Biography of Comedian Jimmy Wallis
Being from BROKEN BOW, OKLAHOMA, may not guarantee a sense of humor,  but it helps!

It was there that Jimmy Wallis began to develop his comedy, impressions, and ventriloquial skills.  Skills  that would take him from his  first performance  with the Boy Scouts of America to his selection to appear in "THE NIGHT OF THE STARS" at THE LAS VEGAS HILTON  with SAMMY DAVIS JR.,  WAYNE NEWTON,  JERRY LEWIS,  CHARO and  others. 

Jim  attended  the UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA  where he founded "The Roadrunners," perhaps Oklahoma's first Rock and  Roll  band. Playing  guitar and singing like Elvis helped with the  college expense while working  "every civic club In  Oklahoma"  further honed  the comedy  entertainer's  multifaceted act. 

Jimmy  and  The  Roadrunners  first  recordings,  "Fallen Dream"  and "Sheet board Down"  helped  to expand  the popularity of his group to a several state region. 

His first big break came in 1960 when  Mark Leddy saw him performing in Boston at a magic convention.  Leddy, the booker for the ED SULLIVAN SHOW,  had Jimmy come to New York to audition  for Sullivan and for an appearance at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL. 

Later in 1960, the owner of the "Roaring Twenties" in the St. Louis  Gaslight Square District, saw  Jimmy  working at a club near Branson,  Missouri, and hired him to work that popular nightspot. During the record breaking runs at the "Twenties," the glowing reviews in  VARIETY and the St. Louis papers led to Jim's signing with   PLAYBOY CLUBS INTERNATIONAL.   That relationship  lasted over a decade!! 

The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted Jimmy  OKLAHOMA'S TOP COMEDIAN and CBS-TV signed him for to appear with Art Linkletter on  HOLLYWOOD TALENT SCOUTS in 1966.   After that came a guest appearance in DISNEYLAND with  Western Star Rex Allen. Offers for HOLLYWOOD PALACE, THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW, and a chance to co-star in  the series  GOOD MORNING WORLD. 

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