MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: 2000 RADIO FESTIVAL {LOS ANGELES}: THREE DECADES IN DEMENTIA: A CONVERSATION WITH DR. DEMENTO {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. In this seminar, Museum radio curator Ken Mueller speaks with legendary "funny music" disc jockey Dr. Demento about his long-running career as the clown prince of broadcasting. Mueller begins the evening by running a ten-minute highlight reel that spans Dr. Demento's career; clips of his welcoming guests such as a young "Weird Al" Yankovic play over a collage of Demento's publicity photos. Mueller then welcomes Dr. Demento to the stage and asks about the biggest influences on the disc jockey and the origins of his persona. Demento talks about his educational pursuits at Reed College and the University of California-Los Angeles (where he took classes in "folk-music studies"), as well as the influence of the music of infamous comedic-song deconstructionist Spike Jones. Mueller then asks Demento about his legendary ability to discover new talent; Demento discusses the original demo tape that earned "Weird Al" Yankovic his slot as a performer on Demento's original syndicated show, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Demento then discusses topics ranging from his policy about demo tapes to his favorite demented songs ever; he cites "Fish Heads," by Barnes & Barnes; "Dead Puppies," by Ogden Edsl; and "Yoda," by Yankovic. When the floor is opened up for questioning, a fan approaches the stage with a gift and asks Demento to read her self-penned "Hippocratic Oath for Musical Doctors." Audience questions concern Demento's views on the internet and Napster, as well as why his program is not syndicated in Los Angeles.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: October 31, 2000 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:22
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:61457
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ken Mueller … Host
- Dr. Demento (see also: Barret Eugene Hansen) … Guest
- Barnes & Barnes
- Ogden Edsl
- Spike Jones
- Weird Al Yankovic (see also: Alfred Yankovic)