By Mary Ann Bourbeau
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – When “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” was based in New York City, it was up to John Lollos to book the guests. In 1965, he scheduled actor and singer Ed Ames for an appearance that resulted in one of the most memorable moments in the show’s history. Ames was a member of the singing group The Ames Brothers, who had previously performed on the show. At the time, Ames had a role on the television series “Daniel Boone” playing Mingo, a Cherokee tribesman. He requested a spot on “The Tonight Show,” and Lollos asked if he could do anything besides sing. Ames said that because of his role on “Daniel Boone,” he had become quite adept at throwing a tomahawk. During his appearance, Ames threw the tomahawk at a silhouette of a cowboy on a plywood panel, hitting the cowboy directly in the groin with the handle pointing up.
“The audience went nuts,” said Lollos. “It was the longest recorded laugh by a studio audience in television history.”
Lollos, a 25-year resident of Atlantic Highlands, is now casting for another show called “Love & Let Love,” his original musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” The show ran Off-Broadway at the Sheridan Square Theatre in 1969.
“‘Twelfth Night’ is an absolutely charming love story,” said Lollos. “It’s a delightful play that I cut to allow for 16 songs.”
Lollos wrote the show in 1968 as his master’s thesis while studying at Hunter College in New York City.
“I had directed‘Twelfth Night’ once before, which is where I got the idea,” he said.
Lollos wrote the lyrics with Don Christopher. The score was written by Stanley Gelber, who had written songs for Elvis Presley, among others.
“It’s a lovely score,” said Lollos.
The production will be staged in the gallery space at the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council building at 54 First Avenue. Local artist Jose Arvello, who works mainly with reclaimed wood pieces, created the artwork in the gallery and will also create the set for “Love & Let Love,” carrying a similar theme throughout the space.
Lollos is currently seeking to fill 11 roles – Countess Olivia; Viola; Captain: Count Orsino; Sir Toby Belch; Maria: Sir Andrew; Feste the Clown; Malvolio the steward; Antonio the faithful friar; and Sebastian. Rehearsals will begin later this month with performances scheduled for late October or early November. Lollos spent many years working in television, producing more than 2,000 programs for network, cable and syndication. He began his career as a page for NBC and worked his way up to vice president of program promotion. He later started his own production company, where he created many television shows, including “The Dr. Ruth Show,” starring Dr. Ruth Westheimer.
“She was a big hit on the radio and my agent said she wanted to meet with me,” said Lollos. “She’s absolutely charming and such a gifted therapist. We did 500 shows together. It was a lot of fun because she’s a lot of fun.”
Over the years, Lollos worked with many stars such as Jack Benny, Alfred Hitchcock, Bob Hope, George Burns and Gilbert Gottfried. He even did 40 shows with Howard Stern.
“I didn’t think working with Howard was a good fit but I met him and we got along great,” said Lollos. “He’s a very nice man. I said I would do it with two stipulations: I would never go on his radio program and he would never talk about me.”
Lollos’ other television credits include “National Lampoon’s Lemmings,” “The Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Sid Caesar Reunion” and the CBS sitcom “The Recovery Room.” He received an Emmy nomination for producing “The Cradle Will Rock,” a musical starring Patti LuPone and John Houseman. He also wrote the comedy “Mr. Goldwyn” starring Alan King, which ran at the Promenade Theater in New York City, and he wrote and directed a documentary based on the life of actor and singer Theodore Bikel.
When he and his wife Ginger decided to downsize, they discovered Atlantic Highlands. With ferry service to Manhattan and a place to dock his sailboat, the location fit the bill. He also joined the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council. “The Arts Council has been a remarkable success,” he said. “It’s a fabulous thing for the town.” Auditions for “Love & Let Love” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, 54 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands. Photos and résumé may be emailed to jlollos@comcast.net or call 732-872-2020 for more information.
Arts and entertainment reporter Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@tworivertimes.com.
