1
00:00:02,302 --> 00:00:03,068
[dramatic music]
2
00:00:03,070 --> 00:00:05,204
- Sam Patch
screams out to the crowd,
3
00:00:05,206 --> 00:00:08,007
some things can be done
as well as others.
4
00:00:08,009 --> 00:00:09,942
Yeah! Sammy.
5
00:00:09,944 --> 00:00:11,143
- Ella Fitzgerald is like,
6
00:00:11,145 --> 00:00:12,444
I don't know Marilyn Monroe,
7
00:00:12,446 --> 00:00:13,946
like, what are we saying?
8
00:00:13,948 --> 00:00:16,815
But, whoa, whoa--
oh, so, so, so, so, so--
9
00:00:16,817 --> 00:00:17,883
- Buster...
10
00:00:17,885 --> 00:00:19,952
We're gonna be
big, big stars, baby.
11
00:00:19,954 --> 00:00:23,689
At this point, it's just
gonna be pure garbage.
12
00:00:23,691 --> 00:00:26,892
[patriotic music]
13
00:00:26,894 --> 00:00:32,231
♪ ♪
14
00:00:36,236 --> 00:00:38,203
- But did you ever know
a legend?
15
00:00:38,205 --> 00:00:39,538
Have you ever known
a legend?
16
00:00:39,540 --> 00:00:42,875
- I don't know, I think
it's too soon to tell.
17
00:00:42,877 --> 00:00:45,511
I know a couple people
in good runnings...
18
00:00:45,513 --> 00:00:47,579
- So legends have to be dead?
19
00:00:47,581 --> 00:00:50,149
- I think so, because
otherwise, then, if you're--
20
00:00:50,151 --> 00:00:51,917
if you're not dead,
you're a hero.
21
00:00:51,919 --> 00:00:52,985
- Not like
those frat guys that--
22
00:00:52,987 --> 00:00:55,821
you got to meet my buddy;
he's a legend.
23
00:00:55,823 --> 00:00:57,189
- No, that is--
those are legends.
24
00:00:57,191 --> 00:00:59,024
Those are true legends.
- [chuckles]
25
00:00:59,026 --> 00:01:00,125
- Those are today's legends.
26
00:01:00,127 --> 00:01:02,127
He did--
it was legendary.
27
00:01:02,129 --> 00:01:03,262
- Yeah.
28
00:01:03,264 --> 00:01:04,496
Two keg stands.
29
00:01:04,498 --> 00:01:05,998
- Gallon of jungle juice.
30
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,566
- You're at his mom's funeral.
31
00:01:07,568 --> 00:01:10,135
Legend.
- Legend.
32
00:01:11,104 --> 00:01:12,471
- Hello.
I'm Nick Rutherford,
33
00:01:12,473 --> 00:01:14,473
and today
we're gonna talk about...
34
00:01:14,475 --> 00:01:16,742
[chuckles]
Sam Patch.
35
00:01:16,744 --> 00:01:18,777
The first daredevil.
36
00:01:18,779 --> 00:01:20,379
It's the 1800s.
37
00:01:20,381 --> 00:01:22,214
It's not even the 1900s yet,
38
00:01:22,216 --> 00:01:24,049
and it's just past the 1700s.
39
00:01:24,051 --> 00:01:27,086
So young Sam Patch
was working in cotton mills
40
00:01:27,088 --> 00:01:28,520
14, 16 hours a day.
41
00:01:28,522 --> 00:01:31,857
So Sam Patch, like all of
his older coworkers,
42
00:01:31,859 --> 00:01:33,559
would spend their
very little break time
43
00:01:33,561 --> 00:01:35,794
next to the river,
watching the falls
44
00:01:35,796 --> 00:01:36,829
that powered these mills,
45
00:01:36,831 --> 00:01:38,430
and so Sam Patch
started jumping off
46
00:01:38,432 --> 00:01:41,700
the top of the falls,
avoiding the deadly rocks,
47
00:01:41,702 --> 00:01:43,235
landing safely in the water,
48
00:01:43,237 --> 00:01:45,304
and Sam Patch turned out
to be very, very good at it.
49
00:01:45,306 --> 00:01:47,239
He did it so well,
crowds started to gather.
50
00:01:47,241 --> 00:01:48,874
He would--
he would pass around a hat,
51
00:01:48,876 --> 00:01:51,877
take, like, pennies
to help supplement his income.
52
00:01:51,879 --> 00:01:56,882
So Sam Patch wants to do
the biggest jump of his life,
53
00:01:56,884 --> 00:01:59,818
and he goes to
the Passaic Falls River.
54
00:01:59,820 --> 00:02:01,353
Sam Patch goes to the falls,
55
00:02:01,355 --> 00:02:02,588
screams out to the crowd,
56
00:02:02,590 --> 00:02:05,224
some things can be done
as well as others.
57
00:02:05,226 --> 00:02:06,225
Takes a few steps back,
58
00:02:06,227 --> 00:02:08,894
runs and takes a leap
into the air,
59
00:02:08,896 --> 00:02:10,429
and then plunges feetfirst
60
00:02:10,431 --> 00:02:14,199
in his trademark
straight-as-an-arrow dive.
61
00:02:14,201 --> 00:02:16,935
Sam Patch emerges
from the water.
62
00:02:16,937 --> 00:02:17,936
Waves to everybody.
63
00:02:17,938 --> 00:02:19,471
People lose their mind.
64
00:02:19,473 --> 00:02:20,639
That was awesome.
65
00:02:20,641 --> 00:02:21,874
That was awesome.
That was sick.
66
00:02:21,876 --> 00:02:26,145
All right, so Sam Patch--
on top of the world.
67
00:02:26,147 --> 00:02:27,579
On top of the world.
68
00:02:27,581 --> 00:02:28,480
He's doing great.
69
00:02:28,482 --> 00:02:30,749
So Sam Patch gets a bear.
70
00:02:30,751 --> 00:02:33,152
That's--
that's what you did back then.
71
00:02:33,154 --> 00:02:35,521
If you got to a certain level
of success,
72
00:02:35,523 --> 00:02:36,221
you got a bear.
73
00:02:36,223 --> 00:02:37,756
- Well, what should we call
the bear?
74
00:02:37,758 --> 00:02:43,862
- There's no record of a name
that Sam gave his bear,
75
00:02:43,864 --> 00:02:46,365
but I'm 100% sure
76
00:02:46,367 --> 00:02:50,636
that his bear's name was...
77
00:02:50,638 --> 00:02:52,070
Bomzi.
78
00:02:52,072 --> 00:02:53,472
- Bomzi?
79
00:02:53,474 --> 00:02:55,340
- I feel like I can do better
than Bomzi.
80
00:02:55,342 --> 00:02:57,109
- Don't--just don't worry
about it. So--
81
00:02:57,111 --> 00:02:59,144
- I still think I can do better
than Bomzi.
82
00:02:59,146 --> 00:03:00,913
- Don't worry
about Bomzi.
83
00:03:00,915 --> 00:03:01,613
- I am. I am.
84
00:03:01,615 --> 00:03:04,917
- All right, move on from Bomzi
and just talk about Patch.
85
00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:06,818
- I mean,
you can keep on telling me
86
00:03:06,820 --> 00:03:07,619
what you want me to say,
87
00:03:07,621 --> 00:03:10,222
but I'm gonna keep on
giving you gold.
88
00:03:10,224 --> 00:03:13,559
- [chuckles]
All right, so he decides--
89
00:03:13,561 --> 00:03:15,060
- So he gets the bear.
90
00:03:15,062 --> 00:03:17,796
Oh, you want to tell the story?
- No, no.
91
00:03:17,798 --> 00:03:19,598
- So he's doing great;
he's traveling around,
92
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,767
he's jumping off
anything that's tall.
93
00:03:21,769 --> 00:03:23,902
He would go to his jumps.
94
00:03:23,904 --> 00:03:24,870
He'd bring the bear up
95
00:03:24,872 --> 00:03:26,071
and then convince the bear
96
00:03:26,073 --> 00:03:28,073
that he should jump first.
97
00:03:28,075 --> 00:03:29,141
♪ ♪
98
00:03:29,143 --> 00:03:31,143
The bear would jump first.
99
00:03:31,145 --> 00:03:33,045
♪ ♪
100
00:03:33,047 --> 00:03:34,580
And then he'd be like,
I guess it's good for me.
101
00:03:34,582 --> 00:03:37,149
Says some things can be done
as well as others.
102
00:03:37,151 --> 00:03:38,483
Jumps off.
103
00:03:38,485 --> 00:03:39,585
♪ ♪
104
00:03:39,587 --> 00:03:40,752
Lands.
[imitates splash]
105
00:03:40,754 --> 00:03:41,753
People think he's dead.
106
00:03:41,755 --> 00:03:44,156
Pops up--
I'm alive.
107
00:03:44,158 --> 00:03:45,891
♪ ♪
108
00:03:45,893 --> 00:03:46,692
So, at this point,
109
00:03:46,694 --> 00:03:50,762
these business dudes say, Sam,
you're good at what you do.
110
00:03:50,764 --> 00:03:51,763
Come to Niagara.
111
00:03:51,765 --> 00:03:53,865
What's up in Niagara?
You ask.
112
00:03:53,867 --> 00:03:56,101
Oh, I don't know. Falls.
113
00:03:56,103 --> 00:03:57,069
Come work for us.
114
00:03:57,071 --> 00:03:59,805
And then Sam Patch says...
115
00:04:01,341 --> 00:04:02,341
Bingo.
116
00:04:02,343 --> 00:04:04,376
October 1829.
117
00:04:04,378 --> 00:04:07,746
Sam Patch is ready to jump
118
00:04:07,748 --> 00:04:10,682
the biggest falls
known to man:
119
00:04:10,684 --> 00:04:11,717
the Niagara Falls.
120
00:04:11,719 --> 00:04:13,552
Everybody was there
to see Sam Patch.
121
00:04:13,554 --> 00:04:15,821
Sam Patch--supposed to show up
at 1:00 p.m.
122
00:04:15,823 --> 00:04:17,856
No 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m., he's not there.
123
00:04:17,858 --> 00:04:19,291
3:00 p.m., he's not there.
124
00:04:19,293 --> 00:04:20,726
4:00 p.m., on the dot.
125
00:04:20,728 --> 00:04:22,027
He's like, hey.
126
00:04:22,029 --> 00:04:24,263
Yeah! Sammy!
127
00:04:24,265 --> 00:04:27,833
Sammy, Sammy, Sammy!
128
00:04:27,835 --> 00:04:28,934
Yes!
129
00:04:28,936 --> 00:04:29,668
He says
130
00:04:29,670 --> 00:04:32,437
his Sam Patch slogan,
131
00:04:32,439 --> 00:04:33,272
which is always,
132
00:04:33,274 --> 00:04:36,275
some things can be done
better than others.
133
00:04:36,277 --> 00:04:39,978
That's not it, but we--
we got it already.
134
00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:40,946
♪ ♪
135
00:04:40,948 --> 00:04:43,949
Takes a few steps back.
136
00:04:43,951 --> 00:04:45,651
Jumps off.
137
00:04:45,653 --> 00:04:51,657
Does his signature arrow dive
into the water.
138
00:04:51,659 --> 00:04:53,392
♪ ♪
139
00:04:53,394 --> 00:04:55,527
What is this, a suicide?
What's going on?
140
00:04:55,529 --> 00:04:56,928
Did this kid kill himself?
141
00:04:56,930 --> 00:04:58,597
[triumphant music]
142
00:04:58,599 --> 00:05:01,466
And bear is at the--
now he's at the shore.
143
00:05:01,468 --> 00:05:02,167
High-fives him.
144
00:05:02,169 --> 00:05:05,337
So Sam Patch, the bear,
they're hanging out.
145
00:05:05,339 --> 00:05:06,705
Feeling great.
146
00:05:06,707 --> 00:05:08,774
How can we top this?
They think.
147
00:05:08,776 --> 00:05:09,574
This is awesome.
148
00:05:09,576 --> 00:05:11,176
Some other businessmen say--
149
00:05:11,178 --> 00:05:12,177
Sammy!
150
00:05:12,179 --> 00:05:13,912
Bear team!
I got a jump for you.
151
00:05:13,914 --> 00:05:16,715
[slurred] Genesee River.
Genesee River.
152
00:05:16,717 --> 00:05:17,282
- Where?
153
00:05:17,284 --> 00:05:19,418
- [mumbling]
Genesee River.
154
00:05:19,420 --> 00:05:20,619
Sammy, Sammy, Sammy.
155
00:05:20,621 --> 00:05:22,187
So Patch says,
yeah, I'm coming.
156
00:05:22,189 --> 00:05:23,755
They get
to Genesee River Falls.
157
00:05:23,757 --> 00:05:24,856
He gets to the top.
158
00:05:24,858 --> 00:05:26,091
His friend, the bear,
159
00:05:26,093 --> 00:05:28,560
hands him a flask of brandy.
160
00:05:28,562 --> 00:05:29,394
He drinks all of it.
161
00:05:29,396 --> 00:05:32,464
The bear's like,
dude, that's my flask.
162
00:05:32,466 --> 00:05:34,366
[laughing]
163
00:05:34,368 --> 00:05:35,467
♪ ♪
164
00:05:35,469 --> 00:05:37,769
Takes a few steps back.
165
00:05:37,771 --> 00:05:39,438
Jumps. Dives.
166
00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:40,472
And then people notice
167
00:05:40,474 --> 00:05:43,075
that he started to flail
a little bit.
168
00:05:43,077 --> 00:05:46,411
Crashed into the water
at--at an angle.
169
00:05:46,413 --> 00:05:47,412
People were sure he was dead.
170
00:05:47,414 --> 00:05:49,381
People were positive
that he was dead.
171
00:05:49,383 --> 00:05:54,019
Nobody refused...
that he did not die.
172
00:05:54,021 --> 00:05:56,221
There was a boat
circling around.
173
00:05:56,223 --> 00:05:57,055
Could not find him.
174
00:05:57,057 --> 00:05:59,691
Sam Patch doesn't surface
that night.
175
00:05:59,693 --> 00:06:01,460
He doesn't surface
the next night.
176
00:06:01,462 --> 00:06:03,895
Doesn't surface
the following night.
177
00:06:03,897 --> 00:06:05,263
Four months later...
178
00:06:05,265 --> 00:06:06,598
he shows up.
179
00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,233
Drinking at his bar
with his bear.
180
00:06:08,235 --> 00:06:10,102
They're playing beer pong.
181
00:06:10,104 --> 00:06:10,936
Having a great time.
182
00:06:10,938 --> 00:06:12,571
No, I wish
that was the ending.
183
00:06:12,573 --> 00:06:13,472
That is not the ending.
184
00:06:13,474 --> 00:06:17,075
Months later, a farmer goes
to take his horses
185
00:06:17,077 --> 00:06:20,078
to get a much-needed drink
from the river.
186
00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,480
He had to break
through the ice
187
00:06:21,482 --> 00:06:23,115
so his horses
could get to the water.
188
00:06:23,117 --> 00:06:28,253
Underneath the ice, he saw
the frozen body of Sam Patch,
189
00:06:28,255 --> 00:06:33,058
just a young gentleman
of 22 years old.
190
00:06:33,060 --> 00:06:34,493
♪ ♪
191
00:06:34,495 --> 00:06:38,597
He was a pioneer
in dumb stunts.
192
00:06:38,599 --> 00:06:40,732
- He stood out.
193
00:06:40,734 --> 00:06:43,235
- He also was in No Doubt.
194
00:06:43,237 --> 00:06:45,270
Is that what you said?
No Doubt?
195
00:06:45,272 --> 00:06:46,271
- He stood out.
196
00:06:46,273 --> 00:06:48,173
- He stood out.
197
00:06:49,142 --> 00:06:50,876
And I love No Doubt.
198
00:06:50,878 --> 00:06:52,577
- Don't speak.
199
00:06:52,579 --> 00:06:54,946
- I know what you're saying.
200
00:06:54,948 --> 00:06:56,214
- I know what you're doing.
201
00:06:56,216 --> 00:06:58,417
- Don't tell me
'cause it's true.
202
00:06:58,419 --> 00:06:59,751
- [laughing]
203
00:07:04,424 --> 00:07:05,290
[upbeat rock music]
204
00:07:05,292 --> 00:07:07,125
- So, yeah,
I puked once already,
205
00:07:07,127 --> 00:07:08,093
before we ever started.
206
00:07:08,095 --> 00:07:13,799
And, um, like a true soldier--
me and Beyoncé--
207
00:07:13,801 --> 00:07:14,733
I kept drinking,
208
00:07:14,735 --> 00:07:17,035
and I'm gonna make
this [bleep] night happen.
209
00:07:17,037 --> 00:07:18,370
- 'Cause you're
a [bleep] hero.
210
00:07:18,372 --> 00:07:20,439
- I'm a soldier.
- Talking about two heroes.
211
00:07:20,441 --> 00:07:23,909
- 'Cause I'm a soldier.
Yes.
212
00:07:23,911 --> 00:07:25,177
- Let's cheers to Ella.
213
00:07:25,179 --> 00:07:26,278
- To Ella!
214
00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:27,779
Ella Fitzgerald!
My baby girl.
215
00:07:27,781 --> 00:07:29,881
And my homegirl--
she's from Newport News
216
00:07:29,883 --> 00:07:30,816
and I'm from Virginia Beach.
217
00:07:30,818 --> 00:07:33,385
Your homegirl too--
Tidewater, Hampton Roads.
218
00:07:33,387 --> 00:07:35,020
One more cheers.
219
00:07:35,022 --> 00:07:35,954
Boom, our baby!
220
00:07:35,956 --> 00:07:37,622
- I didn't understand
anything you said.
221
00:07:37,624 --> 00:07:39,090
- Here's to our baby,
Ella.
222
00:07:39,092 --> 00:07:41,693
- Ella.
- Baby girl.
223
00:07:44,297 --> 00:07:46,498
I think I might
throw up again.
224
00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:48,633
Hello.
225
00:07:48,635 --> 00:07:50,669
My name is Tymberlee Hill,
226
00:07:50,671 --> 00:07:53,038
and today we're gonna
talk about
227
00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:58,243
Ella Fitzgerald
and Marilyn Monroe.
228
00:07:58,245 --> 00:07:59,644
Cheers.
229
00:07:59,646 --> 00:08:04,249
Ella Fitzgerald--
she's the Queen of Song.
230
00:08:04,251 --> 00:08:07,552
Nobody sings better
than Ella Fitzgerald.
231
00:08:07,554 --> 00:08:09,988
So Ella's on
the chitlin circuit.
232
00:08:09,990 --> 00:08:12,123
She's killing it everywhere.
233
00:08:12,125 --> 00:08:16,461
Chitlin circuit is for anybody
who's black that performs.
234
00:08:16,463 --> 00:08:18,263
Now, let's talk about
the Mocambo.
235
00:08:18,265 --> 00:08:19,130
Can we really quickly?
236
00:08:19,132 --> 00:08:21,399
The Mocambo is a place where
237
00:08:21,401 --> 00:08:24,836
[bleep] Frank Sinatra debuted
in the '40s.
238
00:08:24,838 --> 00:08:27,639
This is a place
where Lana Turner,
239
00:08:27,641 --> 00:08:29,608
Charlie Chaplin,
Cary Grant--
240
00:08:29,610 --> 00:08:32,644
this was the hot spot,
and you couldn't do it bigger,
241
00:08:32,646 --> 00:08:35,480
except, they do not want
to let her in,
242
00:08:35,482 --> 00:08:38,850
and they're like--
[mumbling] She's too black.
243
00:08:38,852 --> 00:08:40,085
She's too chubby.
244
00:08:40,087 --> 00:08:41,286
She's too ugly.
[drink sloshes]
245
00:08:41,288 --> 00:08:46,091
Ah, shit, and [bleep]
and all kinds of shit and piss.
246
00:08:46,093 --> 00:08:46,925
- You want to clean that--
247
00:08:46,927 --> 00:08:48,727
- Oh, that's okay,
I, um, Scotchgard.
248
00:08:48,729 --> 00:08:50,362
I Scotchgard like
a mother[bleep].
249
00:08:50,364 --> 00:08:51,796
I can keep it going.
I can keep it going.
250
00:08:51,798 --> 00:08:53,064
What was the last thing
that she said?
251
00:08:53,066 --> 00:08:54,733
Her--the last thing--
oh, okay.
252
00:08:54,735 --> 00:08:55,834
Oh, so, so, so, so.
253
00:08:55,836 --> 00:08:57,602
Marilyn Monroe--
she's huge.
254
00:08:57,604 --> 00:08:59,271
People didn't get it,
and they were like,
255
00:08:59,273 --> 00:09:02,741
can't you just be our hot thing
with no clothes on
256
00:09:02,743 --> 00:09:05,810
with the dress blowing up
that we love so much?
257
00:09:05,812 --> 00:09:08,446
And she was like,
no, I can't.
258
00:09:08,448 --> 00:09:09,514
I want to do some real acting.
259
00:09:09,516 --> 00:09:13,251
So Marilyn Monroe goes in
to her voice teacher.
260
00:09:13,253 --> 00:09:14,819
She says I want to be
a triple threat.
261
00:09:14,821 --> 00:09:15,720
I want to do everything.
262
00:09:15,722 --> 00:09:16,988
I'm taking
this class in acting,
263
00:09:16,990 --> 00:09:18,189
I'm doing
these dancing classes,
264
00:09:18,191 --> 00:09:20,859
blah-de-blah-blah,
you are my man for the voice.
265
00:09:20,861 --> 00:09:21,826
[hiccups]
266
00:09:21,828 --> 00:09:23,328
Her voice coach says,
267
00:09:23,330 --> 00:09:25,497
if you want to learn
how to sing,
268
00:09:25,499 --> 00:09:27,332
buy Ella Fitzgerald's album.
269
00:09:27,334 --> 00:09:28,667
She gets this record.
270
00:09:28,669 --> 00:09:30,101
She lays down on the floor
271
00:09:30,103 --> 00:09:35,307
and listens to this record
100 times in a row.
272
00:09:35,309 --> 00:09:38,843
She goes, this is
the most astonishing voice
273
00:09:38,845 --> 00:09:40,145
I've ever heard in my life.
274
00:09:40,147 --> 00:09:42,047
She calls the Mocambo,
and they're like,
275
00:09:42,049 --> 00:09:43,748
oh, my God, oh, my God,
oh, my God!
276
00:09:43,750 --> 00:09:45,884
Marilyn Monroe,
what the [bleep]?
277
00:09:45,886 --> 00:09:47,485
And she's like,
bring it all down.
278
00:09:47,487 --> 00:09:52,691
If you let my favorite,
my favorite baby girl
279
00:09:52,693 --> 00:09:55,260
jump on stage
and sing her songs,
280
00:09:55,262 --> 00:09:58,663
I will show up,
and I will sit in the fr--
281
00:09:58,665 --> 00:09:59,297
[gasping]
282
00:09:59,299 --> 00:10:02,100
And I will sit in the front row
of the audience
283
00:10:02,102 --> 00:10:02,934
every single night,
284
00:10:02,936 --> 00:10:08,106
and you can take as many
pictures of me as you want.
285
00:10:08,108 --> 00:10:10,275
[chuckles] I'm sorry.
286
00:10:10,277 --> 00:10:11,543
- You're very excited.
287
00:10:11,545 --> 00:10:12,444
- I am, I love these two,
288
00:10:12,446 --> 00:10:14,279
and I've known this story
forever.
289
00:10:14,281 --> 00:10:15,513
[sputtering]
290
00:10:15,515 --> 00:10:19,050
Ella Fitzgerald--
she gets a phone call,
291
00:10:19,052 --> 00:10:19,951
and they're saying,
292
00:10:19,953 --> 00:10:23,288
we would love
to have you at the Mocambo.
293
00:10:23,290 --> 00:10:25,423
[stammering]
But what?
294
00:10:25,425 --> 00:10:27,759
Like, what the [bleep] are we
talking about right now?
295
00:10:27,761 --> 00:10:30,261
He's like, somebody made
a phone call.
296
00:10:30,263 --> 00:10:35,400
Somebody...
named Marilyn Monroe.
297
00:10:35,402 --> 00:10:36,001
Boom!
298
00:10:36,003 --> 00:10:39,070
So she's like, Marilyn--
I don't know Marilyn Monroe.
299
00:10:39,072 --> 00:10:41,439
Like, what are we saying?
300
00:10:41,441 --> 00:10:43,174
You know, like, she didn't--
[gasps]
301
00:10:43,176 --> 00:10:45,343
Know anything about that.
- You okay?
302
00:10:45,345 --> 00:10:47,245
- Yes,
I just have weird hiccups
303
00:10:47,247 --> 00:10:48,880
and a lot of catched breaths.
304
00:10:48,882 --> 00:10:50,448
Ella shows up at the Mocambo,
305
00:10:50,450 --> 00:10:54,319
and Marilyn takes a front-row
center table.
306
00:10:54,321 --> 00:10:55,353
The lights go down.
307
00:10:55,355 --> 00:11:00,125
Ella walks out onto the stage,
and then--boom!
308
00:11:00,127 --> 00:11:03,528
It comes out of her voice.
309
00:11:03,530 --> 00:11:06,765
[scatting dynamically]
310
00:11:06,767 --> 00:11:07,432
♪ ♪
311
00:11:07,434 --> 00:11:10,502
♪ Dah-dah-dah,
dah-dah-dah... ♪
312
00:11:10,504 --> 00:11:12,237
♪ Ah-scooby-dooby-dooby-dah ♪
313
00:11:12,239 --> 00:11:13,471
[scatting dynamically]
314
00:11:13,473 --> 00:11:17,242
And then people
are a-going crazy.
315
00:11:17,244 --> 00:11:19,944
And one person is like,
I didn't even know music
316
00:11:19,946 --> 00:11:20,745
could sound like that.
317
00:11:20,747 --> 00:11:24,449
And then Marilyn was like,
I've heard these songs before.
318
00:11:24,451 --> 00:11:26,484
But I never heard them.
319
00:11:26,486 --> 00:11:27,719
What is going on right now?
320
00:11:27,721 --> 00:11:30,822
Like, I can't even understand
my own mind.
321
00:11:30,824 --> 00:11:34,893
That is a human voice
singing to us.
322
00:11:34,895 --> 00:11:37,162
And Marilyn, true to her word,
323
00:11:37,164 --> 00:11:38,730
shows up every single night,
324
00:11:38,732 --> 00:11:41,066
and she sits in the front row.
325
00:11:41,068 --> 00:11:43,635
One night,
after Ella performed,
326
00:11:43,637 --> 00:11:45,470
Marilyn came backstage.
327
00:11:45,472 --> 00:11:46,871
[uplifting orchestral music]
328
00:11:46,873 --> 00:11:49,741
So, so, it's just two girls
329
00:11:49,743 --> 00:11:51,009
talking about
what real life is like.
330
00:11:51,011 --> 00:11:54,913
Marilyn is like, ugh, you know,
I'm a [bleep] orphan.
331
00:11:54,915 --> 00:11:57,649
And, uh...
what's her name?
332
00:11:57,651 --> 00:12:00,385
Ella is like,
I'm a [bleep] orphan too.
333
00:12:00,387 --> 00:12:02,454
Then Marilyn's like,
I had two marriages,
334
00:12:02,456 --> 00:12:05,223
and Ella's like, oh, my God,
I was married to somebody
335
00:12:05,225 --> 00:12:07,659
when I was really young,
and then I married another guy.
336
00:12:07,661 --> 00:12:09,961
And then Marilyn was like,
I cannot be accepted
337
00:12:09,963 --> 00:12:12,797
in this business
because of the way that I look.
338
00:12:12,799 --> 00:12:15,100
And Ella's like,
I cannot be accepted
339
00:12:15,102 --> 00:12:18,636
in this business
because of the way that I look!
340
00:12:18,638 --> 00:12:23,875
And these two women,
they literally meet each other.
341
00:12:23,877 --> 00:12:27,145
Because Marilyn Maloa--
Mon--Meh--
342
00:12:27,147 --> 00:12:28,580
Marilyn Mon--
343
00:12:28,582 --> 00:12:31,316
Marilyn Mano...
344
00:12:31,318 --> 00:12:33,418
Roe--
345
00:12:33,420 --> 00:12:35,787
Maroe--Maroe.
346
00:12:35,789 --> 00:12:37,655
Marilyn...
[sighs]
347
00:12:37,657 --> 00:12:38,556
But anyway.
348
00:12:38,558 --> 00:12:42,761
In this moment,
that Marilyn helps Ella,
349
00:12:42,763 --> 00:12:44,596
she frees them both.
350
00:12:44,598 --> 00:12:46,231
The fact is, sometimes,
351
00:12:46,233 --> 00:12:50,401
sisters have to
hook each other up.
352
00:12:50,403 --> 00:12:52,771
And when Marilyn passes away,
353
00:12:52,773 --> 00:12:55,006
because they stayed friends,
354
00:12:55,008 --> 00:12:57,075
Ella Fitzgerald said,
355
00:12:57,077 --> 00:13:01,446
I owe Marilyn a great debt.
356
00:13:01,448 --> 00:13:03,715
After she personally called
357
00:13:03,717 --> 00:13:05,917
the managers
of the Mocambo room
358
00:13:05,919 --> 00:13:07,685
and allowed me to play there,
359
00:13:07,687 --> 00:13:13,057
I was never, ever, ever,
ever again in my life
360
00:13:13,059 --> 00:13:15,727
relegated to a small club.
361
00:13:15,729 --> 00:13:19,697
She says,
Marilyn was extraordinary
362
00:13:19,699 --> 00:13:22,200
and ahead of her time.
363
00:13:22,202 --> 00:13:25,537
She loved that lady.
364
00:13:25,539 --> 00:13:30,875
♪ ♪
365
00:13:34,980 --> 00:13:36,514
- I got to say,
here's to people
366
00:13:36,516 --> 00:13:38,817
who know when to shut
their damn mouths.
367
00:13:38,819 --> 00:13:40,652
[jazzy piano music]
368
00:13:40,654 --> 00:13:42,520
- Less talking,
more texting.
369
00:13:42,522 --> 00:13:43,855
- Why are you talking?
370
00:13:43,857 --> 00:13:45,857
Let's try it again.
371
00:13:45,859 --> 00:13:47,158
Maybe you didn't hear me.
372
00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:48,626
I said,
here's to people who know
373
00:13:48,628 --> 00:13:49,794
when to shut
their damn mouths.
374
00:13:49,796 --> 00:13:52,730
Then you're like--
[babbling]
375
00:13:52,732 --> 00:13:56,034
- Okay, do it one more time.
- [wheezing laughter]
376
00:13:56,036 --> 00:13:57,535
- I'll keep my mouth shut.
377
00:13:57,537 --> 00:14:01,806
- Here's to people who know when
to shut their damn mouths.
378
00:14:04,043 --> 00:14:06,044
[ice clinking]
379
00:14:06,046 --> 00:14:08,379
Could this ice make
a little more noise?
380
00:14:08,381 --> 00:14:09,514
- It sounds good.
- All right.
381
00:14:09,516 --> 00:14:13,618
Hello, I'm Patrick Walsh,
and today we're gonna be talking
382
00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:15,587
about the life
of Buster Keaton.
383
00:14:15,589 --> 00:14:16,688
[ragtime piano music]
384
00:14:16,690 --> 00:14:19,190
Buster Keaton was born
to a family
385
00:14:19,192 --> 00:14:23,027
of vaudeville performers
who toured the country
386
00:14:23,029 --> 00:14:26,030
with legendary magician
Harry Houdini.
387
00:14:26,032 --> 00:14:28,900
Buster was actually born
Joseph Keaton,
388
00:14:28,902 --> 00:14:30,535
but when he was 18 months old,
389
00:14:30,537 --> 00:14:33,338
he fell down
a flight of stairs
390
00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:37,609
and Houdini picked him up,
inspected him, and said,
391
00:14:37,611 --> 00:14:39,444
we should call him Buster,
392
00:14:39,446 --> 00:14:41,045
'cause he's a real Buster.
393
00:14:41,047 --> 00:14:42,480
He can take a lot of shit.
394
00:14:42,482 --> 00:14:44,515
And his parents laughed,
they were like--
395
00:14:44,517 --> 00:14:47,218
[laughing]
We should call him Buster!
396
00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:48,820
That's a great idea,
397
00:14:48,822 --> 00:14:51,389
famed magician Harry Houdini.
398
00:14:51,391 --> 00:14:54,025
♪ ♪
399
00:14:54,027 --> 00:14:56,461
And in fact, they would say,
step right up,
400
00:14:56,463 --> 00:15:00,531
come see the little boy
who could not be damaged.
401
00:15:00,533 --> 00:15:04,869
His father would throw his son
into walls,
402
00:15:04,871 --> 00:15:08,273
into the orchestra pit,
into the audience.
403
00:15:08,275 --> 00:15:10,341
And Buster loved it.
404
00:15:10,343 --> 00:15:12,477
He was always fine.
He had no marks.
405
00:15:12,479 --> 00:15:13,711
He knew how to take a fall.
406
00:15:13,713 --> 00:15:16,414
Could take a lot of abuse.
407
00:15:16,416 --> 00:15:17,315
In a fun way.
408
00:15:17,317 --> 00:15:20,785
Buster learned that he got
bigger laughs if he would
409
00:15:20,787 --> 00:15:23,621
maintain a completely
stone-faced expression.
410
00:15:23,623 --> 00:15:27,191
They started referring to him
as The Great Stone Face,
411
00:15:27,193 --> 00:15:30,728
which was his nickname, really,
up until the end of his career.
412
00:15:30,730 --> 00:15:32,263
So with all this knowledge
413
00:15:32,265 --> 00:15:33,965
of, like, what people
found funny
414
00:15:33,967 --> 00:15:36,000
that he had gained
from his time in vaudeville,
415
00:15:36,002 --> 00:15:37,635
he started doing
these short films,
416
00:15:37,637 --> 00:15:39,037
and they were extremely
popular.
417
00:15:39,039 --> 00:15:40,905
Buster had a big admirer
in Charlie Chaplin,
418
00:15:40,907 --> 00:15:43,308
who was the biggest
silent film star of all time.
419
00:15:43,310 --> 00:15:47,478
Chaplin, while touring the
country with Douglas Fairbanks,
420
00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,580
Mary Pickford,
and D.W. Griffith,
421
00:15:49,582 --> 00:15:53,084
Chaplin was basically like,
guys, we could sort of make
422
00:15:53,086 --> 00:15:55,954
our own artist-run
movie studio,
423
00:15:55,956 --> 00:15:58,556
and we could have
complete creative control
424
00:15:58,558 --> 00:15:59,490
over the projects we make,
425
00:15:59,492 --> 00:16:02,193
and other artists might want
to come to us
426
00:16:02,195 --> 00:16:03,161
to enjoy that creative freedom.
427
00:16:03,163 --> 00:16:06,397
And D.W. Griffith said,
you know, that's awesome,
428
00:16:06,399 --> 00:16:09,834
because we can keep
black people out as well.
429
00:16:09,836 --> 00:16:13,404
And they all, you know,
looked at him a little strange.
430
00:16:13,406 --> 00:16:15,173
They weren't quite sure
what he meant by that,
431
00:16:15,175 --> 00:16:17,141
and he said, you know,
we could tell more stories
432
00:16:17,143 --> 00:16:20,211
about how the Ku Klux Klan
came to power
433
00:16:20,213 --> 00:16:23,715
and how they are
the most glorious organization
434
00:16:23,717 --> 00:16:24,983
in America's history.
435
00:16:24,985 --> 00:16:25,817
And they were like,
436
00:16:25,819 --> 00:16:28,252
yeah, or we could, you know,
do other kind of fun stuff
437
00:16:28,254 --> 00:16:29,921
and kind of more
creative stuff--
438
00:16:29,923 --> 00:16:32,090
No, but the Ku Klux Klan!
439
00:16:32,092 --> 00:16:33,758
You know,
I want to make all my--
440
00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,294
my sweet, sweet
Ku Klux Klan movies.
441
00:16:36,296 --> 00:16:38,596
And they were like,
maybe we should quit
442
00:16:38,598 --> 00:16:40,531
hanging out with D.W.
443
00:16:40,533 --> 00:16:44,635
And he was like,
guys, come on.
444
00:16:44,637 --> 00:16:47,171
Ku Klux Klan? Right?
445
00:16:47,173 --> 00:16:49,307
You guys love it.
I love it.
446
00:16:49,309 --> 00:16:52,043
America loves it.
447
00:16:52,045 --> 00:16:55,279
He was a racist--
D.W Griffith.
448
00:16:55,281 --> 00:16:57,315
They decide they're gonna form
United Artists,
449
00:16:57,317 --> 00:17:00,018
and Chaplin goes to his friend
Buster Keaton, and he goes,
450
00:17:00,020 --> 00:17:02,453
you got a vision,
you're creative,
451
00:17:02,455 --> 00:17:03,888
you should come do movies
for us.
452
00:17:03,890 --> 00:17:06,324
You can do what you want to do,
we won't bother you,
453
00:17:06,326 --> 00:17:08,893
you'll have creative control.
454
00:17:08,895 --> 00:17:12,764
Buster Keaton responded
with a hearty nod.
455
00:17:12,766 --> 00:17:16,567
Buster, we're gonna be
big, big stars, baby.
456
00:17:16,569 --> 00:17:20,271
And he embarked on,
from 1920 to 1929,
457
00:17:20,273 --> 00:17:24,175
the greatest run of filmmaking
in the history of movies.
458
00:17:24,177 --> 00:17:26,477
Buster had complete
creative control.
459
00:17:26,479 --> 00:17:28,513
He was making
these amazing movies
460
00:17:28,515 --> 00:17:30,314
with these amazing stunts.
461
00:17:30,316 --> 00:17:32,316
So, at the end of the 1920s,
462
00:17:32,318 --> 00:17:34,485
Buster Keaton
was doing very well
463
00:17:34,487 --> 00:17:35,920
critically and commercially,
464
00:17:35,922 --> 00:17:38,689
but he gets an offer from MGM,
and they're saying,
465
00:17:38,691 --> 00:17:41,325
we'll pay you a lot of money
466
00:17:41,327 --> 00:17:43,961
to make movies here at MGM.
467
00:17:43,963 --> 00:17:47,765
Charlie Chaplin goes,
Buster, baby...
468
00:17:47,767 --> 00:17:48,366
♪ ♪
469
00:17:48,368 --> 00:17:49,667
You're making
a big mistake here.
470
00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:51,602
They're not gonna give you
the creative freedom
471
00:17:51,604 --> 00:17:53,771
that we gave you
here at United Artists.
472
00:17:53,773 --> 00:17:54,872
I know you want the more money.
473
00:17:54,874 --> 00:17:56,741
I know you want to impress
your wife.
474
00:17:56,743 --> 00:17:58,176
You can't do it.
475
00:17:58,178 --> 00:17:59,744
So he decides to sacrifice
476
00:17:59,746 --> 00:18:01,779
his creative control
and freedom,
477
00:18:01,781 --> 00:18:03,981
and he went to MGM,
and almost immediately,
478
00:18:03,983 --> 00:18:06,451
he realized he had made
a huge mistake.
479
00:18:11,323 --> 00:18:14,525
[dramatic piano music]
480
00:18:14,527 --> 00:18:15,893
♪ ♪
481
00:18:15,895 --> 00:18:18,896
- I don't even know where I--
where I left off.
482
00:18:18,898 --> 00:18:19,664
- It's okay.
483
00:18:19,666 --> 00:18:23,067
- At this point, it's just
gonna be pure garbage.
484
00:18:23,069 --> 00:18:23,801
- That's okay.
485
00:18:23,803 --> 00:18:26,370
- Okay.
- There is no garbage here.
486
00:18:26,372 --> 00:18:27,772
- Okay.
487
00:18:27,774 --> 00:18:31,709
So MGM interfered
with every project he had.
488
00:18:31,711 --> 00:18:33,511
He went completely bankrupt.
489
00:18:33,513 --> 00:18:34,345
His wife divorced him,
490
00:18:34,347 --> 00:18:37,148
and he became
an extreme alcoholic,
491
00:18:37,150 --> 00:18:38,282
so MGM terminated his contract.
492
00:18:38,284 --> 00:18:42,854
1932 to 1934 is the lowest
point of Buster Keaton's life.
493
00:18:42,856 --> 00:18:45,723
Things got so bad for Buster
with the drinking,
494
00:18:45,725 --> 00:18:48,126
they eventually put him
in a sanitarium--
495
00:18:48,128 --> 00:18:49,160
like, an insane asylum.
496
00:18:49,162 --> 00:18:52,396
And, as was not uncommon
at this time,
497
00:18:52,398 --> 00:18:53,564
they put him
in a straitjacket,
498
00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:56,534
because they figured that's
the only way they can cure
499
00:18:56,536 --> 00:18:58,970
a true alcoholic
of drinking.
500
00:18:58,972 --> 00:19:00,304
But little did they know...
501
00:19:00,306 --> 00:19:02,306
His early mentor
was Harry Houdini,
502
00:19:02,308 --> 00:19:05,910
who had taught Buster how
to get out of straitjackets.
503
00:19:05,912 --> 00:19:07,078
So they put him
in a straitjacket.
504
00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,014
Within about five minutes,
Buster's able to get out.
505
00:19:10,016 --> 00:19:11,649
He breaks free
of the sanitarium,
506
00:19:11,651 --> 00:19:12,650
and he's out on his own.
507
00:19:12,652 --> 00:19:14,552
Eventually he learned,
if he wanted to cure himself
508
00:19:14,554 --> 00:19:17,355
of drinking, he was gonna
have to do it by himself.
509
00:19:17,357 --> 00:19:21,659
What he decides to do
is to go to a small house
510
00:19:21,661 --> 00:19:24,328
with nothing in it
and just sit in a chair,
511
00:19:24,330 --> 00:19:26,697
clenching onto the arms
of the chair
512
00:19:26,699 --> 00:19:28,833
and biting on his tongue
and went through
513
00:19:28,835 --> 00:19:30,268
all the withdrawal symptoms
you do.
514
00:19:30,270 --> 00:19:32,637
You know, he's having
hallucinations, saying,
515
00:19:32,639 --> 00:19:35,239
come on, Buster, like,
you can get through this,
516
00:19:35,241 --> 00:19:36,440
you can beat this.
517
00:19:36,442 --> 00:19:39,577
[dramatic music]
518
00:19:39,579 --> 00:19:40,912
And eventually he does.
519
00:19:40,914 --> 00:19:45,049
He comes out on the other side,
uh, free and clear.
520
00:19:45,051 --> 00:19:47,885
He no longer wants to be drunk
all day.
521
00:19:47,887 --> 00:19:51,222
And he's able to go back to MGM
and get his career back.
522
00:19:51,224 --> 00:19:55,860
And in 1960, he won
a lifetime achievement award.
523
00:19:55,862 --> 00:19:58,596
Buster was like, look,
I know people think
524
00:19:58,598 --> 00:20:01,132
that my life was probably
pretty shitty.
525
00:20:01,134 --> 00:20:04,168
The fact of the matter is,
my life was great.
526
00:20:04,170 --> 00:20:08,673
I got way more things
than I ever expected to get.
527
00:20:08,675 --> 00:20:12,376
My life was way better
than I ever expected it to be.
528
00:20:12,378 --> 00:20:14,612
So when things got
kind of shitty,
529
00:20:14,614 --> 00:20:17,315
I was kind of like,
all right,
530
00:20:17,317 --> 00:20:21,852
I expect there to be a balance
of good and shit,
531
00:20:21,854 --> 00:20:27,825
and you got to treat both
like, okay,
532
00:20:27,827 --> 00:20:28,793
all right.
533
00:20:28,795 --> 00:20:29,760
Take the good with the bad--
534
00:20:29,762 --> 00:20:31,028
you take the good,
you take the bad,
535
00:20:31,030 --> 00:20:33,898
you take 'em both,
and there you have
536
00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:35,299
the facts of life.
537
00:20:35,301 --> 00:20:37,435
He was a big
Charlotte Rae fan.
538
00:20:37,437 --> 00:20:41,005
♪ ♪
539
00:20:41,007 --> 00:20:44,175
[dramatic music]
540
00:20:44,177 --> 00:20:52,483
♪ ♪
541
00:21:06,832 --> 00:21:08,366
- A lot of comments have hurt
my feelings on Vine.
542
00:21:08,368 --> 00:21:10,668
The most bizarrely hurtful one
was, this guy
543
00:21:10,670 --> 00:21:13,604
tagged his friend,
and he goes,
544
00:21:13,606 --> 00:21:17,308
"OMG, this guy has
the exact same
545
00:21:17,310 --> 00:21:19,543
eyelid problem as you."