Ernie Anderson and Tim Conway were lifelong friends after they met at KYW-TV in Cleveland and later worked at WJW-TV. Both had a tremendous sense of comedic timing and while Anderson had the voice, Conway had the look and sense of naivete and that made them both stars. On a promotional trip to Cleveland to promote the Dick Van Dyke Show, comedienne Rose Marie saw the two and recommended them to Steve Allen. Not needing another straight man, Allen gave Conway a shot in Hollywood while Anderson stayed at WJW. He, of course, made his indelible mark on local TV as Ghoulardi while Conway would become famous as Ensign Parker on McHale’s Navy. When that show ended and while considering other offers, Conway and Anderson met up once again and in 1967 recorded the first of two comedy albums for Liberty Records. To get a sense of their on-mic chemistry, check out this rare black and white video that was taped for Bowling Green State University’s student TV station before a live audience.
