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Larry Merchant of HBO Sports once described one of boxing's top fighters as being "like a great actor, a scene stealer, someone to whom your eyes are naturally drawn". I had my first experience with such a performer on a Tuesday night in October, 1966. I was watching "The Red Skelton Hour". "Jay And The Americans" were that evenings musical guest. They were performing their hit, "Come A Little Bit Closer", a favorite song of mine about a man who encounters a very attractive woman in a cafe just south of the Mexican-U.S. border. I'd always envisioned the character in the song as a Mexican woman with dark hair and eyes but my attention was immediately drawn to a dancer with short, blonde hair. I can't say if any of the other dancers more closely resembled the character I'd envisioned because my eyes never left the dancer with the short, blonde hair. I watched her perform in ensuing weeks, her beauty, athleticism, intensity, sense of humor, and charisma combining to make me a dedicated fan. She was, "a scene stealer, someone to whom your eyes are naturally drawn". On November 7, 1967, I learned her name when Mr. Skelton introduced that evening's musical guest who turned out to be none other than my favorite dancer. According to newspaper reports, when Kathy arrived for rehearsal the day before taping, she learned that Joey Heatherton, who had been scheduled to sing and dance "Blues In The Night", was too ill to perform. Choreographer Tom Hansen suggested to producer Seymour Berns that Kathy may be able to fill the spot. Mr. Hansen was aware that Kathy had spent a year's hiatus from the Skelton show singing with "The Good Time Singers" and was confident she could handle the slot but the decision was not his alone to make. Kathy had to learn the song's lyrics and audition for Mr. Berns, special material writer Jack Lloyd, and Mr. Skelton himself. In addition, she had to learn Ms. Heatherton's dance routine and, should she secure the spot, wardrobe would have to put together a costume for her. All that was accomplished, she did the show, and her performance prompted many positive reviews. Among them were the AP's Cynthia Lowery who wrote, "Miss Gale, a cute blonde, is an excellent dancer, and was interesting to watch since she was dancing in a style which has become the trademark of the exuberant Miss Heatherton. She did very well." Even more impressed was Bob Noble of The Winnipeg Free Press. "The kid proved she was fit and ready for the big production number. She went before the cameras and was so great that her name spread quickly to all corners of television where it might be important. You might have seen her-she's Kathy Gale-and the word is out that she's headed for some top spots next season." Syndicated columnist Jack O'Brian wrote, "Joey Heatherton got the flu, couldn't even open her mouth, so Red called Kathy Gale out of the chorus line to sub, just like the old Busby Berkeley picture plots, and now Kathy's spiralling out as a hot new star prospect...Even as Joey once glittered out of The Perry Como Show's ensemble." A little more than a year later Kathy left "The Red Skelton Hour" in January of 1969 to hook up with Kevin Carlisle and Lorene Yarnell forming "The Kevin Carlisle Three" on the satirical variety show, "What's It All About World?", starring Dean Jones. Captures, video and information about "What's It All About World?" can be accessed by following the link on your left. Video of Kathy Gale performing with "The Tom Hansen Dancers" can be accessed by clicking on any of the images on your left. If you have any more information about Kathy Gale's career, please email me.
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