RIP Joe Franklin

January 31, 2015 6:03 PM

He held the world record for the longest-running talk show in history, interviewing everyone from notables to nobodies from 1950 to 1993, continuing to work on NYC radio up until his death. He was an early advocate of film preservation and got his start selling jokes to the likes of Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson.

Joe Franklin has died at age 88.

Notable interviews:


The Ramones
Bob Hope
Spinal Tap
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Space Ghost: Coast-to-Coast
NPR Interview

posted by dr_dank (22 comments total)

Fresh Air remembers Joe Franklin. In 1988, Franklin talked with Terry Gross.
posted by spock at 7:09 PM on January 31, 2015

I remember litening to Memory Lane on WOR back in the 70s.

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posted by ZenMasterThis at 7:28 PM on January 31, 2015

"Brought to you by Matzohs by Streiss: for the Unleavant Experience of a Lifetime... and this new denture cream called Stick 'Til Dawn."
posted by prepmonkey at 7:56 PM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

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posted by Cash4Lead at 7:58 PM on January 31, 2015

What a guy. Absolutely the opposite of the snark so prevalent today, and what longevity. Plus, he would > as the selection above shows < happily talk to people like the Weird Als as readily as the more conventional Bob Hope types.

I hope he enjoyed the gig; it sure seemed like he did.
posted by LeLiLo at 8:38 PM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

used to watch his show on cable. here's King Diamond

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posted by Ironmouth at 9:30 PM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

I spent a great deal of time in my youth watching Joe on a small black and white TV set I found in the basement and moved to my room to watch the 4:30 movie on ABC in the afternoons. I discovered Joe on channel 9.

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posted by 724A at 9:33 PM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

So long Joe, I know you're interviewing God right now.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:56 PM on January 31, 2015

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posted by From Bklyn at 11:12 PM on January 31, 2015

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My great aunt(a minor actress in the 30s) was one of his interviewees. I met him at her 90th birthday.
posted by brujita at 11:51 PM on January 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

When I was a teen, I thought for sure his show was some sort of comedy routine that I just didn't get so I watched him a bunch trying to get the joke. Turns out I just didn't get that it wasn't a comedy routine. A very pleasant man. Godspeed, Mr. Franklin.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:36 AM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

.

Farewell, my friend.
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:18 AM on February 1, 2015

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posted by condour75 at 5:36 AM on February 1, 2015

Tommy Ardolino on The Joe Franklin Show
posted by bonefish at 7:05 AM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

So long Joe, I know you're interviewing God right now.

...Along with Al (Grandpa) Lewis and some insurance salesman who was on line in front of him at the Pearly Gates:

"And Leonard Katz, what's your opinion on All of Creation? Are you a big fan of the Holy One, Blessed be He, over here?"
posted by PlusDistance at 7:59 AM on February 1, 2015 [3 favorites]

During his time as a Saturday Night Live cast member in the 1980s, Billy Crystal did a Joe Franklin Show sketch. The first time I saw it, I thought well, it's funny, but it could be any amusing radio guy, not necessarily Joe Franklin. And then he did the rundown of show sponsors, and as soon as he said (in a rapid-fire monotone) "Martin Paint, Martin Paint: It Ain't Just Paint," I thought yeah, THAT's Joe Franklin.

Like Joey Michaels, I tuned in for what I thought would be the comedy, and stayed for the utter sincerity that Mr. Franklin brought to every show. Goodbye, sir. May you have an afterlifetime supply of Chock Full O'Nuts, that heavenly coffee, a better coffee a millionaire's money can't buy.

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posted by bakerina at 8:50 AM on February 1, 2015 [3 favorites]

Thanks for the post; he was a part of the New York I left and that is increasingly leaving itself. RIP, Joe.
posted by languagehat at 9:10 AM on February 1, 2015 [4 favorites]

I was wondering when someone would post this. My boss was interviewed by him once or twice, actually.

RIP.
posted by jonmc at 9:18 AM on February 1, 2015

Wierd Al & Victoria Jackson sing "My Generation" on the Joe Franklin Show
(Note--in antique .mpg format)
Get it now--I won't leave it up for long.
posted by hexatron at 10:04 AM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

50,000,000 Joe Franklin Fans Can't Be Wrong (part 1 or 5):
posted by old_growler at 6:55 PM on February 1, 2015

His office needs to be enshrined.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:38 PM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

Good men are dropping like flies.

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posted by Kinbote at 9:03 PM on February 2, 2015