Yellow Dog (Variety)
Encyclopedia
Gula Hund is a Swedish
variety show
that had its première the 5 July 1964 on Chinateatern
in Stockholm
. It was written by Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson
and directed by Tage. Both of the writers starred in various roles.
It was the second of "three dog-revues" (so called because they all have "dog" in their name). The first one being Gröna Hund
(Green Dog) and the third and last one was Svea hund
.
, Birgitta Andersson
, Lissi Alandh, Sonya Hedenbratt, Gösta Ekman
, Mille Schmidt, Stefan Böhm, Arild Eriksen, Gals and Pals
and Gunnar Svenssons kvartett.
The show was built up by sketches and songs, often with satirical humour. Among the more famous sketches are Flykten från Ålderdomshemmet (The escape from the Old Folks Home) in which Hans Alfredsson played a senile old man, the "Pitt" number, where Birgitta Andersson took her husband, played by Gösta Ekman, to the doctor because he couldn't stop saying the word pitt (Swedish slang
for penis) and the Mahatma Ekman number, in which Gösta Ekman portrayed a kind of guru
who claimed that we "have to be friends with the things" only to have every object on stage work against him in a slapstick
number.
The show also contained a number between Tage Danielsson and Lissi Alandh called I Friska Naturn (In The Healthy Nature) also known as Nature Morte. Dressed in 18th-century style clothing they sing a song about a picnic they have in the nature who has been destroyed by toxic and different kinds of pollution
, among them a Nuclear Power
plant. Later in his life, Tage would become a spokesperson against pollution in general and Nuclear Power in particular.
It was filmed for television
in 1966 and has since then been released on DVD
and it is considered a Hasseåtage
classic
.
A shortened, English version called "Yellow Dog" was shown as Sweden's contribution to Montreux
in 1965 were it created both a stir and a lot of raised eyebrows when it was showed.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
that had its première the 5 July 1964 on Chinateatern
Chinateatern
Chinateatern or commonly known as "China" is a private theatre in Stockholm, Sweden, located at Berzelii Park in Stockholm city. Originally built 1928 as a movie theatre but has over the years simultaneously been used as a theatre stage for revues, comedies and musical shows...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. It was written by Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson
Tage Danielsson
Tage Danielsson was a Swedish author, actor, poet and film director. He was born in Linköping and died in Stockholm...
and directed by Tage. Both of the writers starred in various roles.
It was the second of "three dog-revues" (so called because they all have "dog" in their name). The first one being Gröna Hund
Gröna hund
Gröna hund, complete title Gröna Hund på Gröna Lund , was the first variety show produced by AB Svenska Ord. After that the writers/actors Hans Alfredsson and Tage Danielsson became known as Hasseåtage to the Swedish people....
(Green Dog) and the third and last one was Svea hund
Svea hund
Svea hund, complete title Svea Hund på Göta Lejon , was a Swedish variety show produced by AB Svenska Ord...
.
Overview
The show also starred Monica ZetterlundMonica Zetterlund
Eva Monica Zetterlund was a Swedish singer and actress.-Biography:Zetterlund was a singer particularly noted for her jazz work. She began by learning the classic jazz songs from radio and records, initially not knowing the language and what they sang about in English...
, Birgitta Andersson
Birgitta Andersson
Ulla Birgitta Helena Andersson Bye is a Swedish actress and comedian.Andersson is a very popular and well liked actress in Sweden....
, Lissi Alandh, Sonya Hedenbratt, Gösta Ekman
Gösta Ekman
Hans Gösta Gustaf Ekman is a Swedish actor.-Biography:One of Sweden's most appreciated, respected and popular actors; Gösta Ekman started his career in theatre but has also appeared in several Swedish films, including the Jönssonligan series...
, Mille Schmidt, Stefan Böhm, Arild Eriksen, Gals and Pals
Gals and Pals
Gals and Pals was a Swedish vocal group founded in 1962 by Lasse Bagge. The group was active until 1967. The ensemble's first members were, besides Bagge: Kerstin Bagge, Ulla Hallin, Pia Lang, Svante Thuresson, Lepp Sundvall and Beppo Gräsman. Later, members included Monica Dominique, Gillis...
and Gunnar Svenssons kvartett.
The show was built up by sketches and songs, often with satirical humour. Among the more famous sketches are Flykten från Ålderdomshemmet (The escape from the Old Folks Home) in which Hans Alfredsson played a senile old man, the "Pitt" number, where Birgitta Andersson took her husband, played by Gösta Ekman, to the doctor because he couldn't stop saying the word pitt (Swedish slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for penis) and the Mahatma Ekman number, in which Gösta Ekman portrayed a kind of guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
who claimed that we "have to be friends with the things" only to have every object on stage work against him in a 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...
number.
The show also contained a number between Tage Danielsson and Lissi Alandh called I Friska Naturn (In The Healthy Nature) also known as Nature Morte. Dressed in 18th-century style clothing they sing a song about a picnic they have in the nature who has been destroyed by toxic and different kinds of pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, among them a Nuclear Power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
plant. Later in his life, Tage would become a spokesperson against pollution in general and Nuclear Power in particular.
It was filmed for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
in 1966 and has since then been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and it is considered a Hasseåtage
Hasseåtage
Hasseåtage is the commonly used name for the popular Swedish comedy-duo featuring Hans "Hasse" Alfredson and Tage Danielsson. The term was created by the Swedish press in the 1960s, and was never used by the duo themselves...
classic
Classic
The word classic means something that is a perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality. The word can be an adjective or a noun . It denotes a particular quality in art, architecture, literature and other cultural artifacts...
.
A shortened, English version called "Yellow Dog" was shown as Sweden's contribution to Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
in 1965 were it created both a stir and a lot of raised eyebrows when it was showed.