WHY is this not on DVD?
The only museum to which I possess a membership is the Museum of Television and Radio and this experience perfectly illustrates why. P remembered seeing 1976's The Paul Lynde Halloween Special when he was a kid and, sure enough, it's among the Museum's holdings. I watched it yesterday and there are no words for the experience. Margaret Hamilton plays Lynde's housekeeper, who turns out to be a witch (in full Wicked Witch of the West regalia). Her sister is Billie ("Witchiepoo") Hayes and Witchiepoo's butler is Billy Barty, whose main function in the special seems to be to kick Lynde in the shins. The "chamber music" in her mansion is KISS, who kick out three numbers. Their terrible lip synching only adds to the amazement. But the fun doesn't end there. No way. We're also treated to Florence Henderson belting out a disturbingly soprano disco version of "That Old Black Magic," Roz "Pinky Tuscadero" Kelly (that's how she's credited) as a slutty truck stop waitress, Donny and Marie stuffing Lynde into a trash can and, in perhaps the most bizarre aspect of a really bizarre hour of television, Lynde sings a Halloween-ized version of his "Kids," from Bye Bye Birdie, which features the lyric "they burn your lawns," while one of the background dancers dances by in a white hood. Bruce Vilanch and Alan Thicke are both credited with writing this masterpiece of television.