Paul Lynde: "Center" of Attention Broadway, film, and television audiences began their love Affair with Paul Lynde at the Number One Fifth Avenue, where he received his first break: He was a stand-up comedian. Then came Leonard Sillman's New Faces Of 1952 on Broadway (which also launched the careers of Lynde's Bewitched costars Alice Pearce and Alice Ghostley, as well as Eartha Kitt, Carol Lawrence, and others).A two-year TV run on The Ferry Come Show followed, as did Broadway and film versions of Bye Bye Birdie (1963), which featured Lynde's rousing rendition of the tune Kids.
Before his untimely death from a heart attack in January 1982, Paul appeared in summer stock stage productions of The Impossible Years, Don't Drink the Water, and Plaza Suite. He was in the 1954 movie version of New Faces (with Alice Ghostley), and in the films Send Me No Flowers (1964) and Rabbit Test (1978).
Besides bewitching the TV world as Uncle Arthur, Lynde graced the small screen on The Dean Martin Show, The Kraft Music Hall, The Donny and Marie Show, and daytime and primetime editions of the popular game show Hollywood Squares, where for years he occupied the center square (many times coguesting with Elizabeth Montgomery).
Lynde also starred in two series of his own: The Paul Lynde
Show and The New Temperature's Rising Show, both of which were produced by William Asher, who had directed him in the Beach Blanket Bingo feature of 1965 and, of course, Bewitched. The flamboyant performer made several stage appearances before and after his stint as Sam's warlock relation, in which he appeared with Elizabeth Montgomery's mother, Elizabeth Allen (Mother Is Engaged), and Alice Ghostley (Stop, Thief Stop).
With tongue in cheek, he handled his success well.
"I always had delusions of grandeur," the actor told an interviewer in 1974. "As far back as I can remember, I was obsessed with being rich and famous.
Lynde was born and raised in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and was a graduate of Northwestern University. He lived his formative years in the Mount Vernon jail, where his father was sheriff for a two-year elective term.
Paul dated his original urge to become an actor from the time he was four or five years old. Shortly after the birth of a younger brother, his mother took him to see the original version of Ben Hur in 1926.
As he said in 1974, "I was movie-struck then, and I am movie-struck now.  What A Character! Uncle Arthur was in only 10 episodes out of the BW's 254 episodes but he made such an appearance each time it seemed that he was in much, much more.
Arthur, brother to Endora, only admits it when he's forced to. Arhur is definately the prankster in the family. Always up to a trick. When his feet are killing him, his feet have that are shooting him. But he loves his niece Samantha, and was also one of the few who open to the idea of Sammi marrying a mortal. He'd always stand by Samantha's side against Endora or even to the witches council when Sam lost her powers. Arthur's love interest include a witch named Aretha out did not like Arthur's practical joking. Arthur does occasionally mix up his spells, perhaps he's use to doing the funny spells on purpouse that when he tries a serious spell it screws up! Gotta love Arthur. |
