Sifter
America’s 1st Black/white comedy team
Tim Reid is probably best known as Venus Flytrap on the hit sitcom WKRP in Cincinatti, but he and his wife Daphne Maxwell Reid have lived in Virginia for many years. In the 60s, Tim and Tom Dreesen formed America’s first Black/white comedy duo, Tim and Tom. After they split up, Tom went on to a career that included more than 500 TV appearances and numerous tours, including 13 years as the opening act for Frank Sinatra. He’s coming to Richmond on July 15 as a fundraiser for the Reid’s Legacy Media Institute, but we covered all sorts of stuff before he gets here.
– How they started together in a school anti-drug program
– The audience and industry reactions to Tim & Tom
– Incredible stories about still being recognized
– Tim & Daphne met on a Sears commercial
– How they ended up in Virginia
– Founding New Millennium Studios
– Why create the Legacy Media Institute
– Tom’s first appearance on The Johnny Carson Show
– Witnessing Frank Sinatra pass out at his Richmond concert
LINKS:
Tim and Tom An American Comedy in Black and White (Amazon)
Tickets for Tom Dreesen, An Evening of Laughter & Memories of Sinatra (July 15)
Jai Jamison’s podcast
Richmond Film Network Screenwirters’ Lab