Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett in "Queen Astoria" Sketch on THE GARRY MOORE SHOW, 26 Sept 1961

As part of its variety line-up, THE GARRY MOORE SHOW routinely featured short comic sketches peppered between its big musical numbers and dance routines. To that end, the show had a team of resident comedy writers whose job was to create a steady stream of weekly skits and gags. Several of the staff writers on THE GARRY MOORE SHOW would in fact graduate to considerable fame in their own right including Woody Allen and Neil Simon (Hyatt: 156).

As here, most of the comic routines on THE GARRY MOORE SHOW were short self-contained skits –– typically no more than three to five minutes long –– that would often assume the form of a spoof or burlesque. With a title that winks at classic films like THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX (dir. Curtiz, 1939) combined with a nonsense royal name referencing a New York neighbourhood, this particular sketch lampoons the 'veddy veddy' earnest romantic courtly dramas of middlebrow Hollywood.

As always, Julie plays the 'straight man' to Carol's clown with both stars using many of the comic conventions that would come to characterise their later work: Carol's vocal gymnastics and facial mugging, Julie's deadpanning to camera, etc. It may not be high or even particularly clever comedy but it offers a fascinating early example of the chemistry and impeccable sense of timing that would make Julie and Carol such a sympathetic comic team. If only they'd been allowed to make a feature film together!

REFERENCES

Hyatt, Wesley. EMMY AWARD-WINNING NIGHTTIME TELEVISION SHOWS, 1948-2004. Jefferson: McFarland, 2006.

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