Bob Dylan – The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
1964 Bob Dylan appearance on the Steve Allen show, now thankfully in public domain status. Forgive the poor picture quality, this kinescope is from the early pre-videotape television era. For those who don’t know, early television programming many times was simply shot with regular TV cameras and broadcast live, leaving no permanent copy for future showings. The only way to preserve a show was to shoot it on film . The extra expense of that was usually reserved for series programming (I Love Lucy, etc.). Generally news, game shows, variety hours, and talk shows were simply broadcast once live. Unfilmed shows exist today through kinescopes that were made at time of broadcast. A kinescope was made by aiming a motion picture film camera directly at a studio monitor, like camcording your TV screen. Networks would contract with several outside private companies whose sole business was filming shows off TV screens to create kinescope copies. Cheaper than filming a show in the studio but at the expense of picture quality. Okay, history lesson over. Enjoy this rare performance from the Steve Allen Westinghouse Show which ran late nights from 1962-1964. In the clip, Steve conducts a brief interview with a very young Bob Dylan who was just starting his career. He then introduces him to the live studio audience and Dylan performs a killer version of Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll. Trivia note: Check out the shots of the studio audience. This was when people got dressed up to go …
“Dylan definitly embelished on the truth- the correct use of artistic license” — LIES, BULLSHIT & Not True: I CHALLENGE YOU to FIND ANYTHING IN THIS SONG THAT IS UNTRUE OR “EMBELLISHED” “Now is the time for your tears. . .”I.E.: a poor black woman died by the insanity of a a rich white man? where is there room for you to argue? TELL US, O Wonderful Historian: WHERE HAS DYLAN “EMBELLISHED?” — U?Some kind of Racist Moron? Who Cannot Deal With The Pathetic Price of Segregtion?
@buffyporson1
The song is very inaccurate, but there’s no getting around how great it is. And it’s hard to feel sorry for the guy even if Dylan did make a lot of shit up. Zantzinger was still a giant douchebag,
Got to be one of the best ever Dylan songs. Never fails to move me, especially the last verse. Could be told of so many similar cases. Its worth looking up what actually happened to Hattie Carroll and W. Zanzinger. Dylan definitly embelished on the truth- the correct use of artistic license, in my opinion.
Although it was very hard on the hattie’s children, William Zanzinger has lived out his olden yrs. a very miserable, unhappy, wretched, asshole. He has gotten what he deserves in this world, hopefully GOD has something more severe for him in the next life. RIP Hattie Carroll. A great woman murdered far too soon
most underatted dylan song
great commentry.
@Horwitz86 the truth has no bad time to be told.
this man is a genius who knew just what 2 say to make us listen LONG LIVE BOB DYLAN!!!!!
@azalbar
was…
does it strike anyone as wrong that a song with such a message should be aired on this sorta talk show. dont get me wrong im glad it was broadcasted so i can see it now but doesnt it seem improper to be sitting with popcorn and the kids listening to a womans murderer escape??
Rock on brother.
that bar is perfectly blurring out dylans hands on his guitar.
Correct! Dylan does not take any shit from the media and will never be pinned down. He’s his own person.
Brilliant, thanks for sharing
Heavens!
could you imagine hearing this back then when there was nothing close to anything like it not that anything is now but damn
Absolutely out of this world. This man is so talented its hard for the human mind to understand. I wonder if he understand himself.
The girl tearing up in the audience they show for a couple seconds is insanely beautiful.
“And you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fear….”
That is probably one of my favorite dylan quotes….
For decades I heard this song without knowing the details behind it (although the basic message is clear enough: clearer than most Dylan songs!). Now in the age of Google and Wikipedia, the background is revealed by a few key strokes. Some historical facts are altered or simplified in the song, but its key point about injustice and shame remains valid. A classic example of how effective free speech can be against bigotry, cruelty, and apathy. Protests and trial verdicts fade. A song is forever.
I wouldn’t go as far as calling him a arrogant prick. He just refuses to go along with the media and play their game. Watch some videos of him with fans and then watch him in press conferences and interviews.
honesty
OH MY GOD … I’m crying …
What were/will you guys have done/will do at 22?
And he wrote this when he was 22….