Rip Taylor

Comedian, broadcast host, and actor. Notorious big and campy, his outrageous purveyance enlivened corny old gags. A throwback; a true clown. He was often funnier extempore -- a reliable guest on the game and talk shows of the period. True story: he  was playing Captain Hook in 'Peter Pan' at the old Denver Auditorium Theater. He made his first entrance, and someone yelled out, "God save the queen!" The house erupted. Taylor turned to the audience stern-faced, wielded his hook, and snarled, "THE NEXT PERSON WHO SPEAKS -- GETS THIS!" and made an understandable, hilarious, and obscene gesture with it. The play proceeded. In short, it was hack, but it was great hack. Via CNN.