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  ~ The Firesign Theatre ~

Chronology Site
~ From 1975 to 1979 ~

This compendium to the Firesign FAQ site is without a doubt the MOST complete collection of Firesign Information.


Compiled by Frederick C. Wiebel with Chris Palladino (of Firezine)


THE FIRESIGN THEATRE

1 / 1975
"LET'S EAT" (10 RRT) - The group's edited radio series was released for syndication.
1 / 1975
"DEAR FRIENDS" (12 LP) - The group's edited radio series was released for syndication.
1 / 6 / 1975
LOS ANGELES HERALD-EXAMINER - "A SUB-CULTURE'S ZANY IDIOM" BY LARRY WAGGONER - (NP) - The group was featured in this article for this newspaper published in CA.
1 / 13 / 1975
"IN THE NEXT WORLD YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN" (LP) - The entire group started studio work on this album.
1 / 13/ 1975
"(POLICE STREET)" (RT) - The group recorded this segment of their album "In The Next World...", also released on compilations.

c. early 1975
BELOW THE SALT - "FIRESIGN CHATS" BY DAVID MILLER - (MZ) - The group's "Big Mystery Joke Book" was reviewed  in this magazine.
c. early 1975
BUGLE AMERICAN - (NP) - The group's stage performance of "The Tale Of The Giant Rat Of Sumatra" was reviewed by Rob Fixner, and the group's 7th Album, "The Tale Of The Giant Rat Of Sumatra" was reviewed by B. P. in this newspaper.
3 / 21 / 1975
"IN THE NEXT WORLD YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN"  (LP) - The group concluded the studio work on this album.
4 /  1975
CREEM - "NOT INSANE , AND NOT FUNNY EITHER. (THE FIRESIGN THEATRE'S CATALOG OF MISCONCEPTIONS)" BY LESTER BANGS - (MZ) - The group was featured in this article about their movie "Everything You Know Is Wrong" for this magazine.
4 - 5 / 1975
"QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TOUR" (TP) - The group writes and rehearses the show to tour with "Everything You Know Is Wrong" film.
4 / 12 / 1975
"EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG" (M) - The group finishes the final day of additional photography on the film which then goes into it's post production phase.
5 / 6 / 1975
"EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG" (M) - The group's movie premiered at The Director's Guild in Hollywood.
5 / 9 - 29 / 1975
("QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TOUR") (TP) - The group's West Coast tour included a screening of their movie, "Everything You Know Is Wrong", an hour of live performance, including "Anything You Want To", "Porgie And Mudhead" sketch, "RalphSpoilsport" , "All-Star Crowley", "Exorcism In Your Daily Life", and a question and answer session with the audience at the following venues:
University of California, Santa Cruz campus  5/9 (the 2nd performance was video taped in B&W)
Western Washington State College
University of Washington
University of Oregon
Stanford University
University of California, Berkeley campus
Granada Theater, Santa Barbara, CA
Los Feliz Theater, LA, CA ( 3 shows)
5 / 18 / 1975
(UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON) (TP) - The group gave a performance of "The Questions and Answers Tour"
5 / 21 / 1975
THE SEATTLE UNIVERSITY "EXPECTORATOR" - "FIRESIGN GIVES WARM CHAT" BY JOE GUPPY - (NP) - The group was featured in this article for this publication from WA.
5 / 22 / 1975
UCLA DAILY BRUIN - "DON'T BELIEVE A WORD OF IT" BY LEO ARTUNIAN - (NP) -  The group was featured in this article for this college newspaper published in CA.
5 / 23, 24, 25 / 1975
(LOS FELIZ THEATER) (TP) - The group gave 3 midnight performances including "Exorcism In Your Daily Life", with the showing of their film "Everything You Know Is Wrong" in LA, CA.
5 / 30 / 1975
"ANALYSIS OF THE FIRESIGN THEATRE" BY JAMES RUE - (P) - The group was featured in this scholarly paper.
c. late 5 / 1975
NEWS-PRESS - "THE FIRESIGN THEATRE WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE" BY JOHN DELL - (NP) - The group was featured in this review article of their Granada theater performance for this newspaper.
c. late 5 / 1975
"FIRESIGN FLICK: THE HOLE TRUTH" BY LARRY WAGGONER - (P) -  The group was featured in this article for an unknown publication.
6 / 1975 - 11 / 1975
CRAWDADDY MAGAZINE - "YE FIRESIGN THEATRE'S FREEDOM PRESS" - (MZ) - A monthly collection of original material mostly dealing with a Firesign look back at the history of the USA, United Snakes of America, submitted by the individual members and edited by David Ossman.
6 / 27, 28 / 1975
"EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG" (M) - The group's movie was screened at 2 midnight shows at the Mitchell Bros. Longbeach Theatre.
7 / 1975
"(CAMPOON '76)" - The group's presidential campaign began.

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PB, PP)

8 / 1 / 1975
"CAMPOON LETTER" BY ELMO FIRESIGN - (P) - The group sent out this letter to fans.
ZZ
8 / 8 / 1975
"CAMPOON PRESS RELEASE" - (P) - The group sent out this press release about Papoon announcing his candidacy to fans.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE
8 / 22 / 1975
BERKELEY BARB - (NP) -  The group's  eighth album, "Everything You Know Is Wrong" was reviewed by Vic Fascio, for this college weekly published in CA.
9 / 1975
"THE APOCALYPSE PAPERS" (WP) - The group finished this writing project.
10 / 1975
"IN THE NEXT WORLD, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE  - COLUMBIA PC-33475(LP), PCA-33475(8T) - (LP) (8T) - The group's ninth album was released.
10 / 1975
"FIRESIGN THEATRE UPDATES" BY TOM GEDWILLO - (NL) - The group's happenings were reported was sent out to fans in this newsletter.

11 / 1975
COLUMBIA RECORDS CONTRACT - The group's recording contract with Columbia was not renewed.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PB, PP)

11 / 21 / 1975
BERKELEY BARB - "ON THE CAMPOON TRAIL" BY MERRIL SHOE (NP) -  The group was featured in this article for this college weekly published in CA.
12 / 1975 - 11 / 1976
CRAWDADDY MAGAZINE - "THE FIRESIGN THEATRE'S CAMPOON '76" - (MZ) - A monthly collection of Nat'l Surrealist Party political propaganda along the campaign trail, submitted by the individual members, with excerpts from Phil Austin's detective novel, and edited by David Ossman.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE
1975
MODERN RECORDING - (MZ) - The group's ninth album, "In The Next World You're On Your Own", was reviewed in this magazine.
1975
"ELECTRONIC SUBCULTURE" BY LISA BABNER - (P) - Class lecture notes, form a College elective course, drawn heavily from personal interviews with The Firesign Theatre, were gathered into 46 pages and xeroxed and offered for sale through various Firesign
Fanzines.
2 / 1976
"THE APOCALYPSE PAPERS, A FICTION BY THE FIRESIGN THEATRE" - (B) - 4 pieces were collected together, including "The Exchange" by Ossman, introduced by Alan R. Bechtel, and printed in a limited edition of 500 copies  was printed by Apocalypse Press as Vol. 1 in their Famous science Fiction Chapbook Series in Topeka, KA.
2 - 11 / 1976
THE TOILER - THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL SURREALIST PARTY CAMPOON NEWSLETTER - EDITED BY STEVE CROWELL - (FZ) - The group individually contributed interviews, humor, letters, etc., that were printed in this fanzine published in Topeka, KA.

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PB, PP)

6 / 6 / 1976
THE SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS - "BAGGED CANDIDATE: PAPOON CLAIMS HE'S NOT INSANE" BY JOHN DELL - (NP) -  The Firesign's presidential candidate was featured in this newspaper published in CA.
7 / 1 / 1976
BERLELEY GAZETTE - "GEORGE G. PAPOON SAYS THAT VICTORY IS IN THE BAG" BY N. BUMPO BERNSTEIN - (NP) - The Firesign's presidential candidate was featured along with a photo from the North Easty Bay Independent and Gazette, in this newspaper published in CA.
7 / 1 / 1976
THE SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS - "PAPOON PLANS TO CAMPAIGN IN THE NUDE" - (NP) -  The Firesign's presidential candidate was featured in this newspaper published in CA.
c. summer 1976
THE SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS - "1ST BISON-TENNIAL CONVENTION" - (NP) -  The Firesign's presidential campaign was featured in this newspaper published in CA.
c. summer 1976
NEW YORKER - "TALK OF THE TOWN" - (MZ) - The Firesign's presidential candidate was mentioned in a blurb in this section of this magazine.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE
9 / 22 / 1976
"THE FOILER" BY ROBERT RABBIT - (P) - The group's newsletter The Toiler was parodied in this publication.
11 / 1976
FORWARD INTO THE PAST - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE  - COLUMBIA PC-34391 - (2LP) - The group's  tenth album, a compilation, was released with liner notes by Ossman as Elmo Firesign.
11 / 1976
THE TOILER (NL) - The group's newsletter ended publication.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PB, PP)
11 / 1976
"(CAMPOON '76)" - The group's presidential campaign concluded with the election, they lost.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE

12 / 28 / 1976
"JUST FOLKS" (LP) - The group signed a one record contract with Butterfly Records and began to record their eleventh album.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PB, PP)

1976
THE NAT'L SURREALIST PARTY - (NL) - A Firesign newsletter was published with campaign material for George Papoon, presidential candidate, and George Tirebiter, vice-presidential candidate, drawing from "Crawdaddy", and original material, with posters, buttons, bumper-stickers, etc.
1976
"ABRIDGED AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE PAPOON" - (P) - The group put this together for the campaign.

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PA, PB, PP)
1976
"HUMOR IN AMERICA" AN ANTHOLOGY EDITED BY ENID VERON - HARCOURT, BRACE, JOVANOVITCH - "THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TIME, STAR DETECTIVE OF THE CIRCUM-SOLAR FEDERATION" - (B) - Ossman's script, attributed to the Firesign Theatre, was printed in this book published in NYC.

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE

c. mid - late 1970s
(INTERVIEW BY BILL MCINTYRE) - (P) -  The group was featured in this article for an unknown publication.
c. mid - late 1970s
UCLA DAILY BRUIN - "BEING EVERYWHERE AT ONCE WITH THE FIRESIGN THEATRE" BY MARK LEVITON - (NP) - The group was featured in this article for this college newspaper published in CA.
c. mid - late 1970s
BELOW THE SALT - "PULLING DOWN THE PANTS OF REALITY" BY DAVID MILLER - (MZ) - The group's ninth album, "In The Next World, You're On Your Own" was reviewed in this magazine.
c. mid - late 1970s
LIFE MAGAZINE - "COMEDY HEWN FROM SOLID ROCK" BY ALBERT GOLDMAN - (MZ) - The group was featured in this article for this popular national magazine.
c. mid-late 1970s
CIRCUS - "THE FIRESIGN THEATRE CREED: COMEDY IS DEAD!" BY JACOBA ATLAS - (MZ) - The group was featured in this article for this popular national magazine.

1 / 1977
FIRESIGN THEATRE THEORY (LS) - The group's albums were the basis of this 6 session evening class offered at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI.

1 / 11 / 1977  MICHIGAN STATE NEWS - "FIRESIGN THEATRE THEORY OFFERED IN UNIQUE CLASS" BY JOHN CASEY - (NP) - The group was featured in this article about a class offered at MSU, and printed in this college newspaper published in MI.
1 / 20 / 1977
"JUST FOLKS" (LP) - The group's eleventh album was finished in the studio.

2 / 22, 23 / 1977
"JUST FOLKS" (TP) - The group performed at the Roxy Theater in LA, a program of material from their new album of the same name, and some familiar material as well with opening act The Modern Folk Quartet and coordinated by Butterfly records. The 1 / 23 show was broadcast live by KWST FM - LA on the Newspace Radio Network and taped.
2 / 25 / 1977  LOS ANGELES TIMES - "FIRESIGN THEATRE TOGETHER AGAIN" BY RICHARD CROMELIN - (NP) - The group was featured in this article for this newspaper published in CA.
3 / 1977
HIGH TIMES - MARCH ISSUE - (MZ) - The group's tenth Album, the anthology, "Forward Into The Past", was reviewed in this magazine.
3 / 25 / 1977
PERFORMANCE - (MZ) - The group's "Just Folks" show at the Roxy Theater was reviewed in this magazine.
3 / 28 / 1977
LOS ANGELES HEARALD-EXAMINER - "GENIUS AT WORK IN FIRESIGN THEATRE" BY KEN TUCKER - (NP) - The group was featured in this article for this newspaper published in CA.
4 / 1977
LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE - "RELIGHTING THE SPARK" - (MZ) -  The group was featured in this article for this magazine published in CA.

4 / 1 / 1977
"JUST FOLKS...A FIRESIGN CHAT"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE - BUTTERFLY FLY-001 - (LP) - The group's eleventh album was released.
4 / 1 / 1977
"JUST FOLKS...A FIRESIGN CHAT"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (7" PROMO)  -
BUTTERFLY BFEP-1 - (EP) - The group had a promo EP culled from their album "Just Folks", with a special introduction by Peter Bergman released.
4 / 1 / 1977
"KTNQ (10 'Q') AM 1020" LA (LRB) - The group took over the station for most of the special April Fool's broadcast, and promoted their new Album, "Just Folks".

4 / 9 / 1977
"THE FIRESIGN THEATRE: A BASIC ANALYSIS" BY DAVID MILLER - (P) - The group was featured in this paper written for a Experimental Aesthetics Class.
4 / 10 / 1977
LOS ANGELES TIMES - "FIRESIGN'S CABARET OF THE AIR" BY JAMES BROWN - (NP) -  The group was featured in this article for this newspaper published in CA.
4 / 12 / 1977
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE - "FIRESIGN'S BOZOS GET BACK ON BUS" BY TERRY ATKINSON - (MZ) -  The group was featured in this article for this magazine published in NYC.
4 / 14 / 1977
SCENE - (MZ) - The group's eleventh album "Just Folks" on Butterfly Records, was reviewed by D. B. Cooper for this weekly magazine.
4 / 23 / 1977
BILLBOARD - (MZ) - The group's "Just Folks" album is reviewed in the Top Album Picks section.

1977
"25 YEARS OF RECORDED COMEDY"  - VARIOUS ARTISTS  - HIGH SCHOOL MADNESS - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE - WARNER BROS. WB-3BX-3131 - (3LP)
- The group's material from "Dwarf" was excerpted and included on this compilation.
1977
"FIRESIGN WORLD"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE - WIZARDO or DOG AND CAT WRMB-512 (LP) - The group's 4 / 14 / 1974 Berkeley concert was bootlegged.
1977
"BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY" - (RS) - The group's 1967 radio script was slated to be included in Harlan Ellison's "The Last Dangerous Visions" collection of science fiction.
1977
THE TWIN CITIES READER - (NP) - The group was featured in a short article for this newspaper published in MN.
1977
"ANYTHING YOU WANT TO" BY THE FIRESIGN THEATRE - (P) - The group's script was xeroxed and offered for sale by mail order through David Ossman, published in CA.

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PB, PP)

c. fall 1977
"THE FIRESIGN RADIO SHOW" (RT) - The group offered a 6 hour a week program assembled from archives by Ossman and Austin that was available for barter by John Fitzgerald.
10 / 15 / 1977
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE - (MZ) - A block ad for "The Firesign Radio Show" offered subscribers a full hour daily program of comedy and music was printed in this national trade publication.

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE

8 / 1978
SANTA BARBARA NEWS & REVIEW - "EDWARD DORN'S HELLO, LA JOLLA" - (NP) - Ossman's review was printed in an issue of this newspaper published in CA.

11 / 1978
"(NICK DANGER FILM)" (MP) - The group proposed making a movie featuring Nick Danger.
1978
"MARK TIMES' TRUE CHRONOLOGY OF THE FIRESIGN THEATRE PT.2 1972 -1977" -  (P) - A five page xerox paper was copied and offer for sale through various Firesign Fanzines.

c. late 1978 - early 1979
"LER SCHTUK (A LEARNING PIECE)" BY BERTOLT BRECHT" (TP) - The group appeared at the Ojai Avant Garde Festival as violent clowns and "Herr Schmidt" in this play with music by Hindemith, that was taped by NPR, and influenced their 1980 album "Fighting Clowns.
3 / 23 - 26 / 1979
"THE OWL AND THE OCTOPUS SHOW" (TP) - The group performed 6 shows in 3 nights at the Roxy Theater in LA, CA, in a "Dwarf" styled show that poked fun at TV, featuring "Joey's House", "The Phil Donut Show", "(Hell Probe from NASA)", and Nick Danger in an episode about an Octopus invasion of Southern CA.
spring 1979
"THE OWL AND THE OCTOPUS SHOW" (TVP) - The group had tentative plans to develop an hour long HBO special based on this show.
spring 1979
"THE OWL AND THE OCTOPUS SHOW" (LP) - The group had tentative plans to develop an album based on this show.
spring 1979
"THE OWL AND THE OCTOPUS SHOW" (MP) - The group had tentative plans to develop a film based on this show.
4 / 20 / 1979
BAM MAGAZINE - "THE FIRESIGN THEATRE: TELEVISION FROM THE INSIDE" BY MARK LEVITON - (MZ) - The group was featured in this article for this magazine.
c. 5 / 1979
THE FUTURE ADVENTURES OF NICK DANGER - (RP) - The group produced a pilot for a radio series.
6 / 1979
"ANYTHYNGE YOU WANT TO" (RT) - The group recorded an hour long adaptation of their "Shakespeare's Lost Comedie" for NPR's "Earplay" series. An edited version was released on Firesign / Rhino RNLP-807, and the full length version on More Sugar.
c. summer 1979
"A HISTORY OF THE ART OF RADIO" (RT) - The group recorded this piece for an NPR broadcast from the National Radio Theater in Chicago.
c. summer 1979
"ALL THINGS CONSIDERED" (RT) - The group contributed to this NPR program.
c. summer 1979
"A CLOSER LOOK" (RT) - The group contributed to this NPR program.
c. summer 1979
("NPR FOLK AND JAZZ SHOWS") (LRB) - The group made drop in appearances on various programs.

7 / 26 - 28 / 1979
"MEN IN HATS" (TP) - The group's updated "The Owl And The Octopus Show" appeared at the Roxy Theater in LA,CA, performing a reworked version of "Joey's House", and "Men In Hats", a new "Nick Danger" episode "Frame Me Pretty", "Thank You Mr. President", and "The Love Boat People" with Richard Parker on keyboards, and costumes designed by Susan Tanner.
late 7 / 1979
"MEN IN HATS" (MP) - The group's segment of The Owl And Octopus Show was filmed for HBO, but never released.
7 / 30 / 1979
LOS ANGELES TIMES  - "FIRESIGN THEATRE PARODIES THE TUBE" BY LEWIS CHRISTION - (NP) - The group was featured in this article about the "Men In Hats" performance for this newspaper published in CA.

8 / 16 / 1979
EASY READER - "A JOURNEY INTO THE BOOB TUBE WITH THE FIRESIGN THEATRE" BY MARK LEVITON - (MZ) - The group was featured in an article for this magazine.
c. late summer 1979
"(NICK DANGER MOVIE)" - (MP) - The group was reported to be working on a screenplay  for a Nick Danger movie.
9 / 1979
PLAYBOY - SEPT. 1979 - (MZ) - The group is mentioned in a blurb by Barbra Nellis in the side bar Fast Tracks as working on a Nick Danger screenplay, schedlued for a theatrical motion picture release the next year.

c. 10 / 31 / 1979
"THE MADHOUSE OF DR. FEAR" (TV) - The group was hired to produce a program starring The Firesign Theatre with Don Addams, as a Halloween special for the HBO cable network, utilizing overdubbed Republic and public domain Horror  film stock to tell the story. Color and B&W, 60 min.
 1979
"NPR PILOT" (R RT) - The group recorded a 30 min. concept for National Public Radio, and it survives on tape.
1979
"NICK DANGER: THE CASE OF THE MISSING SHOE"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE  - RHINO RNEP-506(EP), RNC-506(CT) - (12"EP) (CT) - The group recorded segments for an unbought radio pilot series that was released on Rhino Records.
1979
"YOU'RE ON THE AIRLIE"  - VARIOUS ARTISTS  A HISTORY OF THE ART OF RADIO - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE - NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO - (15 CT) - The group's performance was released on this in-house tape production.
1979
"MEN IN HATS" (MP) - The group was  making tentative plans to film this as a Nick Danger piece during this period, drawing material from their current stage presentations.
1979
"JOEY'S HOUSE  STARRING JOEY DEMOGRAPHICO" (MP) - The group's 90 min. parody of TV  was crudely video taped and rejected for broadcasting.
1979 / 1980
"THE ODYSSEY" (MP) -   The group worked under contract for MGM to develop a self - starring 120 page, high comedy concept vehicle based on Homer's Odyssey, involving a cross country excursion. Ossman scheduled to play Posiedon, Proctor - Hermes, Austin - the Ulysses / Odysseus character, Bill, and Bergman his goofy sidekick.  The Cyclops sequence was to take place at a truck stop involving a one - eyed motorcycle gang, and the head cook monster eating the customers. MGM was sold and the new top brass dropped the project.


VARIOUS MEMBERS:


PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR

1 / 1975
"(PROCTOR AND BERGMAN TOUR)" (TP) - Proctor and Bergman withdrew from writing and producing the "Next World" album in favor of touring.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
c. 1 / 19 / 1975
"(RADIO VARIETY SHOW)' - (RP) - The duo was making plans for a radio program.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
4 / 20 / 1975
"(PROCTOR AND BERGMAN TOUR)" - MY FATHER'S PLACE -  (TP)  - Proctor and Bergman performed at Eppie Epstein's Your Father's Place in Roslyn Village, Long Island, NY.
4 / 20 / 1975
NEW YORKER - "THE FIRESIGN COMEDIANS ARE HOT STUFF" BY TONY HISS AND DAVID MCLELLAND - (MZ) -Proctor and Bergman's performance at the Bottom Line in NYC, was previewed for this magazine.
4 / 22 - 23 / 1975
(THE BOTTOM LINE) (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at the Bottom Line in NYC. The show was aired, taped and re-broadcast on WNYU. Tom Waits was the opening act.
4 / 27 / 1975
WBAI FM, NYC - (LRB) - The Duo appeared live on the air and a tape exists.
c. end 4 / 1975
(AMAZING GRACE) (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at the Amazing Grace in Evanston, IL.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
7 / 1975
"GIVE UP THIS DAY" (RT) - The duo recorded this segment for their "What This Country Needs" LP.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
8 / 1975
"DR. FIRESIGN'S THEATRE OF MYSTERY" (TP) - The duo wrote this show for a later tour.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
summer -  fall 1975
"WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS" TOUR (TP) - The duo toured the USA featuring bits from their Album of the same name and the posing of this question to the audience and playing off their responses.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
9 / 1975
"WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS" - PROCTOR AND BERGMAN - COLUMBIA PC-33687 - (LP) - The duo's album was released.
9 / 23 / 75
"PROCTOR AND BERGMAN TALK BACK" (LTVB) - The duo's live local broadcast on KUST TV was filmed for possible pilot. 60 min.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
10 / 22 - 11 / 1975
"DR. FIRESIGN'S THEATRE OF MYSTERY TOUR" (TP) - The duo formed an act, and toured the West Coast at the following locations:
University of Washington
Evergreen State College at Olympia, WA
Portland State University
Central Washington State College
Eastern Washington State College
Santa Barbara, CA
Fox Venice Theater, LA, CA 10 / 31
Claremont Men's College
University of California, Santa Cruz campus
Stanford University
University of California, Berkeley campus
University of the Pacific
Humbolt State
10 / 22 / 1975
(SEATTLE) (TP) - The duo started their tour in Seattle, WA.
10 / 31 / 1975
FOX VENICE THEATER - (TP) - Austin and Ossman gave a performance in this LA theater.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
11 / 1975
THE EASTERNER (NP) - The duo's Eastern Washington State College show was reviewed by Michael Heavener in the campus newspaper published in WA.
11 / 7 / 1975
L.A. TIMES (NP) - The duo's show was reviewed by Lawrence Christian.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
11 / 14 / 1975
"PROCTOR & BERGMAN SHOW" - KUOI FM MOSCOW, ID - (LRB) - The duo appeared live on this student station and a 26 min. aircheck survives.
11/ 14 / 1975
"WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS" TOUR - (TP)- Proctor and Bergman appeared in the Ballroom of the Student Union Building of the University of Idaho on Friday at 8:00.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
c. end 1975
"THE PROCTOR - BERGMAN SHOW" - (TV) - The duo recorded an hour pilot TV variety show for PBS, featuring an interview with Mr. & Mrs. John Randolph, music and some of their skits that was shown several times in the LA area.
c. end 1975
"THE PROCTOR & BERGMAN RADIO CLUB" - (RP) -  The duo developed a weekly half hour radio show for syndication.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
1 / 1 / 1976
"TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE" KMET - FM (LRB) - Austin and Ossman provided commentary on the Newspace Radio Network, and it survives on tape.
1 / 2 / 1976
"(CAMPOON '76)" - (TP) - Austin and Ossman conducted the first Nat'l Surrealist Party Campoon event at the Freedom Train's stop in Santa Barbara. The event was filmed.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
1 / 2-4 / 1976
BOTTOM LINE - (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at this NYC club.
1 / 11 / 1976
WOODSTOCK - (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed in this NY town.
1 / 14 / 1976
SARASOTA SPRINGS - (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed in this NY town.
1 / 16 / 1976
POUGHKEEPSIE  - (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed in this NY town.
1 / 22 - 25 / 1976
PAUL'S MALL - (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at this club in Boston, MA

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
2 / 29 / 1976
"THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1976" KTYD FM - SANTA BARBARA, CA (LRB) (TP) - Ossman wrote the first half and Austin the second, and both performed on this stage show before an audience at the Park Theater. It featured "Hollywood Madhouse", a 'George Tirebiter' 40's style piece, and also The Deluxe Brothers, a local comedy group, and a live band with Grant Loud, and broadcast live on KTYD. A video tape was made of the event.
c. 2 / 29 / 1976
"THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1976" - PROGRAM - (P) - Austin and Ossman's  performance playbill.

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-PB, PP)
3 / 10 / 1976
SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE INTERCOURSE - "PAPOON PRODS POOPS, PANS PLATITUDES" BY MARK PRESTON - (NP) - The Firesign's presidential candidate was featured in this college newspaper published in CA.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
4 / 1976
"GOTHAMATHON" (TV)  - Proctor and Bergman performed their early version of a stage act, that was later developed in "Americathon" that was video taped by Steve Gillmor  at The Other End in NYC, with other post production material. The finished product was designed to be shown on the VTN Network, close circuit to college campuses.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
c.  5 / 1976
"RADIO LAFFS OF 1940" - PRESS RELEASE - (P) - Austin and Ossman's performance is featured in this press release.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
c. 5 / 1976
"IT'S YOUR AMERICA" (TVP) - Proctor and Bergman were writing and developing this 1 hour long television series with Sid Caesar to be produced by Chris Beard and Alan Bly.
5 / 5 / 1976
"NPR'S VOICES IN THE WIND" (RT) - Proctor and Bergman appeared on this National Public Radio show that survives on tape .

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
5 / 6 / 1976
LOS ANGELES TIMES - "CURTAINS IT'S THE FIRESIGN THEATRE BOYS" BY GREGG KILDAY - (NP) - Austin and Ossman were interviewed regarding their presentation of "Radio Laffs of 1940" , for this newspaper article published in CA.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
5 / 6 / 1976
(SOPHIE'S) (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at Sophie's in Palo Alto, CA.
5 / 7 - 8 / 1976
(SAVOY THEATER) (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at the Savoy Theater in San Francisco, CA.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
5 / 8 / 1976
"RADIO LAFFS OF 1940"  (TP) - The duo wrote and performed a show featuring Austin as Ed Edmunds and Nick Danger and Ossman as George Tirebiter going through a day of Hollywood radio in 1940 that was presented at the Los Feliz Theatre in LA. the show featured the final episode of Nick Danger (30 min), Poon's Farm (a morning show), Over The Edge, Mark Time, The FBI At War with Peace and lots of period style 'commercials". Cast also featured Mark A. Ward (of the Fabulous Deluxe Bros. a Santa Barbara comedy group).

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
5/ 17/ 76
PANORAMA (LTVB) - Proctor and Bergman appeared on a local afternoon DC TV show during their tour.
5 / 30 / 1976
"NPR'S VOICES IN THE WIND"  (RT) - Proctor and Bergman appeared on this National Public Radio show that survives on tape .

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
6 / 26 / 1976
"RADIO LAFFS OF 1940"  (TP) - The duo wrote and performed a show featuring Austin as Nick Danger and Ossman as George Tirebiter with Richard Proctor and Mark A. Ward with music by Coctail and The Glamorama  Girls, Wendy Dirkson, Tiny Ossman, and Lesly Nicholson as Rita Monroe, with sound effects by Chris Lipkin, produced and designed by Tiny Ossman that was presented at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
11 / 1976
DON KIRSCHNER ROCK CONCERTS - (TV) - The duo taped several short comic bits for this program series.
12 / 1976 - early 1977
"HELLO MY NAME IS CLARK WINTERGREEN" (TP) - The duo worked on and toured a  comic play about an ex-computer salesman confronting his ideals.
12 / 10 / 1976
"(INTERVIEW)"  WHFS BETHESDA, MD (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman were interviewed during their East Coast tour. A 25 min. tape exists.
12 / 12 / 1976
"(INTERVIEW)"  WGTB WASHINGTON, DC (LRB) -Proctor and Bergman were interviewed during their East Coast tour. A 20 min. tape exists.


PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
c. fall 1976
"THE AMERICATHON" - (MP) - Proctor and Bergman worked on a movie script with Neil Israel about a national telethon to raise 400 billion dollars to pay off the nation debt.  Proctor was to play one of the lead roles, Eric McMerkin a media wizard hired to come up with an idea to save the country.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
c. late 7 / 1976
"THE FIRST BISON-TENNIAL SURREALIST PARTY AND CONVENTION" -  PROGRAM - (P) - Austin and Ossman performance playbill was distributed.
7 / 31 / 1976
"SHOES FOR INDUSTRY REVUE" (TP) - The duo presented this show at La Casa
de La Raza consisting of "The George Tirebiter Story", "Moon Men From Detroit", and bits from "Everything You Know Is Wrong", that was followed by a flashlight parade to the Acacia restaurant in Isla Vista, CA.
8 / 1 / 1976
"1976 NATURAL SURREALIST PARTY CONVENTION" (LRB)  - Austin and Ossman provided comedy for this event held at La Casa De La Raza that was broadcast live on KTYD, of which 168 min. survives on tape.

PETER BERGMAN PHIL PROCTOR
c. fall 1976
"THE INVASION OF THE COMEDIANS" - (MP) -  Proctor and Bergman developed a script about 2 alien comedians that are booked by their manger on earth.
c. fall 1976
OBERLIN COLLEGE - (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed and conducted a radio workshop and interview for the students.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
late '76 / early 77
"CRACKING UP" (M) - directed by Neil Isreal and Joe Roth. Proctor and Bergman featured as news team, Walter  Concrete and Barbara Halters, covering the 'great earthquake'.  Also starred Fred Willard, Harry Shearer and many others. Film released by AIP in 1977.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
1976
"THE PETER MARSHALL VARIETY HOUR" (LTVB) -  The duo appeared on one episode as "The LA All-Stars"  with Dick Paul and Harry Shearer. The local television show starring the former host of the Hollywood Squares game show,  featured three segments written by Phil Austin in a detective based radio - style. 60 min.
1976
"(CAMPOON '76 # 1)" (LRB) - Austin and Ossman provided comedy for this 30 min. broadcast that survives on tape.
1976
"(CAMPOON '76 # 2)" (LRB) - Austin and Ossman provided comedy for this 30 min. broadcast that survives on tape.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
1976
"MIDDAY"  (LTVB) - Proctor and Bergman appeared on local NYC TV, during their East Coast tour.
1976
"SIX DREAMS" (M)  Phil Proctor acted and Peter Bergman was executive producer and briefly appeared in a segment of this short film by Anton Greene.
1976
"COMEDY JAM" - (MP) - Proctor and Bergman worked on a project to take a series of short films made by themselves and other comedians to be released together under this title.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
c. mid - late 70's
"OPPOSITE POLES" (MP) - Proctor and Bergman were approached to direct and act in this project by Polish Joke Book author Larry Wilde, but the film never got off the ground.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
1 / 1 / 1977
ROSE BOWL PARADE - (R) -  Austin and Ossman provided comentary via Newspace a service that linked 9 California progressive FM radio stations.


PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
early 1977
"DON KIRSHNER'S ROCK CONCERT" (TV) - Proctor and Bergman's four routines were filmed for various air dates.
2 / 7 / 1977
("CLARK WINTERGREEN, CLARK WINTERGREEN TOUR) - BOTTOM LINE - (TP) - The Duo gave 2 performances of this peice about a computer salesman, at this venue in NYC,NY. The performances were taped by an audience member..
2 / 8 / 1977
OVERSLEEPING - WBAI - FM - (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman sat  in live on this show at the Pacifica radio station in NYC. An air-check tape exists.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
4 - 6 / 1977
("TOUR") (TP) - The duo toured locations and dates unknown, featuring Firesign material from Just Folks, and "Anything You Want To", and their act "Hello My Name Is Clark Wintergreen".
UCLA, Royce Hall - 4 / 9
Tucson, AR. -  c. late 5 /  early 6

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
4 / 9 / 1977
(ROYCE HALL) (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at Royce Hall, UCLA.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
c. late 5 / 1977
(GUTHRIE THEATER) (TP) - Proctor and Bergman performed at the Guthrie Theater in MPLS, MN.
5 / 22 / 1977
TWIN CITIES READER - (NP) - Proctor and Bergman were interviewed by Rick Mason for this newspaper published in MN.
6 / 1 / 1977
(TEMPLE OF MUSIC AND ART) (TP) - Proctor and Bergman gave a performance at the Temple Of Music And Art in Tucson, AZ.
6 / 2 / 1977
TUSCON CITIZEN - "HALF THE FIRESIGN THEATRE IS GARFUNKLE WITHOUT SIMON: BY CHUCK GRAHAM - (NP) - Proctor and Bergman's performance was reviewed for this newspaper published in AZ.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
mid 1977
("LORD FUDD'S SEARCH") (MP) - Austin and Ossman conducted pre-production and writing sessions on a  historical mockumentary tracing the heroic search for the source of the LA river by Lord Fudd, were conducted by Austin and Ossman.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
6 / 27 / 1977- 2 / 27 / 1978
"HOT NEWS FOR THE WEEK" - HOT NEWS: FROM NOXEMA
PROCTOR AND BERGMAN REPORT - 6 / 27 / 1977 - 7 / 4 / 1977, 7 / 11 / 1977 - 7 / 18 / 1977, 7 / 25 / 1977 - 8 / 1 / 1977, 8 / 8 / 1977 - 8 / 15 / 1977, 8 / 22 / 1977 - 8 / 29 / 1977, 9 / 5 / 1977 - 9 / 12 / 1977, 9 / 19 / 1977 - 9 / 26 / 1977, 10 / 3 / 1977 - 10 / 10 / 1977, 10 / 17 / 1977 - 10 / 24 / 1977, 10 / 31 / 1977 - 11 / 7 / 1977, 11 / 14 / 1977 - 11 / 21 / 1977, 11 / 28 / 1977 - 12 / 5 / 1977, 12 / 12 / 1977 - 12 / 19 / 1977,12 / 26 / 1977 - 1 / 2 / 1978, 1 / 9 / 1978 - 1 / 16 / 1978, 1 / 23 / 1978 - 1 / 30 / 1978, 2 / 6 / 1978 - 2 / 13 / 1978, 2 / 20 / 1978 - 2 / 27 / 1978 - JIM BROWN, HOT NEWS RADIO - (18 R LP) - Proctor and Bergman provided weekly several min. commentaries on American life, for this Earth News syndicated program released on albums for Noxema and carried by 350 stations.
summer 1977
"STARLAND VOCAL BAND" (SHOW) (TV) - Proctor & Bergman were hired as writers and to appear, along with David Letterman, and were featured on six of the CBS TV summer replacement shows.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
10 / 28 - 30 / 1977
"3RD WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION" (TP) - The duo performed at this convention held at the LA Biltmore Hotel.


PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR

11 / 1977
("AN EVENING WITH PROCTOR AND BERGMAN TOUR") (TP) - The duo did more touring with the show with the first half "Just Folks" drawing from Firesign and P & B material, and the second half featuring a "Clark Wintergreen" these and other locations:
Las Vegas Hilton - 11 / 6, Grand Rapids, Michigan - 11 / 11, Chicago, IL, Texas
11 / 6 / 1977
"AN EVENING WITH PROCTOR AND BERGMAN" (TP) - Proctor and Bergman gave a performance at the Las Vegas Hilton.
11 / 6 / 1977
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS - "PROCTOR AND BERGMAN HERE THURSDAY" BY JIM MCFARLIN - (NP) - Proctor and Bergman were featured in this article for this newspaper published in MI.
11/ 10 / 1977
"AN EVENING WITH PROCTOR AND BERGMAN" (TP) - Proctor and Bergman gave 2 performances at the Majestic Theater in Grand Rapids, MI.
11 / 11 / 1977
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS - "BRINGING VAUDEVILLE BACK TO GRAND RAPIDS" BY JIM MCFARLIN - (NP) - Proctor and Bergman's performance was featured in this article for this newspaper published in MI.

PHIL AUSTIN, PHIL PROCTOR
(c end 11 / 1977) (?)
"HOLLYWOOD NITE SHIFT" - (VT) - The duo appeared on this radio show and were video taped as a 3 min B&W demo tape that survives.

PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
5 / 1978
"POPCORN"  "MAXWELL MORGAN, CRIME CABBY" - DAVID OSSMAN, PHIL AUSTIN, PATRICK TOVATT   (R RT) - Ossman plays 'Max' and Austin the bartender in this broadcast over KPFK and preserved on tape in the Pacifica Radio Archives - BBKZ0851.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
c. 5 / 1978
"(GOLDEN DRAGON MASSACRE)" (NEWS COVERAGE) (TV) - Proctor and Bergman witnessed a gangland killing and are shown during some of the broadcasts.
5 / 1978
"(INTERVIEW)" ("LEW IRWIN PROGRAM") (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman were interviewed about their witnessing the "Golden Dragon Massacre" on this nationally syndicated program.
c. 5 - 6  1978
"GIVE US A BREAK TOUR" (TP) - The duo toured the US and Canada with dates including:
San Francisco, CA
Denver, CO
Toronto, Canada
Philadelphia, PA
Cleveland, OH
Washington, DC - 2 shows at the Cellar Door
Columbus, OH - "Cube TV" interactive cable with home audience.
Cleveland, OH
LA, CA
5 / 6 / 1978
"SOUNDSTAGE" "THE WORLD OF PROCTOR AND BERGMAN" (TV) - Proctor and Bergman appeared on the PBS program visualizing many of the pieces on their "Give Us A Break" Album.
6 / 6 /1978
"INTERVIEW" WHFS (BETHESDA, MD) (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman were taped  and interviewed by Diane about their "Give Us A Break" Lp and Cellar Door appearances.
6 / 7 /1978
"AM WASHINGTON" WASHINGTON DC (LTVB)  - The duo appeared on this local program with host Ed Walker.
c. 6 / 7 - 8 /1978
"INTERVIEW" WGTB (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman were taped  and interviewed about their "Give Me a Break" album and Soundstage appearance.
c. 6 / 1978
"CUBE TV" (TV) - The duo performed on this 2 way interactive cable channel run by Warner Communications in Columbus, Ohio.
c. 6 / 1978
("CLEVELAND TV") (TV) - The duo made some local TV appearances.
c. mid 1978
"INTERVIEW" CLEVELAND (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman made several appearances on radio in Bergman's home town.
c. mid 1978
"J-MEN FOREVER" (M) - Proctor and Bergman worked on a movie released in 1979, with wrap-a-rounds directed by Richard Patterson, starring Proctor and Bergman and utilizing their comedic over-dubbings of Republic Studio cliff-hanger serials to tell the story of Aliens trying to take over the Earth by means of sex and jamming radio broadcasts with Rock and Roll, from the Moon, and the efforts to stop them. Superbly edited by Gail Werban, look for clips showing early appearances by Brother Theodore and Leonard Nimoy. Released by New Horizon and scheduled to be re-released by More Sugar on video tape.  B&W, 75 min.

PETER BERGMAN AND PHIL PROCTOR
7 / 4 / 1978 - 5 / 9 / 1979
"RADIO OZ RETURNS" KPFK - FM, LA (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman revived this program which ran at least 31 weeks. Shows no. 1, 3, 4, 6 - 18, 20, 22 - 31 survive on tape in the Pacifica Archives.
7 / 4 / 1978
"RADIO OZ RETURNS # 1" (RT) - Proctor and Bergman revived this program, that survives on tape.
7 / 7, 8, 9 / 1978
"COMEDY FEST" (TP) - the duo performed in the Comedy Tent at the annual Summer Fest in Milwaukee WI.
7 / 18 / 1978
"RADIO OZ RETURNS # 3" (RT) - Proctor and Bergman revived this program, that survives on tape.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
11 / 13 / 1978
NY TIMES - "AMERICANTHON", FILM OF 1998 BY AL JEAN HARMETZ - (NP) - The duo are mentioned in their writing connection with this movie being shot in Hollywood.

PETER BERGMAN AND PHIL PROCTOR
1978
"GIVE US A BREAK"   - PROCTOR AND BERGMAN - MERCURY SRM-3719(LP), MC-8-1-3719(8T), MC-4-4-1-3719(CT) - (LP) (8T) (CT) - Proctor and Bergman's third album was released.
1978
"THE COMEDY OF PROCTOR AND BERGMAN"  - PROCTOR AND BERGMAN  (7" 33 1/3 PROMO) - MERCURY DJ-551 - (EP) - Proctor and Bergman's album was excerpted for this promotional EP.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
3 / 14 / 1979
"RADIO OZ RETURNS"  (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman revived this program, that survives on tape.
3 / 21 / 1979
"RADIO OZ RETURNS"  (LRB) - Proctor and Bergman revived this program, that survives on tape.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
7 / 1979
"AMERICATHON" (M) - Proctor and Bergman's original adaptation was directed by Neil Isreal, starring Harvey Korman, John Ritter, Nancy Morgan, Peter Riegert, Fred Willard, Zane Buzby, Richard Schaal, Elvis Costello, Chief Dan George, Tommy Lasorda, Jay Leno, Peter Marshall, Meat Loaf, Howard Hesseman, narrated by George Carlin, based on the Proctor and Bergman's stage show of the same name, and original screenplay about the government going broke in 1998 and having a telethon to raise money. Proctor and Bergman lost control of the project and walked, allowing other writers to take over, leaving very little of the original script, but retained some screen writing credits on the movie, photo-novel, and the subsequent soundtrack album. Color, 86 min.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
8 / 1979
"AMERICATHON 1998 THE FOTONOVEL" - FOTONOVEL PUBLICATIONS - (B) - Proctor and Bergman were credited for, adaptation, and based on the play by, in this paperback version of the movie, published in LA, CA.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
11 / 13 / 1979
NEW YORK TIMES - " 'AMERICATHON', FILM OF 1998" BY ALJEAN HARMETZ - (NP) - Proctor and Bergman's original screenplay was the basis for this movie reviewed in this newspaper published in NYC.
c. end 1979
CIRCUS WEEKLY - "THE U.S. GOES BANKRUPT IN 'AMERICATHON' ..." BY SHEL KAGAN - (MZ) -  Proctor and Bergman's original screenplay was the basis for this movie
reviewed in this magazine.


PHIL AUSTIN, DAVID OSSMAN
1979 / 1980
"SAUCER" (MP) - The pair got a development deal, and worked on a '50s sci-fi film script for Embassy / New Line Pictures. Producer to be Kim Jorgenson with Joe Dante as the projected director.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
1979
"AMERICATHON" - SOUNDTRACK - VARIOUS ARTISTS  - COLUMBIA 70172 - (LP)- The duo's adaptation movie released a soundtrack album.
 

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