Uncle Al's Showcase in the Sky

November 27, 2009 1:13 PM

Al Alberts, beloved Philadelphia broadcaster, singer and composer, has passed away.

Alberts' career began with The Four Aces, a group he founded with fellow Navy officer Dave Mahoney. The group famously recorded "Three Coins in the Fountain," which hit #1 in 1954, and the Academy Award-winning "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." Alberts went on to host Al Alberts Showcase,, a Saturday afternoon show that is credited with helping launch the careers of Andrea McArdle, Sister Sledge, Teddy Pendergrass, and Jarrod Spector. On the show, Alberts regularly sang "On the Way to Cape May." He is survived by his wife, two sons and a grandson.

posted by sjuhawk31 (15 comments total)

I'm a life long Philadelphian and sort of grew up watching him, but the whole kiddy songfest always creeped me out a little. The Four Aces were cool, so

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for Al.
posted by fixedgear at 1:20 PM on November 27, 2009

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And someone quick check on Larry Ferrari.
posted by sexymofo at 1:27 PM on November 27, 2009

Larry Ferrari is still dead. Sally Star?
posted by fixedgear at 1:29 PM on November 27, 2009

Like many people in the Delaware Valley, I watchedf "Al Alberts Showcase" on Channel 6. Every Saturday morning, he'd introduce you to the 'teenyboppers and showstoppers" of the area and give them their chance to shine on local television through song and dance. In between the acts, Al would sit down with the littlest kids, the "teeny boppers" and they'd tell Uncle Al their corniest jokes.

I'm sure my memories are better than the realities, but the star inside me so desperately wanted to be on the show. I even had a song picked out, too. I was set on using "Coward of the County" by Kenny Rogers. Of course, it wasn't until years later that I realized what the song was really about. I'm not sure why someone didn't tell me then that a song that featured gang rape was inappropriate for a show that usually featured showtunes and standards.
posted by inturnaround at 1:46 PM on November 27, 2009

Ah, Al Alberts. The opening credits to your variety show was a signal that Saturday Morning Cartoons were over, and that it was time to turn off the TV. Farewell, you indelible marker of my childhood.
posted by mkultra at 1:48 PM on November 27, 2009 [3 favorites]

aw, man, Al Alberts. Like mkultra, I remember his show delineating the end of Saturday morning cartoons. I remember him being absolutely ancient when I was quite tiny -- another I thought might have passed away some time ago. Happy memories.

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posted by kalimac at 1:53 PM on November 27, 2009

I thought he was already dead.
posted by SansPoint at 2:40 PM on November 27, 2009

Whoa - major flashback, and

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posted by mozhet at 3:36 PM on November 27, 2009

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posted by emperor.seamus at 4:35 PM on November 27, 2009

Aw, RIP Al Alberts. I remember checking out his variety show now and then, soon after my family moved to Philly in the late '80s. It was absolute treacle, but strangely compelling too.
posted by medeine at 6:08 PM on November 27, 2009

When I was a kid and we would visit my grandparents in Philadelphia (making the long-ass drive down from the Poconos -- man, the drives down were sweet but the return trip sucked noodles), I used to spend my Sunday mornings stealing the tv supplements out of the Inquirer and the Bulletin to read the letters to the editor, a/k/a "Viewer's Views." I'm trying not to get all LOLCORNYOLDPEOPLE here, but I still remember someone writing to the Inky about Al Alberts' Showcase, and how thankful s/he was for Quality Clean Programming, and not all this Godless Immoral Filth. What stuck with me, though, long enough that I can still see it --and quote it -- over 30 years later, is: "Thanks to Al Alberts, one thing comes to mind about the Delaware Valley, and that word is TALENT." As the Philadelphia relatives would say, that's beauty-full.

I know, I know, I'm a smartass. And he did help launch the careers of Andrea McArdle and Teddy Pendergrass, and that's pretty neat. But every time I saw Showcase, I usually saw something like the act where half a dozen teenage girls dressed up like Playboy Bunnies and tap-danced to "The Bunny Hop." (That word is TALENT.)

Sigh. Bye, Al. Snark aside, you *were* strangely compelling, and the world is a little less weird without you in it, and that's a shame.

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posted by bakerina at 7:35 PM on November 27, 2009

My Italian immigrant grandmother lived for this and Lawrence Welk.
posted by The Straightener at 7:48 PM on November 27, 2009

I still remember the terrible jokes the kids used to tell and Uncle Al's befuddled look as he tried to understand them.

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posted by Mael Oui at 7:49 PM on November 27, 2009

Also, every time I see a heavily made-up eight year-old singing 'Ain't She Sweet,' I think of Uncle Al.
posted by Mael Oui at 7:59 PM on November 27, 2009

I'm maybe less embarrassed than I should be to admit it, but I was on the show (as part of a group) in the 90s. I had forgotten about it entirely until I saw this post and remembered growing up watching the show and a little bit about being on it. So, thanks.

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posted by cacophony at 12:30 AM on November 28, 2009