Posted on 08/14/2018 8:21:22 PM PDT by SamAdams76
YouTube is such a time capsule.
When I was growing up, one of the shows my father used to watch was "Hogan's Heroes." I had not actually watched the show since the early 1970s so the show itself was long forgotten but the theme music was always a bit of an earworm, popping up randomly in my head from time to time during the decades since.
About a week ago, I noticed that entire episodes of Hogan's Heroes was on YouTube and decided to click on one.
As the opening credits played, everything was instantly recognizable to me even though it has been maybe 45 years since I last saw it. From the prisoners slipping in the snow outside their barracks to the prison camp searchlights to the monocled Colonel Klink surveying the scene, it was if I last saw it just yesterday!
Even more surprising was the content of of the show itself. When I last saw the show, I was just a 10 year old kid so none of it made much sense to me. I was not able to put things in the context of World War 2 because other than a few bare facts, I knew nothing back then about that war. I guess I actually thought that the Germans in real life actually were the bumbling, easily manipulated fools as portrayed in the show.
But now, nearly half a century later, it all came into focus. During the time since, not only did I actually serve a hitch in the military (Marines) but I became a bit of a WW2 history buff, having read at least a hundred books on the subject over the years.
Now the Hogan's Heroes show, campy as it is, has some relevance to me as I can now put the plots of the show into historical perspective. Also, with my military experience, I can now relate to the soldiers and the arrogance of many of the officers that rule over them.
Also, knowing the horrors of World War 2 and the way that the Germans actually did conduct themselves in that war, I'm surprised that such a show even made it on television in the first place. As that show ran from about 1965-71, the WW2 generation would have been still in their prime, just reaching middle age. How did they react to the light-hearted portrayal of their mortal enemy? I mean, as a kid, I actually thought Sgt Schultz was a likable character, kind of like Curly in the Three Stooges.
I guess back then, people were able to have more of a sense of humor and not take things so seriously.
As I researched the main characters in real life, it was a sobering experience. All of them are dead now. And though I won't go into details here, the main character Hogan (Bob Crane) had a rather sordid life that ended on a scandalous note.
As a classical music fan, I was rather surprised to find out that Colonel Klink was played by Werner Klemperer, son of the world-famous conductor Otto Klemperer (of whom I collected many recordings, not aware of his son's role in the TV show).
I’ve been watching Archie Bunker lately myself.
I used to watch Hogan’s Heroes every day after school. My dad would come in and watch a few minutes with me as he would find something to putz around with in the TV room (he worked from home).
At the next commercial he would leave and EVERY time would chuckle and say “Oh those crazy guys.”
That’s all he would say - he was a WW II vet. Looking back I appreciate that. I would have probably explained to my kids how bad the NAZIs were, told them about the concentration camps, etc.
You are a FR old timer and ever connected what the Sgt Schulz defense was all about???
The most likable. Schultzie pretty much made the show, dominating every scene he was in.
Robert Clary (French Corporal Louis LeBeau) lives! He was actually in a concentration camp during World War II.
On Saturday afternoons I would watch “The World at War” with its fiery opening. Real serious stuff. I got the full understanding of what WWII was all about, so much so that I do not need to go to the Holocaust Museum in DC to understand the Holocaust.
When I watched “Hogan’s Heroes” was like a bit of needed comic relief.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_at_War
Stalag 13 was not a concentration camp, it was a POW enclosure. The two things are not the same in any real way.
General Burkhalter (Leon Askin) lived right across the street from my elementary school in the ‘70s, and I used to see him walk his little dog almost every morning on the way to school. Sometimes my friends and I would hum the HH theme song when we saw him and he’d smile and wave.
That’s all he would say - he was a WW II vet. Looking back I appreciate that. I would have probably explained to my kids how bad the NAZIs were, told them about the concentration camps, etc.
Why?
Why fill kids head with that? Just let them watch the show.
I watched hogans heroes as a child, and as an adult I understand war. I’m just happy I was allowed to be a kid and watch funny show.
It was pure sitcom corn! And we all loved it, quoting lines from it the next day in junior high
Werner Klemperer, himself was a refugee from Nazi Germany, two Emmys for his role as inept camp commander Klink.
Read about the rest of the cast, it’s pretty interesting (Pay no attention to the title):
https://www.neatorama.com/2014/05/05/Hogans-Heroes-TVs-Most-tasteless-Sitcom/
I’m watching an episode right now on DVD! You can buy all six seasons on DVD at FYE, a chain store in most malls for $100 give or take. Great show.
I watch Hogan’s Heroes every Mon. through Fri. night on MeTv on the DISH Network. It comes on at 9:00PM and 9:30PM Central on channel 247. It’s fun to watch.
Sgt Schultz, played by John Banner, in real life was Viennese (Austria-Hungaria) Jew, who emigrated to the US circa 1942. He lost all his family who remained in Austria in German Concentration Camps.
Bob Crane was one of the first TV stars I recall seeing move from one top show into another. I used to watch him on Donna Reed as one of her husband’s golfing buddies. Definitely a second banana, peripheral character role. Some of the smartest TV actors know just when to move on and take a big chance on being successful. Bob became far more famous and wealthy than he ever would have become on the Donna Reed show. So for him, the gamble paid off big time.
Then you get someone like Shelly Long, who used to be the bartender’s girlfriend on Cheers. She left that, and her career took a nosedive, from which it never recovered.
Suzanne Sommers career also rode a Teeter-Totter after she left Three’s Company. Suzanne did okay though, because she was able to sing and entertain. Suzanne remained sexy and desirable for quite a few years. She also promoted the
infamous Thigh-Master, which added Millions to her bank account.
As were both John Banner (Sgt. Schultz) and Leo Askin (General Burkhaltar). Ask in came to the US in 1940 and served in the Army Air Foce during WWII.
Just got through watching it. 2 episodes nightly on METV that plays the classics from the 60’s and 70’s. I never watched Perry Mason when I was a kid but I’ve kind of found interest in it lately mostly to see stars that have gone on that I remember when I was a little kid.......;)
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