record for the most Emmy's given in a single category.

Who was this wonderful, gifted, talented, and nervous comedian?

[longview]

Don Knotts.  I liked his comedy. 

[CG6468]

Ka-CHING!

You are correct!

[obumazombie]

He starred in a haunted house type movie back in the day. I thought it was some of his best work. In his later years as the 3's company landlord, he found himself another niche almost as iconic as his Barney Fife character.

[vesta111]

But you have to realise he did not do all this on his own,  He needed encouragement and help from others, he needed teachers in acting and teachers in deportment.

He needed help finding contacts in the business, friends that gave him references and perhaps a fewbucks to weather the rough times.

No one makes it on their own in that business, every one needs an Angel to get the notice of the big wigs.

[Kyle Ricky]

Nip it in the butt! I liked Don Knotts in No Time For Sergeants (That is where he and Andy Griffith first met), and his movies he did with Tim Conway; Ones like Private Eyes and the Million Dollar Hobo.

We can't forget the Incredible Mr. Limpet or The Ghost and Mr. Chicken as well. They were all great movies.

And yes, I loved the Andy Griffith show. It is a true classic. I wish they still made them like that.

[Chris_]

I loved the Andy Griffith show. It is a true classic. I wish they still made them like that.

That show still comes on twice a day here. 

Never cared for it myself.

[BEG]

But you have to realise he did not do all this on his own,  He needed encouragement and help from others, he needed teachers in acting and teachers in deportment.

He needed help finding contacts in the business, friends that gave him references and perhaps a fewbucks to weather the rough times.

No one makes it on their own in that business, every one needs an Angel to get the notice of the big wigs.

You are exhausting. 

[Rebel]

In his later years as the 3's company landlord, he found himself another niche almost as iconic as his Barney Fife character.

Yeah, I think he found that Barney Fife gig a little earlier than Three's Company.

[CG6468]

Where'd I put that damned bullet? 

 

[CG6468]

Don Knotts in his ventriloquist days.

[obumazombie]

^Did not know he had that skill.

[Kyle Ricky]

I didn't know Don Knotts was a ventriloquist. That is pretty cool. He looks really young in that picture.

[Eupher]

I didn't know Don Knotts was a ventriloquist. That is pretty cool. He looks really young in that picture.

I didn't know that either.

My initial thought on the nervousness/hypochondriac angle was Jack Benny, but he was noted for playing violin, not for the ventriloquist thing.

This was a good one, CG! 

[Karin]

Chris didn't like the Andy Griffith show?  Who doesn't love that show?

One of my favorite Barney quotes, mimicking Gomer's dopey accent:  "Citizens Arrest!  Citizens Arrest!!!" 

[CG6468]

I didn't know that either.

My initial thought on the nervousness/hypochondriac angle was Jack Benny, but he was noted for playing violin, not for the ventriloquist thing.

This was a good one, CG! 

Thank you, Sir! Appreciate it! 

[Chris_]

Chris didn't like the Andy Griffith show?  Who doesn't love that show?

One of my favorite Barney quotes, mimicking Gomer's dopey accent:  "Citizens Arrest!  Citizens Arrest!!!" 

I was more of a 'Happy Days' fan.

[Kyle Ricky]

I was more of a 'Happy Days' fan.

Happy Days was good also.

[Chris_]

I forgot about this old Dodge ad.  These old car commercials are great.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9OAByxkIyw&feature=related[/youtube]