In this Utterly Unscripted episode, host Jesse Veritas talks to Gary Bohan Jr. about his book Sharkey: When Sea Lions Were Stars of Show Business. Gary discusses the history of the Vaudeville theater genre and how it was popular in the USA in the early to mid-1900s. He also talks about some of the notable acts from that time period, including Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire, and Imogene Coca. The pair discuss the book The Showman's Legacy and the related lecture. The book is about the history of trained sea lions, and the lecture goes into more detail about the topic.
Gary discusses Sharkey the Seal, a seal who starred in a skit on the Admiral Broadway Review. He talks about how funny the skit was, and how Sharkey was a great performer with perfect comedic timing. He also talks about how Sharky had a great resume, with roles on Broadway, in Hollywood movies, and on television. The conversation is a discussion of early television and how it compares to today's programming. There is mention of how early television was heavily influenced by vaudeville and how the entertainment was much more wholesome than much of what we see today in 2022. We also talk about how Elvis Presley's arrival on the scene changed everything and how today's television is full of sexualized content.
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