Firesign Theatre
Ingenious, one-of-a-kind comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman, and Philip Proctor specializing in a unique, multi-media form of non-linear humor; a quintessential style that defies imitation. They inadvertently met at radio station KPFK Los Angeles one night in 1966 and hit it off so well they began a relationship that produced some 20-plus record albums, three films, three television specials, two books and innumerable radio programs over a span of 40 years.
In the decade that followed their meeting, they wrote and performed thirteen albums for Columbia Records with dialogue that has become part of the national lexicon. Some of their best-known titles include "How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You’re Not Anywhere At All," "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers," "Everything You Know Is Wrong" and "I Think We’re All Bozos On This Bus."
Because of their complexity, Firesign recordings tend to become funnier with repeated listenings as new jokes are revealed, and their high production values provide an additional layer of aesthetic interest that endears them to audiophiles. Similarly, Firesign Theatre productions take place in a satirical world with many subtle and oblique references to music, literature, politics and other aspects of pop culture which fans enjoy decoding.
In the decade that followed their meeting, they wrote and performed thirteen albums for Columbia Records with dialogue that has become part of the national lexicon. Some of their best-known titles include "How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You’re Not Anywhere At All," "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers," "Everything You Know Is Wrong" and "I Think We’re All Bozos On This Bus."
Because of their complexity, Firesign recordings tend to become funnier with repeated listenings as new jokes are revealed, and their high production values provide an additional layer of aesthetic interest that endears them to audiophiles. Similarly, Firesign Theatre productions take place in a satirical world with many subtle and oblique references to music, literature, politics and other aspects of pop culture which fans enjoy decoding.
SOME FIRESIGN THEATRE PHRASES YOU MAY HAVE HEARD:
"More sugar!"
"Shoes for industry, comrade."
"He's no fun... he fell right over."
"We're ALL bozos on this bus."
"I'd like to order an anchovy to go and hold the pizza."
"Who's excited?"
"Weirdly cool!"
"Forward, into the past!"
"Who am us anyway?"
"How about a Fillipino creamy coming in shorts and quarts?"
"That's nothing but a two-bit ring from a Crackerback Jox!"
"We are sausages with eyes!"
"More sugar!"
"Shoes for industry, comrade."
"He's no fun... he fell right over."
"We're ALL bozos on this bus."
"I'd like to order an anchovy to go and hold the pizza."
"Who's excited?"
"Weirdly cool!"
"Forward, into the past!"
"Who am us anyway?"
"How about a Fillipino creamy coming in shorts and quarts?"
"That's nothing but a two-bit ring from a Crackerback Jox!"
"We are sausages with eyes!"
Firesign Theatre by Bruce Hollendonner December 10, 2008
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