Wiere Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Wiere Brothers were a comedy team who appeared in 1930s and 1940s films, and as live performers from the 1920s to the late 1960s.
The names of the three brothers were:
, Road to Rio
in 1947 with Bob Hope
and Bing Crosby
, and Double Trouble in 1967 as three detectives on the hunt for Elvis Presley
. In 1962, the Wiere Brothers had their own TV series called "Oh, Those Bells!" that aired on CBS
. The show was created by Jules White
who had previously directed The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton
, and Andy Clyde
in short-subject films for Columbia Pictures
. "Oh, Those Bells!" included a lot of slapstick
comedy but only 13 episodes were aired. The team was still appearing on television in 1970 on shows such as "The Merv Griffin Show
" and "Laugh-In" and were still touring the same year. But after Sylvester's death in July 1970, Harry and Herbert Wiere discontinued their act. Harry Wiere did make one appearance on the TV series Bionic Woman
in 1976 as the Tipsy Man.
One of their popular acts of the 1960s involved the three brothers playing the violin
, guitar
and bass fiddle. Herbert would try to do a serious number on the violin but would get frustrated with his brothers' hillbilly
antics. With a shrug, Herbert would stop playing and decide to balance the violin on his chin. Harry would then notice Herbert's accomplishment and would take the guitar and balance it on his chin. This left Sylvester smiling blandly at the audience, still plucking his bass fiddle. When Sylvester sees Herbert and Harry balancing their instruments on their chins, he would do a long take, turning from his brothers to his huge bass fiddle and then back at them. Then, finally Sylvester would lift the bass fiddle in the air and balance it on his chin for the finale.
Inga Wiere, a sister of Herbert, Harry and Sylvester Wiere, was married to dancer Jon Zerby. Together they were known as The Dancing Zerbys, a successful nightclub act in the 1940s and 1950s. Actress and dancer Kim Darby
is their daughter.
The names of the three brothers were:
- Harry Wiere, (June 23, 1906 - January 15, 1992)
- Herbert Wiere, (February 27, 1908 - August 5, 1999)
- Sylvester Wiere, (September 17, 1909 - July 7, 1970)
Biography
The Wiere Brothers were vaudeville performers who occasionally appeared in films and television. Their films include Hands Across the Border in 1944 with Roy RogersRoy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
, Road to Rio
Road to Rio
Road to Rio is a 1947 comedy film, directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Bing Crosby as Scat Sweeney, Bob Hope as "Hot Lips" Barton, and Dorothy Lamour as Lucia Maria de Andrade. It was the fifth of the "Road to …" series.-Plot:...
in 1947 with Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, and Double Trouble in 1967 as three detectives on the hunt for Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. In 1962, the Wiere Brothers had their own TV series called "Oh, Those Bells!" that aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. The show was created by Jules White
Jules White
Jules White born Julius Weiss was a film director and producer best known for his short-subject comedies starring the Three Stooges.-Early years:...
who had previously directed The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
, and Andy Clyde
Andy Clyde
Andy Clyde was a Scottish movie and TV actor whose career spanned more than four decades. He broke into silent films in 1925 as a Mack Sennett comic...
in short-subject films for Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. "Oh, Those Bells!" included a lot of slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
comedy but only 13 episodes were aired. The team was still appearing on television in 1970 on shows such as "The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
" and "Laugh-In" and were still touring the same year. But after Sylvester's death in July 1970, Harry and Herbert Wiere discontinued their act. Harry Wiere did make one appearance on the TV series Bionic Woman
Bionic Woman
Bionic Woman may refer to:* The Bionic Woman, a television series that aired from 1976 to 1978 on ABC and NBC** Jaime Sommers , the main character* Bionic Woman , a 2007 remake of the series on NBC...
in 1976 as the Tipsy Man.
One of their popular acts of the 1960s involved the three brothers playing the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and bass fiddle. Herbert would try to do a serious number on the violin but would get frustrated with his brothers' hillbilly
Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
antics. With a shrug, Herbert would stop playing and decide to balance the violin on his chin. Harry would then notice Herbert's accomplishment and would take the guitar and balance it on his chin. This left Sylvester smiling blandly at the audience, still plucking his bass fiddle. When Sylvester sees Herbert and Harry balancing their instruments on their chins, he would do a long take, turning from his brothers to his huge bass fiddle and then back at them. Then, finally Sylvester would lift the bass fiddle in the air and balance it on his chin for the finale.
Inga Wiere, a sister of Herbert, Harry and Sylvester Wiere, was married to dancer Jon Zerby. Together they were known as The Dancing Zerbys, a successful nightclub act in the 1940s and 1950s. Actress and dancer Kim Darby
Kim Darby
Kim Darby is an American actress perhaps best known for co-starring with John Wayne and country singer/actor Glen Campbell in the 1969 western True Grit.-Early life and film career:...
is their daughter.
Films
- Variety Hour (1937)
- Vogues of 1938Vogues of 1938Vogues of 1938 is a 1937 musical film distributed by United Artists, directed by Irving Cummings, written by Bella Spewack and Sam Spewack, and starring by Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett...
(1937) - The Great American BroadcastThe Great American BroadcastThe Great American Broadcast is a 1941 musical comedy film directed by Archie Mayo. It stars Alice Faye and John Payne.-Cast:*Alice Faye as Vicki Adams*John Payne as Rix Martin*Jack Oakie as Chuck Hadley*Cesar Romero as Bruce Chadwick...
(1941) - Swing Shift MaisieSwing Shift MaisieSwing Shift Maisie is a 1943 romantic comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod. It is the seventh in a series of ten films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie, preceded by Maisie Gets Her Man and followed by Maisie Goes to Reno...
(1943) - Hands Across the BorderHands Across the BorderHands Across the Border is a 1944 American film American film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers.- Cast :*Roy Rogers as Roy Rogers*Trigger as Trigger, Adams' horse*Ruth Terry as Kim Adams*Guinn "Big Boy" Williams as Teddy Bear...
(1944) - Showboat Serenade (1944)
- Take It or Leave It (1944) (includes clip from The Great American Broadcast)
- Road to RioRoad to RioRoad to Rio is a 1947 comedy film, directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Bing Crosby as Scat Sweeney, Bob Hope as "Hot Lips" Barton, and Dorothy Lamour as Lucia Maria de Andrade. It was the fifth of the "Road to …" series.-Plot:...
(1947) - Double Trouble (1967)
Television
- Ford Festival (1951)
- Toast Of The Town aka The Ed Sullivan Show (1953)
- The Bing Crosby Special (1954)
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1955)
- Producers' Showcase: Rosalinda (1956)
- Toast Of The Town aka The Ed Sullivan Show (1957)
- The Garry Moore Show (1959)
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1960)
- The Perry Como Show (1960)
- Oh Those Bells (CBS) (1962) (13 episodes)
- The Hollywood Palace (1964)
- The Sammy Davis Jr. Show (1966)
- Rowan And Martin's Laugh In (1969)
- The Bionic Woman: Mirror Image (NBC) (1976) (Harry Wiere appears as Tipsy Man)
Oh, Those Bells!
- Forget Me Nuts (3/7/1962)
- Unfriendly Friendship Club (3/12/1962)
- Murder In The Jungle (3/20/1962)
- Money Mix-Up aka Movie Money (3/21/1962)
- Seal Of Approval (4/2/1962)
- Too Many Spooks (4/9/1962)
- Monkey Sitters (4/16/1962)
- The Wallet (4/23/1962)
- Ma Scarlet (4/30/1962)
- Short Change (5/7/1962)
- Mexican Holiday (5/14/1962)
- Scratched Fender (5/21/1962)
- Camping Trip (5/28/1962)