Mike Douglas Dies.

[Jesse Joe]

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/arts/photos/2006/08/11/douglas-cp-10538300.jpg


U.S. television personality Mike Douglas, whose eponymous afternoon talk show ran for more than two decades, has died in Florida.

Mike Douglas, who drew on his affable personality and singing talent during 21 years as a talk show host, died Friday. (Chris Pizzello/Associated Press) Douglas died at a Palm Beach County hospital on Friday, his 81st birthday, according to his wife Genevieve Douglas. She said he was admitted on Thursday after being sick for the past few weeks since becoming dehydrated while playing golf.

"He was coming along fine, we thought. It was really a shock," she said. "We never anticipated this to happen."

The Mike Douglas Show aired from 1961 to 1982 and featured the Chicago-born former big band singer and celebrity co-hosts chatting with guests from the worlds of music, entertainment, comedy, politics and sports.

Famous co-hosts included John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and guests ranged from Truman Capote to Malcolm X to Judy Garland to Muhammad Ali.

Their discussions were interspersed with musical performances. Over the years, acts as diverse as Ray Charles, KISS, Barbra Streisand and the Rolling Stones took the stage.

Douglas wrote in his 1999 memoir that he didn't really consider his long-running program a talk show.

"It was really a music show, with a whole lot of talk and laughter in between numbers," he wrote in I'll Be Right Back: Memories of TV's Greatest Talk Show.

The program also featured what is considered the first-ever television appearance by golf great Tiger Woods, who appeared on the program in 1978 as a preschool golf prodigy.

"I don't know what kind of drugs they've got this kid on … but I want some," quipped avid golfer Bob Hope, who was a guest on the same episode.

Teen singer

Born Michael Delaney Dowd in Chicago in 1925, Douglas sang for radio programs and supper clubs as a teen. After a brief stint with the U.S. navy toward the end of the Second World War, he became a vocalist under big band leader Kay Kyser, who convinced him to adopt the stage name Mike Douglas.

Douglas had a few hits with Kyser in the 1940s, but as rock 'n' roll songs began to take over the charts, he turned his talents to television as a means to re-energize his career.

The affable Douglas rose to fame during the same period as talk show colleagues Merv Griffin, Phil Donahue and Dinah Shore. The show won multiple Emmy Award nominations over the years and, at its height, The Mike Douglas Show drew millions of viewers each day.

Tom Kelly, who co-authored Douglas's memoir, attributed a large part of the host's success to keeping his "ego in check."

"He always let the guest have the limelight. He was a fine performer. He could sing, he could do comedy, he did it all, but he always gave the guest the spotlight."

With files from the Associated Press.

[charlene]

how sad. i watched his show for years and he was a gentleman, that's so true. and i remember he loved his golf...How amazing that he died on his birthday....
Tiger Woods was 2 in 1978 (dec.30-1975 birthday)when he appeared on his show for a putting contest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsfXRKBLpAE

[Auburn Annie]

Well, we've still got Merv (Griffin) who also turned 81 this year (in July). And Phil Donahue. There's an affability that seems to be a common thread among all these guys; it's probably what helped them land guests and keep audiences. Mike and Merv were performers and entertainers themselves, not simply hosts, but they - like Carson - knew enough to let the guests be the stars. They all kept their egos in check, at least on air.

[Jesse Joe]

I agree with you timetraveler. The morning talk shows are junk, most anyway. I dont even like, Live with Regis and Kelly. Although I like Regis, I think he would be a great Late night Talk show host, like Carson was.

Your a she, timetraveler? I always thought I was chatting with a he, when I saw your handle name...JJ. :)

[Cathy]

Wow. Timetraveler is a woman. I thought she was a guy, too, Jesse.

[Jesse Joe]

Glad to see Im not alone at least I think that's a she. Waiting for her reply...

[Borderstone]

I was at work when i heard the news. I went to the back room,had my radio on the oldies station at 11:25am and the announcer read the news.

I thought,"Oh my gosh,anohter celebrity has passed on at 81 this year!" (Don Knotts,Dennis Weaver). The next thought was back to the John & Yoko week. (Which I borrowed on VHS from a Scottsdale library about 5 years ago).

Then to the tape my brother owns of KISS's 1974 appearence. What I remember most though is watching as a kid,not really knowing who most of the guests were but liing the show and it's flowered background set.

Mike had one lone top 40 hit,"The Men In My Little Girl's Life". (In her future that is.)He is though,in my #1 hits book,standing next to Neil Sedaka.

Here's to a great host to not just celebrities of his own time but to the one's that were,in the 60's & 70's,on the cutting edge. He wasn't prejudiced in his views in who to have for a guest. That's not just a good host,that's a good person. May he rest peacefully.

The eerie thing in all of this is that he passed away on his birthday,August 11th.

[charlene]

LOVE Merv - used to watch his show with Arthur Treacher! lol
We had a Treachers Fish and Chips near us too!
lol
I watch Merv every chance I get when he's on other talk shows because he has the most incredible stories to tell about old Hollywood and the music industry...he's always smiling and laffing and seems like the kind of guy you'd love to spend an evening with...I don't think anyone enjoyed the guests more than he did.

[RM]

Regarding Merv Griffin,

CBS' elegant program, "Sunday Morning", did a piece on him a few months ago. His creativity and achievements are quite stunning.

For those who have never had the chance to watch the program, it's well worth a view. Musically, they have had segments on the likes of Kristofferson, Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel, etc. Very electic.

RMD

[Jesse Joe]

Charlene did you ever watch SCTV, in the 80's. They would do many impersonations. And the little guy Rick Moranis, would do a great Merv Griffin. His laughs, find it funny just thinking about it...JJ

[Auburn Annie]

Merv is an empire, truly. Go to www.merv.com (http://www.merv.com) to read up on the man, the music, the hotels, the game shows etc. He's been in business for himself since he was 4 - now that's hustle!

[brink-]

Wasn't he dating/living with (whatever) with Zsa Zsa Gabor?
Merv that is.

[Jesse Joe]

Yes brink, I dont know as of late, but in the 80's, Zsa Zsa Gabor was his girlfriend. Ava was the one on Green Acres. I beleive she has pass on, dont know about Zsa Zsa?

[ August 13, 2006, 07:20: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]

[charlene]

He was a special friend of AVA Gabor.

http://images.google.ca/images?q=ava+gabor+%2B+merv+griffin&hl=en

and from may 2005

MERV GRIFFIN REGRETS AVA'S DEATH
Beloved US entertainer and game show creator MERV GRIFFIN has one regret in life - his longterm love AVA GABOR didn't live long enough to become his wife.

The two had been dating for some time when actress Gabor slipped, fell and died in 1995.

Griffin says, "I miss her a lot. We were together for a long time. We would have (married) had she lived."

But, at 80, Griffin insists this is only one small regret in a rich life.

He adds, "I love my life. When I look back on it, I like it. I don't have regrets."

And he has no plans to marry again: "I don't want to create a widow immediately."

[joveski]

with Moe..

http://web2.airmail.net/willdogs/pics/moe_mikedouglas.jpg

[Jesse Joe]

Originally posted by charlene:
He was a special friend of AVA Gabor.

http://images.google.ca/images?q=ava+gabor+%2B+merv+griffin&hl=en

and from may 2005

MERV GRIFFIN REGRETS AVA'S DEATH
Beloved US entertainer and game show creator MERV GRIFFIN has one regret in life - his longterm love AVA GABOR didn't live long enough to become his wife.

The two had been dating for some time when actress Gabor slipped, fell and died in 1995.

Griffin says, "I miss her a lot. We were together for a long time. We would have (married) had she lived."

But, at 80, Griffin insists this is only one small regret in a rich life.

He adds, "I love my life. When I look back on it, I like it. I don't have regrets."

And he has no plans to marry again: "I don't want to create a widow immediately." You got it right Charlene, I knew it was one of the Gabors sisters, Thank's for the correction... :) Jesse.

[Jesse Joe]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jesse Joe & Cathy. Yep, I'm all female. I'm also working on the assumption that you, JJ, are a male. Not a bad thing, really.

Yes I am a male timetraveler, we had a thing going with this name, because in the song "Flyin Blind " it could be a he or a she, but I loved the song so much, and with Charlene's help among other's I took the name, but spelled it Jesse- Joe. In the song it is Jessi-Jo...JJ :)

[Jesse Joe]

Well enjoy League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. And then you come and tell us about it.

Later Ma Belle, Jesse. :)

[Borderstone]

Last time I saw Mike Douglas on Tv it was a few months back on one of the current late night shows.

I know it wasn't Dave or Jay but I think it was either Conan O'Brien or that Scottish guy on CBS who used to be on Drew Carey.

You just never know. :(

[Jesse Joe]

Timetraveler, how are you? I have to ask you. I know you live in Little Rock, Arkansas. But were you born there? Jesse. :rolleyes: :)

[Jesse Joe]

Yes your right most ladies dont like to tell there age. I have never understood this...Jesse-Joe. :) :rolleyes:

[Cathy]

I have the same problem, timetraveler. Mom is a very young looking 68, and I'm a little less than 18 years younger. Many people think we're sisters.

[Auburn Annie]

Well, my mom looks younger than her 79 years but (fortunately) I don't look anywhere near 79 lol. I DO look younger than many of my siblngs, mostly because I've got mom's fair skin and lack of graying in the hair. It's there but scattered. My youngest sister - by almost 15 years - has had a white blaze over the forehead since her early 20s and my brother John has a full head of gray at 49.

[Cathy]

My sisters get mad at me because I don't have to rinse the gray out of my hair. Both of them have dark hair, and the gray sticks out like a sore thumb. I have fairly light hair, and it just kind of blends in and gives it a frosted look.

[Cathy]

Well, I never lead a healthy lifestyle. Until I had the aneurysm a year ago, I smoked and ate too much, and in the '70s I drank a lot and smoked my fair share of pot. It wasn't until 1978, when I was on my own and had to pay my own way that I gave that stuff up... except cigarettes, which I gave up last August, when I was unconscious in Boston for a month. Even then, when I woke up at Maine Medical in Bangor, I asked my son to take me for a walk outside and give me a cigarette. He just laughed, because at that point I couldn't even get out of bed. Still, that very afternoon, a nicotine patch magically appeared on my arm. I kept it on for a couple days before I ripped it off. I'm allergic to latex and my arm around the patch had broken out in a rash.