In the first week of October 1954, comedian George Gobel hosted the first episode of “The George Gobel Show.” This weekly comedy-variety program ran on NBC for about five years and later moved to CBS for a year. A regular on the show was Eddie Fisher, as well as singer Peggy King. After the network switch, Joe Flynn, Anita Bryant and Harry Von Zell were featured on the program.
But, when Gobel was in Tucson, in December 1960, the series had ended its run. He was here to celebrate the opening of the new Ramada Inn. The day before that event, he made an appearance at the Tucson Press Club Forum in the Santa Rita Hotel. His wife Alice was with him.
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1960 Jack Sheaffer file photo
Gobel reminisced about a flight with Tucsonan Dorothy Jenkins.
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during his visit here, Gobel was reunited with Dorothy Jenkins. Jenkins was Gobel’s first passenger after he received his pilots license. Gobel went on to be flight instructor in World War II. During an appearance on the Johnny Carson Show, Gobel talked about those days in a great segment with Carson, Dean Martin and Bob Hope. You can view it here on YouTube.
At the press club forum, Gobel talked about humor. He described his as “low pressure type,” but said that “comedy is getting tougher” all the time. “Today you make a joke about candy and you get letters from all over the country written by irate candy store owners,” he said.
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Star files
Gobel as Mayor Harper on “Harper Valley PTA”
When he was here, Gobel was hoping to soon return to the small screen with a new family comedy series. He appeared on television in a variety of roles through the years, including his stint as Mayor Otis Harper Jr. on the “Harper Valley PTA” series.
Gobel died in 1991.
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