The legendary actor-singer-dancer and his a cappella group the Vantastix surprised the patrons of a Denny’s restaurant last week by giving them a surprise rendition of the song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the film of that name that he starred in.
Last year I linked to a clip of him dancing to the music of the country group Dust Bowl Revival with a level of energy and flexibility that belied the fact that he is 90 years old.
He looks like someone who genuinely does not take things too seriously and has an impish sense of humor and maybe that is the secret.
Hell, I’d settle for having half that life in me when I hit 60.
How is he not dead??
#1, or right now at 41!
90!? Wow!!
No, not Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! That movie is totally unsuitable for children — my kids were terrified by the Child Catcher.
He’s still alive? Could have sworn he was dead…
I think he steals the youth of death-bed pensioners to unnaturally extend his life in an ethical way.
A few years back he appeared on the NPR quiz show Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me. One of the panelists asked him about the old Dick Van Dyke TV show, and he volunteered that the (normally instrumental) theme song from that show actually had lyrics, written by Morey Amsterdam. He then proceeded to sing the song! A great and funny moment.
You can play it at this link, at about the 9:00 mark:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130739954
Here are the lyrics from the transcript:
VAN DYKE: (Singing) So you think that you’ve got trouble, well trouble’s a bubble, so tell old Mr. Trouble to get lost. Why not hold your head up high and stop crying, start trying, and don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed. When you find the joy of living is loving and giving, you’ll be there when the winning dice are tossed. A smile is just a frown that’s turned upside down, so smile and that frown will defrost. And don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed.
DonDueed,
Thanks for that link. It was fun!