Posted on 05/26/2023 2:06:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Singer Ed Ames arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of the stage production "Chicago - The Musical" on January 8, 2004 at the Pantages Theatre, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Getty Images
Ed Ames, a member of the Ames Brothers singing quartet who starred in TV series “Daniel Boone” in the 1960s, died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 95.
Ed Ames and his brothers Vic, Joe and Gene had a hit with their version of “Rag Mop” in 1950. As a solo artist, he had hits with “Who Will Answer?,” “My Cup Runneth Over” and “Try to Remember.” In the 1950s, they had a syndicated TV program, “The Ames Brothers Show,” and 49 songs that charted before they broke up in 1963.
He then launched an acting career, which included off-Broadway performances in “The Crucible” and “The Fantasticks,” as well as a starring role on Broadway in “Carnival!” He starred with Kirk Douglas, Gene Wilder and William Daniels in the Broadway production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Although his background was Russian Jewish, Ames was cast several times as a Native American, and played Mingo, a Cherokee Indian character with a British father, for several seasons of the Fess Parker Western “Daniel Boone.”
He became known for his skill in throwing a tomahawk, and on “The Tonight Show” in 1965, he demonstrated his skill for Johnny Carson on a wood panel with an outline of a cowboy. When Ames hit the figure squarely in the groin, Carson ad-libbed: “I didn’t even know you were Jewish!” and then “Welcome to Frontier Bris.” The saucy response caused the studio audience to laugh for four minutes, which has been reported to be the longest laugh by a studio audience in television history.
He also made guest appearances on shows including “The Rifleman,” “McCloud,” “Murder She Wrote,” “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” and “Jake and the Fatman.”
Born on July 9, 1927 in Malden, Mass., Ames was the youngest of nine children, and later received a B.A. in theater and cinema arts from UCLA in 1975.
He is survived by his wife Jeanne; two children, Ronald and Sonya, seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and stepson Stephen Saviano. Another daughter, Marcella, predeceased him.
I remember him as Mango on Daniel Boone when I was a tiny tyke. I thought he was super cool:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf15TxTstes
It’s amazing. He was an accomplished actor and singer but when I hear his name that are throw is the first thing that pops into my mind.
When I was a pre-teen, I was in love with Mingo.
Me either but really it’s been a very long time since Ed Ames has been in the public eye so that is understandable. RIP
Great powerful voice, a staple of MOR radio station in the 60s. RIP.
Apparently he WAS Jewish!
Oh boy, this brings back memories. My brothers & I loved/grew up on Daniel Boone. My absolute fave was Mingo. RIP Ed Ames.
Rosie Greer, the Tuscarora, was the one I remember.
Did he deny it?
Interesting. Palance was of Ukrainian and Polish parentage; the Ames brothers' parents were Russian Jews from Ukraine.
Late night was truly funny back then.
I was a Fess Parker fan as a kid. I don’t remember if I watched the TV series in the 60’s. We watched him in the 50’s as Daniel Boone on Disney. I must have been 8 or 9, and my mother made my brother take me, his little sister to the local movie theater one Saturday morning for a cartoon jamboree. He was pissed. Then he got even more pissed that day when I had the winning ticket for the Davy Crockett cap rifle they raffled off.
Forgot to mention that we also had some of the Ames Brothers albums too. My mother was a big fan.
I don’t know if he did or not. I was referring to Carson’s famous line and the now-revealed-to-me that Ames was descended from Russian Jews.
RIP.
the ames bros were jewish... but did one of the best christmas albums ever.
C is for the Christ child, born on christmas day H for herald angels in the sky, R means our redeemer, I means Israel S is for the stars that shone so bright. T is for three wise men they who travelled far M is for the manger where he lay, A is for all HE stands for, S means Shepherd came and that’s why there’s a Christmas Day...
////
also enjoyed there “naughty lady of shady lane... lol...
“Daniel Boone’’. I used to watch that show all the time.
You’re right. The America we FReeper’s once knew has vanished.
Thursday, April 29, 1965; funny
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.