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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. |