FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE: NATIONAL LAMPOON LEMMINGS (1973) John Belushi Chevy Chase Christopher Guest

National Lampoon's Lemmings, a spinoff of the humor magazine National Lampoon, was a 1973 stage show which helped launch the performing careers of John Belushi, Christopher Guest, and Chevy Chase. The show was co-directed by Tony Hendra and Paul Jacobs. The show opened at the Village Gate on January 25, 1973, and ran for 350 performances.

The first half of the show was sketch comedy; the second half was a mock rock festival

Welcome to the Woodchuck Festival: Three Days of Peace, Love, and Death; plus band introductions throughout- John Belushi

Freud, Marx, Engels, and Jung, performing Lemmings Lament - a parody of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (referred to in performance as Freud, Pavlov, Adler, and Jung); as well as the songs Woodstock, Long Time Gone, among others

Bob Dylan, performing "Positively Wall Street," a parody of several of his styles, with the title taken from "Positively 4th Street"- Christopher Guest

Goldie Oldie, a parody of old, 1950s-style performers, performing "Pizza Man," a parody of the teen tragedy songs- Alice Playten

John Denver, performing "Colorado"- Chevy Chase

Joan Baez, performing "Pull the Triggers, Niggers," a parody of her protest songs and of Dylan's song George Jackson, in particular- Mary Jenifer Mitchell (later replaced by Rhonda Coullet)

Joe Cocker, "Lonely at the Bottom"- Belushi as Cocker, Paul Jacobs as Leon Russell on piano.

James Taylor, "Highway Toes"- Christopher Guest

The Motown Manifestos singing "Papa was a Running Dog Lackey of the Bourgeoisie," with most of its lines taken from The Communist Manifesto

Donovan, "Nirvana Banana"- Peter Elbling (later addition to the show)

Joni Mitchell, "I Do For You"- Alice Playten (replaced by Rhonda Coullet)

Farmer Yassir (parody of Max Yasgur, owner of the land on which Woodstock was held), greeting the audience - Gary Goodrow

Megadeath, a parody of heavy metal groups, who end their act by turning the amps so loud that the audience dies

"Jackie Christ, Superstar," a parody of Jesus Christ, Superstar. Jesus is a stand up comedian, with John Belushi playing King Herod

"Deteriorata" a Tony Hendra parody of Les Crane's recording of Desiderata

"Defeat Day" - a parody of America's first military defeat in the Vietnam War. "Put all your troubles in a nickle bag and smile, smile, smile."

The Rolling Stones Parody, which Alice Playten playing "Mick Jagger"

Cast included: John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Garry Goodrow (from The Commitee), Christopher Guest, Paul Jacobs, Mary-Jenifer Mitchell, Alice Playten

 Playwrights: P. J. O'Rourke, David Axelrod, Douglas Kenney, Anne Beatts, Tony Hendra, John Boni, Henry Beard

Composers: Paul Jacobs, Christopher Guest

Lyricists: P. J. O'Rourke, David Axelrod, Doug Kenney, Anne Beatts, Tony Hendra, John Boni, Henry Beard, Sean Kelly

THE NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LEMMINGS: DEAD IN CONCERT

FULL SHOW

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ED SPRINGSTEAD, JR.