If you are not of a certain age, then you won’t understand today’s title- yet. (HINT: As late as 2005, TV Guide averred he was one of the top 5 Greatest Teen Idols.)
But, for those of us who were early baby-boomers and our parents, that funny name instantly reverberates in our bones.
Back when I was a kid, there were four shows with verve, that inspired what we now call “Must Watch TV”. Peter Gunn (I wrote an obituary for Edie Hart a while ago), Mr. Lucky, The Twilight Zone, and 77 Sunset Strip. (By the way, 77 Sunset Strip’s next door neighbor- in real life- was Dean Martin’s hot lounge [Dino’s Lounge]).
77 Sunset Strip, The street that wears the fancy label, That’s glorified in song and fable. The most exciting people pass you by, Including a private eye. The tune was written by Mack David and Jerry Livingston
Kookie was a character that was originally to serve as a single guest appearance. But, Kookie (played by Edd Byrnes) was such a hit (with my generation) that he got a permanent slot. Graduating from the wise-ass parking-lot attendant to one of the private dicks, along with Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (Stuart Bailey), Robert Smith (Jeff Spencer), and Jaqueline Beer (Suzanne Fabray).
Kookie’s “real” name was Gerald Lloyd “Kookie” Kookson III. (Could you imagine someone with a name like that being a parking lot attendant in today’s America? He’d already be part of the 1%!) Kookie was such a heartthrob that Warner Brothers had Irving Taylor pen him a song (“Kookie, Kookie, lend me your comb) that Edd sang with Connie Stevens. (Here they perform on American Bandstand with a VERY young Dick Clark doing the introductions!)
To be honest, Stu Bailey’s T-bird (as the Thunderbird was known back then) was almost as mesmerizing a character in the show as the actors! At least for me.
Of course, Kookie’s vocabulary ran from “Dad” (his moniker for virtually everyone on the show- until he became one of Bailey’s associate detectives) as he provided the “word on the street” with such Kookie terms as “ginchiest”, “maximum utmost”, and other such ‘beat generation’ mimicries.
He remained with the cast for 5 years, when he bought out his contract. By this point in time almost the entire original cast had departed. (William Conrad of “Gunsmoke’ [on the radio] and the narrator of Rocky and Bullwinkle had become the director of the show by then.) And, the show died at season six.
Kookie tried to make it in the movies (as his real life Edd Byrnes) and the theater, but never really did. His only real spot was as the ersatz Dick Clark (Vince Fontaine was the character’s name) on Grease, with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. (Oh, yeah- before Pat Sajak and Chuck Woolery, Kookie was the host of Wheel of Fortune- for all of two shows.)
Earlier this month, Edward Byrne Breitenberger passed away at his home in Santa Monica (CA) (8 January). He left a son (Logan Byrnes) and a partner (Catherine Gross), plus two siblings.
I could dig a rerun of 77 Sunset Strip right now.
How ’bout you?
Admittedly, I am too young to know this actor. However, I love your tribute to him. It reminds me of when John Ritter died. I was a big Three’s Company fan (when my parents would let me watch it). Also a fan of Coach on Cheers and Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street. Ahh, the classics! I wonder who my kids will mourn when their time comes.
Yes, John Ritter was a loss, too!
Thanks for reminding me.
Yeah, me, too. Oh, Netflix….
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Or, Hulu. MeTV. Or, online.
Go, enjoy!
I need to watch this series it seems.
Yes, you should, Dr. A!
I remember the show but I don’t remember anyone I know watching it. Although, my parents might have when we moved out of there home.
It was definitely must see for me- and my friends. Sorry you missed it.
I never watched 77 Sunset Strip as it was on past my bedtime (at least for part of the time it was on-perhaps my parents never watched it) but I certainly remember the song. Oh my, I never knew the “backstory”.
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Oh, did you miss out, Alana!
Back when we could understand TV shows! Kookie, Kookie lend me your comb and may he RIP. ❤️
I figure you would have been a co-watcher, Martha!
I noticed the ad for Beechnut Gum. I did not realize they had a spearmint flavour, I liked it for the licorice flavour. or was that Black Jack gum?
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That was, indeed, BlackJack, gum. They were a formidable firm back then- no longer, though.
While we used to get many old TV shows from the US and British TV on channels in India, I don’t recall ever having seen this one.. The ones I do remember – Lucy, Yes Minister, Are You Being Served, The Twilight Zone, among others (and later the day soaps like Santa Barbara and The Bold & The Beautiful)..
but yes, I did watch and enjoy Three’s Company shortly after coming to the US..
i will look for the show you mention.. and currently watching Cheers with my kids.. (a rerun for us)
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It was probably a little too racy for transport to India back then.
Three’s Company came a decade later when attitudes had loosened.
i never watched 77 Sunset Strip, as it went off the air when I was seven years old and focused on Popeye. It looks like it was an entertaining TV show. Thank you for sharing this with me.
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You can watch it on the web, Alice! Go, enjoy- but it is somewhat dated…
I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen that song performed. My first exposure to “Kookie, Kookie” was by reference – in “The Mummy,” by Bob McFadden and Dor. (Without Googling, do you know who “Dor” was?) Of course, those were old 45s by then (that one being recorded four years before I hit the scene – any scene, Daddy-O!) and I especially loved songs like “Transfusion” and “They’re Coming to Take Me Awaaaaaay!”
I’ve never seen a single episode of 77 Sunset Strip. I wonder why not? Nick at Nite brought back so many old shows – Leave It to Beaver, The Andy Griffith Show, and more – but I don’t recall seeing that one.
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Now, I never heard that Mummy son- but I owned “They’re coming to take me away, ha ha…”
You missed 77 Sunset Strip? Wow!