They Were Everywhere On TV, Then Somehow Vanished From Memory
Remember when Saturday nights meant gathering around the television to watch your favorite variety show? Back in the 1960s and 1970s, these performers were practically members of the family. They sang, danced, told terrible jokes, and somehow made it all entertaining. Some became household names, while others were famous simply for showing up every week. Today, younger generations barely recognize many of them. But if you grew up watching Laugh-In, Hee Haw, or The Carol Burnett Show, these 25 familiar faces might bring back some wonderful memories.
ABC, The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
#25. Gailard Sartain
If you watched Hee Haw during the 1970s, chances are you remember Gailard Sartain, even if his name doesn't immediately ring a bell. He joined the show's cast in 1972 and became known for his goofy characters and hilarious expressions. He later appeared in movies, but for many viewers, he'll always belong in Kornfield Kounty.
Screenshot from Hee Haw, CBS (1969–1992), Modified
#24. Kay Medford
Kay Medford was one of those performers who could make an ordinary comedy sketch hilarious without trying very hard. She became a recurring favorite on The Dean Martin Show, often appearing in diner sketches alongside Lou Jacobi. Her sharp timing and wonderfully expressive face made her a natural fit for television comedy.
Screenshot from Saturday Night Fever, Paramount Pictures (1977), Modified
#23. Jo Ann Castle
Anyone whose parents watched The Lawrence Welk Show probably remembers Jo Ann Castle. Known for her lively honky-tonk piano performances, she could make an old-fashioned tune sound like the most exciting thing on television. She was a regular during the 1960s, and her energetic playing made her a favorite among Welk's devoted audience.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#22. Leigh French
Leigh French became a familiar face on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, particularly through her memorable Tea with Goldie sketches. Her laid-back delivery and counterculture humor were perfectly suited to the late 1960s. Today, her name rarely comes up in conversations about television comedy, despite her place in one of the era's most talked-about variety shows.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
#21. Roni Stoneman
Roni Stoneman became one of Hee Haw's most recognizable performers after joining the show in 1973. Her unforgettable character Ida Lee Nagger brought plenty of laughs, usually while giving her unfortunate husband another reason to regret opening his mouth. She was also an accomplished banjo player, proving she had considerably more talent than her comedy routines suggested.
Screenshot from Hee Haw, Yongestreet Productions (1969–1992), Modified
#20. Lou Jacobi
Lou Jacobi had the kind of face that made audiences smile before he even delivered a punchline. A familiar presence on The Dean Martin Show, he frequently appeared in comedy sketches with Kay Medford. His ability to play frustrated, confused, or completely exasperated characters made him a wonderful addition to the show's regular lineup.
Screenshot from Saturday Night Fever, Paramount Pictures (1977), Modified
#19. Bobby Burgess
Before joining The Lawrence Welk Show, Bobby Burgess had already appeared on television as one of Disney's original Mouseketeers. He became a regular dancer on Welk's program in 1961, eventually partnering with Cissy King. Their polished routines were a Saturday-night tradition in countless homes, especially when Grandma had control of the television.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#18. Gordie Tapp
Canadian comedian Gordie Tapp became a familiar American television personality through Hee Haw, where he appeared from the show's beginning in 1969. His deadpan humor and memorable characters helped make the program a country-comedy favorite. He was particularly good at delivering ridiculous jokes with a perfectly straight face, which somehow made them even funnier.
Screenshot from Hee Haw, CBS Television Network (1969-1997), Enhanced
#17. Teresa Graves
Teresa Graves was one of the most memorable performers on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In during the late 1960s. Her comedic timing, singing ability, and lively personality helped her stand out in a crowded cast. She later starred in the groundbreaking crime drama Get Christie Love!, but younger television audiences rarely hear her name today.
Screenshot from Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, NBC (1968-1973)
#16. Alan Sues
Alan Sues became a favorite on Laugh-In thanks to his exaggerated expressions and outrageous characters. His flamboyant Uncle Al sketches were particularly memorable, and he could steal a scene with a single ridiculous look. Sues was exactly the kind of performer who made variety television unpredictable, which was half the fun of watching.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#15. Myron Floren
For millions of viewers, Myron Floren was almost as recognizable as Lawrence Welk himself. The talented accordionist became a fixture on The Lawrence Welk Show, entertaining audiences with lively polkas and remarkable musicianship. If your family owned an accordion during the 1960s or 1970s, there's a decent chance Floren had something to do with it.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#14. Junior Samples
Junior Samples became a beloved Hee Haw regular despite having little traditional show-business experience. His country humor and wonderfully awkward delivery made him an audience favorite. His fictional used-car dealership commercials, featuring the famous telephone number BR-549, became legendary. Plenty of viewers still remember that number better than their childhood home telephone number.
Screenshot from Hee Haw, CBS (1969-1997), Modified
#13. Lyle Waggoner
With his movie-star looks and easygoing charm, Lyle Waggoner became one of the original regulars on The Carol Burnett Show in 1967. He served as announcer and performed in sketches before leaving in 1974. He later starred in Wonder Woman, but longtime variety-show fans remember him as an important part of Carol Burnett's original television family.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
#12. Henry Gibson
Henry Gibson became famous on Laugh-In for delivering wonderfully strange little poems while holding a flower. His soft voice and serious expression made the absurd material even funnier. He eventually built a successful acting career, but his poetry routines remain one of the most distinctive memories of late-1960s television comedy.
Roy Cummings Inc.-Hollywood, Wikimedia Commons
#11. Pat Paulsen
Pat Paulsen turned political comedy into an art form on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. His deadpan delivery was so convincing that his fictional presidential campaigns became a national sensation. He even ran for president as a satirical candidate in 1968. Imagine explaining to someone today that a variety-show comedian became a recurring presidential candidate.
Rocal Management, Wikimedia Commons
#10. Jo Anne Worley
Jo Anne Worley could practically shake the television with her booming voice and enormous personality. As one of the original stars of Laugh-In, she became famous for outrageous expressions, theatrical delivery, and her running jokes about chickens. She was impossible to overlook, which makes it surprising how rarely her name appears in conversations about classic television today.
#9. Gary Owens
Gary Owens was the unmistakable announcer on Laugh-In, delivering absurd introductions in his deep, polished broadcasting voice. Standing behind his microphone with a hand cupped over his ear, he became one of the show's most recognizable personalities. He also enjoyed a long career in radio and voice acting, although younger audiences may not recognize the man behind that famous voice.
Screenshot from Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, NBC (1968–1973)
#8. Judy Carne
Judy Carne became one of the original breakout stars of Laugh-In in 1968. Known as the show's Sock-It-to-Me Girl, she regularly found herself on the receiving end of ridiculous physical comedy. Her popularity was enormous for a time, but her television career eventually slowed. Today, she's rarely mentioned despite helping define one of the decade's biggest comedy shows.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#7. Dom DeLuise
Dom DeLuise was one of television's most lovable comedians, and his recurring appearances on The Dean Martin Show helped introduce him to millions of viewers. His infectious laugh, exaggerated expressions, and remarkable physical comedy made him an audience favorite. He later became a familiar movie star, but his variety-show beginnings deserve more recognition.
Screenshot from The Dean Martin Show, NBC (1965–1974), Modified
#6. Arte Johnson
Arte Johnson became one of the biggest stars of Laugh-In thanks to his unforgettable characters and clever delivery. His German soldier character became especially famous for delivering the catchphrase "Very interesting." Johnson could make audiences laugh with a single raised eyebrow. His work earned him an Emmy, yet younger viewers may barely recognize his name.
Screenshot from Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, NBC (1968–1973)
#5. Lulu Roman
Lulu Roman became a beloved regular on Hee Haw when the show premiered in 1969. Her comedy sketches and warm personality made her a familiar face in homes across America. She later became a successful gospel singer, demonstrating a powerful voice that surprised viewers who primarily remembered her for the show's sillier moments.
Screenshot from Hee Haw, CBS (1969-1997)
#4. Vicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence was still a teenager when she joined The Carol Burnett Show in 1967. She quickly became an essential member of the cast, eventually creating the unforgettable Mama character. That role later inspired Mama's Family, but Lawrence's ability to transform herself into hilarious characters was already obvious during her variety-show years.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
#3. Harvey Korman
Harvey Korman was one of the greatest straight men in television comedy, although keeping a straight face wasn't always his strongest skill. His performances alongside Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show became legendary, particularly when Conway deliberately tried to make him laugh. Watching Korman struggle to maintain his composure was often funnier than the actual sketch.
CBS Photo Archive, Getty Images
#2. Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Buzzi became one of the most recognizable performers on Laugh-In, particularly as Gladys Ormphby, the grumpy woman who carried a handbag and wasn't afraid to use it. Her confrontations with Arte Johnson's elderly flirt became television comedy classics. Buzzi died in 2025, but her unforgettable characters remain a wonderful reminder of how funny variety television could be.
NBC Television Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
#1. Tim Conway
Few performers could make an entire television audience laugh quite like Tim Conway. Although he appeared frequently as a guest before becoming a regular on The Carol Burnett Show in 1975, his sketches quickly became legendary. Whether playing the painfully slow Oldest Man or the bumbling Mr. Tudball, Conway could turn the simplest situation into absolute chaos. And nobody enjoyed watching him more than Harvey Korman, even when he was desperately trying not to laugh.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Final Thoughts
There was something special about the variety shows of the 1960s and 1970s. Families gathered around one television, laughed at the same ridiculous jokes, and developed genuine affection for performers they saw every week. Many of these entertainers have faded from mainstream recognition, but their contributions to television comedy haven't disappeared. For baby boomers who remember those evenings in front of the television, these familiar faces will always feel like old friends.
Joan Adlen Photography, Getty Images
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