The Firesign Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Firesign Theatre is an American comedy
troupe consisting of Phil Austin
, Peter Bergman
, David Ossman
and Philip Proctor
. Their brand of surrealistic
humor is best known through their record albums
, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.
The troupe began as live radio
performers in Los Angeles on radio stations KPPC-FM and KPFK
during the mid-1960s.
The group's name stems in part from astrology
, because the membership encompasses all three "fire signs
:" Aries
(Austin), Leo
(Proctor), and Sagittarius
(Bergman and Ossman). The name also refers to Fireside Theatre, an early television series that ran on NBC
from 1949 to 1955, followed by Jane Wyman
Presents the Fireside Theatre (1955–58); it may also refer to the Fireside Chats
radio broadcasts made by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a parody of which can be heard in one of the Theatre's Nick Danger adventures.
smoking to turn people into crows — border on psychedelia
, an effect intensified by the frequent appearance of mock "advertisements
" satirizing real products.
The Firesign approach to comedy was strongly influenced by The Goon Show
. All four Firesign members have spoken of their admiration for this show. Said Ossman:
While their stream of consciousness style has the feel of improvisational comedy, most of the material is tightly scripted and memorized. The group's writing method demands the consent of all four members before a line can be included. Much of their work has been copyrighted under the name "4 or 5 Crazee Guys."
' short story "La Muerte y La Brujula" ("Death and the Compass
") on Radio Free Oz.
Between September 9, 1970 and February 17, 1971, they performed a one-hour live series, produced by Bill McIntyre, on radio station KPFK
in Los Angeles
titled Dear Friends
. These live programs were recorded and then edited into slightly shorter shows which were syndicated to radio stations across the country on 12-inch LP
s. The group later collected the best segments from the series for their fifth record, Dear Friends.
In 1972 and 1974, Straight Arrow Press
, Rolling Stone
s book publishing arm, published two books authored by the Firesign Theatre. These books, The Firesign Theatre's Big Book Of Plays
and The Firesign Theatre's Big Mystery Joke Book
, feature background information, satirical introductions and parodic
histories, as well as transcripts from their first seven albums. Apocalypse Papers, also authored by the group and published by a small press, was limited to an edition of only 500 copies.
In 1996, Peter Bergman began placing radio-show-like comedy sound bites on his own Internet
-based comedy radio station, www.rfo.net. "The show will be the Internet's funny bone," Bergman said.
In 2008, the Firesign Theatre released a four-CD boxed set based on their most famous character, Nick Danger "Third Eye." It was compiled from various radio shows, albums and fan recordings that were sent in via their website.
The group plans to reissue all of their past Firesign albums with new bonus material. The members are asking fans to submit any high-quality audio and video clips to their website.
, Zachariah
, released in 1971. The film was inspired by the novel Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
.
The movie Americathon
(1979) was based on a sketch created by Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman.
also performed as a duo, and Austin and Ossman worked individually and together in a few stage shows and most notably in the writing and production of In the Next World, You're on Your Own. In the mid-1980s, Ossman temporarily left the group to produce shows for National Public Radio.
Their recordings through 1975 were originally released by Columbia Records
.
The Firesign Theatre are still performing today, most recently playing a series of live performances in October 2010. They claim to be the longest surviving group from the "Classic rock
" era to still be intact with the original members (at the time of the claim in 2009, 43 years).
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
troupe consisting of Phil Austin
Phil Austin
Phil Austin is a comedian and writer. He was born in Denver, Colorado and later grew up in Fresno, California, attending Fresno High School...
, Peter Bergman
Peter Bergman (comedian)
Peter Paul Bergman is an American writer and comedian, best known as a member of The Firesign Theatre. He plays Lt. Bradshaw in the Nick Danger series....
, David Ossman
David Ossman
David Ossman is an American writer and comedian, best known as a member of The Firesign Theatre.-Career:...
and Philip Proctor
Philip Proctor
Philip Proctor is an American actor, voice actor and a member of The Firesign Theatre. He plays Rocky Rococo and Nancy in the Nick Danger series. He is from Goshen, Indiana...
. Their brand of surrealistic
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
humor is best known through their record albums
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.
The troupe began as live radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
performers in Los Angeles on radio stations KPPC-FM and KPFK
KPFK
KPFK is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves the Greater Los Angeles Area, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet...
during the mid-1960s.
The group's name stems in part from astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
, because the membership encompasses all three "fire signs
Astrology and the classical elements
Astrology has used the concept of classical elements from antiquity up until the present. In Western astrology and Indian astrology four elements are used, namely Fire, Earth, Air and Water.-Western astrology:...
:" Aries
Aries (astrology)
Aries is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the zero degree and the 29th degree of celestial longitude. The Sun enters Aries when it reaches the northern vernal equinox, which is usually on March 21 each year, and remains in this sign until around April 20...
(Austin), Leo
Leo (astrology)
Leo is the fifth astrological sign of the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Leo. In astrology, Leo is considered to be a "masculine", positive sign. It is also considered a fire sign and is one of four fixed signs ruled by the Sun.Individuals born when the Sun is in this sign are...
(Proctor), and Sagittarius
Sagittarius (astrology)
Sagittarius is the ninth astrological sign in the Zodiac, which spans the zodiac between the 240th and 269th degree of celestial longitude...
(Bergman and Ossman). The name also refers to Fireside Theatre, an early television series that ran on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1949 to 1955, followed by Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman was an American singer, dancer, and character actress of film and television. She began her film career in the 1930s, and was a prolific performer for two decades...
Presents the Fireside Theatre (1955–58); it may also refer to the Fireside Chats
Fireside chats
The fireside chats were a series of thirty evening radio addresses given by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1933 and 1944.-Origin of radio address:...
radio broadcasts made by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a parody of which can be heard in one of the Theatre's Nick Danger adventures.
Style
The Firesign Theatre employs a stream of consciousness style that includes direct references to movies, radio, TV, political figures, and other cultural sources, intermingled with sound effects and bits of music. The resulting stories — including the theft of a high school, a fair of clowns and holograms and aliens who use hempHemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
smoking to turn people into crows — border on psychedelia
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
, an effect intensified by the frequent appearance of mock "advertisements
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
" satirizing real products.
The Firesign approach to comedy was strongly influenced by The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
. All four Firesign members have spoken of their admiration for this show. Said Ossman:
While their stream of consciousness style has the feel of improvisational comedy, most of the material is tightly scripted and memorized. The group's writing method demands the consent of all four members before a line can be included. Much of their work has been copyrighted under the name "4 or 5 Crazee Guys."
Other projects
In September 1967, The Firesign Theatre performed an adaptation of Jorge Luis BorgesJorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo , known as Jorge Luis Borges , was an Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires. In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school, receiving his baccalauréat from the Collège de Genève in 1918. The family...
' short story "La Muerte y La Brujula" ("Death and the Compass
Death and the Compass
Death and the Compass is British director Alex Cox's second Mexican feature , made in 1992. Based on the short story Death and the Compass by Jorge Luis Borges, the film is in English, and stars Peter Boyle as Erik Lönnrot the detective, Miguel Sandoval as Treviranus, his boss, and Christopher...
") on Radio Free Oz.
Between September 9, 1970 and February 17, 1971, they performed a one-hour live series, produced by Bill McIntyre, on radio station KPFK
KPFK
KPFK is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves the Greater Los Angeles Area, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
titled Dear Friends
Dear Friends Radio Program (Firesign Theatre)
Between September 1970 and February 1971, The Firesign Theatre performed 21 episodes of a live radio program titled Dear Friends on KPFK radio in Los Angeles. These programs were recorded and later edited into one hour shows for national syndication....
. These live programs were recorded and then edited into slightly shorter shows which were syndicated to radio stations across the country on 12-inch LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s. The group later collected the best segments from the series for their fifth record, Dear Friends.
In 1972 and 1974, Straight Arrow Press
Straight Arrow Press
Straight Arrow Press is a publishing company that publishes the periodicals Us Weekly and Rolling Stone....
, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s book publishing arm, published two books authored by the Firesign Theatre. These books, The Firesign Theatre's Big Book Of Plays
The Firesign Theatre's Big Book Of Plays
The Firesign Theatre's Big Book Of Plays is a collection of transcriptions written by The Firesign Theatre for the title tracks of each of their first four albums. The book also contains some introductory material that is serious as well a few pieces that parody introductory material...
and The Firesign Theatre's Big Mystery Joke Book
The Firesign Theatre's Big Mystery Joke Book
The Firesign Theatre's Big Mystery Joke Book is a collection of transcriptions and scripts written by The Firesign Theatre for some of the tracks on their first six Columbia albums...
, feature background information, satirical introductions and parodic
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
histories, as well as transcripts from their first seven albums. Apocalypse Papers, also authored by the group and published by a small press, was limited to an edition of only 500 copies.
In 1996, Peter Bergman began placing radio-show-like comedy sound bites on his own Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
-based comedy radio station, www.rfo.net. "The show will be the Internet's funny bone," Bergman said.
In 2008, the Firesign Theatre released a four-CD boxed set based on their most famous character, Nick Danger "Third Eye." It was compiled from various radio shows, albums and fan recordings that were sent in via their website.
The group plans to reissue all of their past Firesign albums with new bonus material. The members are asking fans to submit any high-quality audio and video clips to their website.
Films
The group co-wrote the screenplay to the comedy westernWestern (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
, Zachariah
Zachariah (1971 film)
Zachariah is a film starring John Rubinstein as Zachariah and Don Johnson as his best friend Matthew. The film is loosely based on Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, surrealistically adapted as a musical Western by Joe Massot and two members of the Firesign Theatre comedy troupe...
, released in 1971. The film was inspired by the novel Siddhartha
Siddhartha (novel)
Siddhartha is a novel by Hermann Hesse that deals with the spiritual journey of an Indian man named Siddhartha during the time of the Buddha.The book, Hesse's ninth novel , was written in German, in a simple, powerful, and lyrical style. It was published in the U.S. in 1951 and became influential...
by Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature...
.
The movie Americathon
Americathon
Americathon is a 1979 American comedy film starring John Ritter, Fred Willard, Peter Riegert, Harvey Korman, and Nancy Morgan, with narration by George Carlin, based on a play by Firesign Theatre alumni Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman...
(1979) was based on a sketch created by Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman.
Later work
During the mid-1970s, members of the group mostly went in separate directions. Firesign productions continued sporadically, but Proctor and BergmanProctor and Bergman
Proctor and Bergman are the comedians Philip Proctor and Peter Bergman, two of the four members of The Firesign Theatre. The two Midwestern members of the group performed as a double act for a while in the mid-1970s and recorded a few albums, though all four members continued to perform and record...
also performed as a duo, and Austin and Ossman worked individually and together in a few stage shows and most notably in the writing and production of In the Next World, You're on Your Own. In the mid-1980s, Ossman temporarily left the group to produce shows for National Public Radio.
Their recordings through 1975 were originally released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
The Firesign Theatre are still performing today, most recently playing a series of live performances in October 2010. They claim to be the longest surviving group from the "Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
" era to still be intact with the original members (at the time of the claim in 2009, 43 years).
Commercial releases
- Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like HimWaiting for the Electrician or Someone Like HimWaiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him was the first comedy album recorded by The Firesign Theatre. It was originally released in 1968 by Columbia Records.-Detailed Track Information and Commentary:...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
CS-9518 — January 1968)- (re-released by Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
MFCD-762 — 1992)
- (re-released by Mobile Fidelity
- (Columbia
- How Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at AllHow Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at AllHow Can You Be in Two Places at Once When You're Not Anywhere at All is the second comedy album recorded by The Firesign Theatre. It was originally released in 1969 by Columbia Records.-Side one:...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
CS-9884 — July 1969)- (re-released by Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
MFCD-834 — 1988)
- (re-released by Mobile Fidelity
- (Columbia
- Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the PliersDon't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the PliersDon't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers is The Firesign Theatre's third comedy recording for Columbia Records, released in 1970. In 1983, The New Rolling Stone Record Guide called it "the greatest comedy album ever made"....
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
C 30102 — July 1970)- (re-released by Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
MFCD-880 — 1987)
- (re-released by Mobile Fidelity
- (Columbia
- I Think We're All Bozos on This BusI Think We're All Bozos on This BusI Think We're All Bozos on This Bus is the fourth comedy recording made by The Firesign Theatre for Columbia Records. It was released in 1971 and is the last of a tetralogy, comprising their first four albums...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
C-30737 — 1971)- (re-released by Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
MFCD-785 — 1989)
- (re-released by Mobile Fidelity
- (Columbia
- Dear FriendsDear Friends (Firesign Theatre)Dear Friends is The Firesign Theatre's fifth album to be released on Columbia Records. It is a compilation album, collecting the best bits from the group's nationally syndicated radio program, also titled Dear Friends....
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
KG-31099 — January 1972)- (re-released by Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
MFCD-758 — 1992)
- (re-released by Mobile Fidelity
- (Columbia
- Not Insane or Anything You Want ToNot Insane or Anything You Want ToNot Insane or Anything You Want To is the sixth album released by The Firesign Theatre on Columbia Records. It was released in 1972 and includes some material that was recorded in the studio as well as some material that was recorded before a live audience....
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
KC-31585 — October 1972)
- (Columbia
- The Tale of the Giant Rat of SumatraThe Tale of the Giant Rat of SumatraThe Tale of the Giant Rat of Sumatra is a comedy album recorded by The Firesign Theatre and released in early 1974 by Columbia Records.-Side one - London:#"Chapter 1 - Not Quite The Solution He Expected"#"Chapter 2 - An Outrageously Disgusting Disguise"...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
KC-32730 — January 1974)
- (Columbia
- Everything You Know Is WrongEverything You Know Is WrongEverything You Know Is Wrong is a comedy album by the Firesign Theatre released in October 1974 on Columbia Records.-Detailed track information and commentary:...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
KC-33141 — October 1974)
- (Columbia
- In the Next World, You're on Your OwnIn the Next World, You're on Your OwnIn the Next World, You're on Your Own was the last comedy album recorded by The Firesign Theatre for Columbia Records. It was released in 1975.-Detailed track information and commentary:...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
PC-33475 — October 1975)- (Written by Austin and Ossman but performed by the entire group)
- (Columbia
- Forward Into The PastForward into the PastForward Into The Past is a 1976 compilation album by The Firesign Theatre. It presents the "Greatest Hits" from their nine Columbia albums and includes two tracks that were previously released only on a single.-Side one:#"Station Break"...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
PC-34391 — 1976)
- (Columbia
- Just Folks . . . A Firesign ChatJust Folks . . . A Firesign ChatJust Folks . . . A Firesign Chat is a 1977 comedy album by The Firesign Theatre. It was the only record the group made under a new contract with Butterfly Records.-Side one:#"Hello, What's Happening? I Die Every Night ....
- (Butterfly FLY-001 — April 1977)
- Nick Danger: The Case of the Missing ShoeNick Danger: The Case of the Missing ShoeNick Danger: The Case of the Missing Shoe is an EP by The Firesign Theatre. It was released in 1979 by Rhino Records.-Detailed track information and commentary:...
- (RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
RNEP-506 — 1979)
- (Rhino
- Fighting ClownsFighting ClownsFighting Clowns is a 1980 album by The Firesign Theatre. It is unique among Firesign Theatre albums by virtue of the fact that it is primarily made up of songs rather than the group's usual audio theater or sketch comedy pieces...
- (Firesign/RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
RNLP-018 — 1980)- (re-released by Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
MFCD-748 — 1993)
- (re-released by Mobile Fidelity
- (Firesign/Rhino
- Lawyer's Hospital
- (RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
RNLP-806 — 1982)
- (Rhino
- Shakespeare’s Lost Comedie
- (Firesign/RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
RNLP-807 — 1982) - (re-released in expanded edition as Anythynge You Want ToAnythynge You Want ToAnythynge You Want To is a 2001 comedy album by The Firesign Theatre. It takes the form of a radio play, under the conceit of being a lost work of Shakespeare, using language, plot structure, and characters which parody Shakespeare's original works...
Firesign Theatre Records MSUG090, 2001, 2005)
- (Firesign/Rhino
- The Three Faces of AlThe Three Faces of AlThe Three Faces of Al is a 1984 comedy album by the group Firesign Theatre.It features the group members reprising their most popular characters from earlier collaborations, notably hard-boiled detective Nick Danger and his nemesis, Lieutenant Bradshaw....
- (RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
RNCD-5812 — 1984)- (An official Firesign Theatre release but without David Ossman)
- (Rhino
- Eat Or Be Eaten
- (MercuryMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
826 452-2 — 1985)- (An official Firesign Theatre release but without David Ossman)
- (Mercury
- Shoes for Industry: The Best of the Firesign Theatre
- (Sony/Legacy 52736 — August 1993)
- Anythynge You Want ToAnythynge You Want ToAnythynge You Want To is a 2001 comedy album by The Firesign Theatre. It takes the form of a radio play, under the conceit of being a lost work of Shakespeare, using language, plot structure, and characters which parody Shakespeare's original works...
- (Whirlwind Media — 1993)
- Back From The Shadows
- (Mobile FidelityMobile Fidelity Sound LabMobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
Mfcd-2-747 — 1994)
- (Mobile Fidelity
- Pink Hotel Burns Down
- (LodeStone Media MSUG006 — December 1996)
- Give Me Immortality or Give Me DeathGive Me Immortality or Give Me DeathGive Me Immortality or Give Me Death is a comedy album by The Firesign Theatre that was released in 1998 on Rhino Records.-Synopsis:The album takes the form of a fictional radio broadcast on the night of December 31, 1999...
- (RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
R2 75509 — September 1998)
- (Rhino
- Boom Dot BustBoom Dot BustBoom Dot Bust is a comedy album recorded by The Firesign Theatre and released in 1999 on Rhino Records. It was a follow-up to the highly praised Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death from the previous year, continuing a brief resurgence of the foursome's legendary success from 1968-75.It chronicles...
- (RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
R2 75983 — October 1999)
- (Rhino
- Bride of Firesign
- (RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
R2 75390 — September 2001)
- (Rhino
- Radio Now, Live|Radio Now Live!
- (Whirlwind Media — July 2001)
- Papoon For President
- (Laugh.Com — 2002)
- All Things Firesign
- (Artemis Records — March 2003)
- Box of Danger
- (Shout! FactoryShout! FactoryShout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
— September 2008)
- (Shout! Factory
- Duke of Madness Motors - The Complete "Dear Friends" Radio Era (book and data DVD of radio program recordings, over 80 hours)
- (Seeland RecordsSeeland RecordsSeeland Records is an independent record label created by Negativland in 1979 to release their own recordings. It is a reference to the song "Seeland" by the band Neu!, who also gave Negativland the basis for their name, Sea-Land Corporation, a freight company, and the micro-nation of Sealand,...
534 - 2010)
- (Seeland Records
Non-commercial releases (radio, promotional LPs)
- Dear Friends — Syndicated Radio ProgramDear Friends Radio Program (Firesign Theatre)Between September 1970 and February 1971, The Firesign Theatre performed 21 episodes of a live radio program titled Dear Friends on KPFK radio in Los Angeles. These programs were recorded and later edited into one hour shows for national syndication....
- (1970–1971)
- A Firesign Chat With PapoonA Firesign Chat with PapoonA Firesign Chat with Papoon is a promo album recorded by Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman and released under the name of The Firesign Theatre on Columbia Records...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
AS-41 — November 1972)
- (Columbia
- Let’s Eat — Syndicated Radio Program
- (1974)
- The Proctor-Bergman Report
- (1977–1978)
- The Cassette Chronichles
- (RhinoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
RM-73 — 1980)- (A six cassette collection of The Firesign Theatre’s presidential and campaign commentaries which aired on NPR during the 1980 election season.)
- (Rhino
Firesign-related albums
- TV or not TVTV or not TVTV or Not TV is the first album by the comedy duo Proctor and Bergman. It was originally released in 1973 by Columbia Records.-Side one — act one:#"Insert Here"#"Channel 85 Sign-On"#"Escaping From The Declining Fall Of The Roaming Umpire, Chapter XIII"...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
KC-32199 — 1973)- (an album by the team of Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman)
- (Columbia
- How Time FlysHow Time FlysHow Time Flys is a comedy album written by David Ossman and featuring the voice talents of all four members of The Firesign Theatre plus several other contributors...
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
KC-32411 — 1973)- (a “solo” album written and presented by Ossman, but with all members performing, among others)
- (Columbia
- Roller Maidens From Outer SpaceRoller Maidens From Outer SpaceRoller Maidens From Outer Space is a 1974 comedy album by Phil Austin, one of the members of the comedy group Firesign Theatre. Although the record is considered to be Austin's "Solo" album, the other three Firesigns make vocal contributions throughout, and are thanked by Austin in the liner notes...
- (EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
KE-32489 - March 1974)- (a "solo" album written and presented by Austin, with other members performing)
- (Epic
- What This Country Needs
- (ColumbiaColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
PC-33687 — September 1975)- (an album by the team of Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman)
- (Columbia
- Give Us a BreakGive Us a Break (Proctor and Bergman album)Give Us A Break is a 1978 comedy album by comedy duo Proctor and Bergman, one half of the comedy group Firesign Theatre.-Side One:# "Hot Rock Radio - 0:30"# "Carumba - 0:45"# "Brainduster Memory School - 1:30"# "Whale Oil - 1:10"...
- (MercuryMercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
SRM-3719 — 1978)- (an album by the team of Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman)
- (Mercury
- Daily Feed 1988 Newsreel — The Daily Feed
- (DC Audio — 1988)
- (a “solo” cassette by Austin)
- (DC Audio — 1988)
- The George Tirebiter Story Chapter1: Another Christmas Carol
- (Sparks Media — 1989)
- (a “solo” cassette by Ossman)
- (Sparks Media — 1989)
- George Tirebiter's Radiodaze
- (Sparks Media — 1989)
- (a “solo” cassette by Ossman)
- (Sparks Media — 1989)
- The George Tirebiter Story Pt.2 Mexican Overdrive / Radiodaze
- (Company One — 1989)
- (a “solo” cassette by Ossman)
- (Company One — 1989)
- A Capital Decade Daily Feed 1989 Newsreel — The Daily Feed
- (DC Audio — 1989)
- (a “solo” cassette by Austin)
- (DC Audio — 1989)
- The George Tirebiter Story Pt.3 The Ronald Reagan Murder Case
- (Midwest Radio Theatre Workshop — 1990)
- (a “solo” cassette by Ossman)
- (Midwest Radio Theatre Workshop — 1990)
- Down Under Danger
- (Sparks Media — 1994)
- (a “solo” cassette by Austin)
- (Sparks Media — 1994)
- Tales Of The Old Detective And Other Big Fat Lies
- (Audio Partners — 1994)
- (a “solo” cassette by Austin)
- (Audio Partners — 1994)
- David Ossman's Time Capsules
- (Otherworld Media — Omw 1996/1 — 1996)
- (a “solo” cassette by Ossman)
- (Otherworld Media — Omw 1996/1 — 1996)
- George Tirebiter's Radio Follies
- (Twin Cities Radio Theatre Workshop — July 1997)
- (a “solo” cassette by Ossman)
- (Twin Cities Radio Theatre Workshop — July 1997)
Filmography
- 1970 - ZachariahZachariah (1971 film)Zachariah is a film starring John Rubinstein as Zachariah and Don Johnson as his best friend Matthew. The film is loosely based on Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, surrealistically adapted as a musical Western by Joe Massot and two members of the Firesign Theatre comedy troupe...
(co-written by Firesign Theatre) (92 min.) - 1972 - Martian Space Party (Firesign Theatre with Campoon workers) (27 min.)
- 1973 - Love is Hard to Get (Peter Bergman) (26 min.)
- 1973 - Let's Visit the World of the Future (stars BozoI Think We're All Bozos on This BusI Think We're All Bozos on This Bus is the fourth comedy recording made by The Firesign Theatre for Columbia Records. It was released in 1971 and is the last of a tetralogy, comprising their first four albums...
characters from Firesign Theatre, directed by Ivan StangIvan StangRev. Ivan Stang, born Douglass St. Clair Smith August 21, 1953 in Washington, D.C., raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended the St. Mark's School of Texas. He is best known as the author and publisher of the first screed of the Church of the SubGenius...
) (44 min.) - 1976 - Six Dreams (Peter Bergman - executive producer, Phil Proctor) (13 min.)
- 1976 - Tunnel VisionTunnel Vision (film)Tunnel Vision is 1976 comedy anthology film featuring Roger Bowen, Chevy Chase, John Candy, Howard Hesseman, Joe Flaherty, Laraine Newman, Betty Thomas, Phil Proctor, Al Franken, Ron Silver, Tom Davis, Michael Overly. It was directed by Neal Israel and Bradley R...
(featuring Phil Proctor) (70 min.) - 1978 - Everything You Know is Wrong (40 min.)
- 1978 - TV or Not TV (Peter Bergman and Phil Proctor) (33 min.)
- 1979 - AmericathonAmericathonAmericathon is a 1979 American comedy film starring John Ritter, Fred Willard, Peter Riegert, Harvey Korman, and Nancy Morgan, with narration by George Carlin, based on a play by Firesign Theatre alumni Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman...
(Based on a play by Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman) (86 min.) - 1979 - J-Men ForeverJ-Men ForeverJ-Men Forever is a 1979 comedy film by Philip Proctor and PeterBergman of the Firesign Theatre. The film is a pastiche using film clips from Republic serials, re-dubbed with comic dialog to tell a tale of world conquest by sex, drugs and rock and roll....
(Firesign Theatre featuring Peter Bergman and Phil Proctor) (75 min.) - 1979 - The Madhouse of Dr. Fear (Firesign Theatre) (60 min.)
- 1983 - Nick Danger: Case of the Missing Yolk (60 min.) (Originally an Interactive Video, Pacific Arts PAVR-527)
- 1985 - Eat or be Eaten (Phil Austin, Peter Bergman and Phil Proctor, RCA Columbia 60566) (30 min.)
- 1985 - Hot Shorts (Phil Austin, Peter Bergman and Phil Proctor, RCA Columbia 60435) (73 min.)
- 1994 - Back from the Shadows
- 2001 - Firesign Theatre Weirdly Cool DVD Movie
Sources
19 January 2006- Firezine.net FAQ, 23 January 2006
- Marsh, Dave, and Greil Marcus. "The Firesign Theatre." The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Ed. Dave Marsh and John Swenson. New York: Random House, 1983. 175–176.
- Smith, Ronald L. The Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide. Iola: Krause, 1996.
Further reading
- Ossman, David. Dr. Firesign's Follies: Radio, Comedy, Mystery, History. (Albany: BearManor Media) (2008) ISBN 978-1593931483
- Ossman, David. The Ronald Reagan Murder Case: A George Tirebiter Mystery. (Albany: BearManor Media) (2006) ISBN 1-59393-071-2
- Wiebel, Jr, Frederick C. (2005). Backwards into the Future - The Firesign Theatre. Albany: BearManor Media ISBN 1-59393-043-7
- Santoro, Gene. Highway 61 Revisited: The Tangled Roots of American Jazz, Blues, Rock & Country Music. (New York: Oxford University Press) (2004) ISBN 978-0-19-515481-8