Just Who Is Bud Young? (Or, I Thought You'd Never Ask)

By: Bud Young

In a few words, I am the ultimate "Been there - done that" man.

It began in grade school when, one day, I was a soprano singing Christmas carols in the hall, then poof, puberty hit me in the middle of "Silent Night," and I became a baritone.

Next off to High school as a pantomime comedian and cheerleader concentrating on female sopranos as super puberty took over. At seventeen years of age I enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aerial gunner on PBY patrol bombers, and also was a singer/comedian with the Tex Beneke (Glen Miller) orchestra.

Honorably discharged, and still in one piece. I attended the De Paul University School of Drama in Chicago, Illinois, where some of my classmates comprised of names such as Shelley Berman, Geraldine Page, Betsy Palmer, and Charlton Heston.

I started tending bar at Jump Town, the first jazz joint in Chicago and worked up to be the opening comedy act for Anita O'Day, Sarah Vaugn, Jackie Cain and Roy Kral and Frankie Laine. The owner of Jump Town decided to advertise on television, (bear in mind that there were only 5,000 sets in Chicago.) He gave my partner and I the challenge of performing on TV advertising his club.

In 1948, infant TV in Chicago boasted only three live shows at station WBKB: "Wrestling From Rainbow," "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie" and the "Bud Young/Richy Victor Show." This was all live television and actors were hard to come by.

Many times after our rehearsals, I would go behind the puppet show screen and sing duets with Creator Burrti Lstrom who sang as Kukla, and I sang as Ollie, the one - toothed Dragon. Oh, there were some magnificent goofs back then when TV was live and oh so very young. We were on TV before Milton Berle and Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis.

Now as they say, "Time marches on", so here we go:

  • Amateur Hour Contestant (2 wins)
  • U.S. Mailman
  • Social Activities Director at a Dude Ranch
  • Bartender (again)
  • Dance Instructor
  • Liquor Store Manager
  • Insurance Salesman
  • Vocalist with orchestra (again)
  • Night Club Owner (The Rue-Lette)
  • Fast Draw Expert (with John Wayne and Clint Eastwood)
  • Western Show Team leader ("Lightning Bud Young and his Gun Fighters")
  • Magazine Publisher (Gunsmoke Gazette)
  • Industrial Salesman (the best)
  • Self Employed (the worst)
  • Karaoke DJ (Bombay Bicycle Club in Santa Ana)
  • Night Club Singer
  • Stand Up Comic
  • Husband to 4, Father to 3, Grandfather to 4 and Great Grand father to???
  • Staff Writer for San Diego Scene.

    Just as few words:

    Miscellaneous points of interest:

    Hunting, fishing, golfing, archery, dancing, making love, making conversation or making conversation then making love, crossword puzzle aficionado.

    Now, for the more intimate details: I have had, am having, or plan to have: Quadruple By-Pass, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Prostate Cancer, Gall Bladder Removal, Hernia Repair, Skin Carcinoma Removal , Two Heart Failures, Heart Attack, a Bout of Gout, Hearing Impaired, and Bi-focal glasses.

    If you have any more questions as to who I am, send an email to keepittoyourself@ihave enoughproblems.thanksforasking.!!

    Historically & hysterically Yours,

    Bud Young