"The Impossible Years" - Kenley Players 1978 Season
(Circa early 1978???)

As a performer, Paul Lynde endured more than his share of struggle to obtain work, let alone recognition.  "They used to call me What's-his name."  Recent years, however, have installed him as the constant comedian of American television, an a bumper crop of awards have come his way.

Since the third show of "Hollywood Squares" 12 years ago, Mr. Lynde has been the show's anchor man, receiving four Emmy nominations for his contribution to the televison perennial.  In 1973, Photoplay gave him it's Gold Medal Award as America's Favorite Comedian.  A native of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, he has received the Governor's Award for his work as chairman of the state's Heart Fund drive, and in 1973 his fellow Ohioans made him an honorary congressman.  his peers in the American Academy of Humor voted him 1975's "Funniest man of the Year" and in 1976 the 8000 members of the American Guild of Variety Artists chose him as Comedian of the Year.  Also in 1976, Mr. Lynde outran a clutch of dramatic superstars, placing No. 5 in Weekly Variety's "TV Q" popularity poll, in the category of "All Male Performers Not Appearing in a Regular Television Series."  Earlier in 1970, his alma mater, Northwestern University, gave him its most treasured accolade, the Alumni Association Merit of Achievement award, the only actor the alumni has ever given this award.  1977 rates special mention on his calndar of achievements for two ABC-TC specials: "The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour," in which he was backed by Cloris Leachman and Tony Randall, and the memorable Christmas show, "'Twas The Night Before," embellished by George Gobel, Alice Ghostley, Anson Williams, Martha Raye, Ann Meara and Foster Brooks.  1978 promises three more Paul Lynde specials, all on ABC-TV.  In addition to his continuing appearances on the Donny and Marie show, NBC-TV saw fit to cast Mr. Lynde as the only white guest star on the Black variety show, "Komedy Tonite."  "There was this big house in my hometown that I really dug as a child," Paul Lynde recalls.  "I used to go there and sit on the steps and wave at cars, acting as if I lived in it.  I always had delusions of grandeur," he concedes candidly.  "As far back as I can remember I was obsessed with being rich and famous."  Today, the flashing Lynde teeth, the lightning wit, the unique vocal delivery are as familiar to most Americans as apple pie.  Among television's great stars, thanks are due largely to his status on both the daytime and prime-time versions of "Hollywood Squares."  TV's most in-demand guest star, for several years, Mr. Lynde clocked a staggering annual average of 180-190 hours tube time, not including reruns, appearing on such programs as "The Carol Burnett," "Dean Martin" and "Glen Campbell" shows, "Kraft Music Hall" and "The Bob Hope Chrysler Theatre."  Mr. Lynde also starred for two summers on the Martin replacement series, "Dean martin Presents The Gold Diggers," garnered fans in the recurring role of Uncle Arthur on "Bewitched," vocally starred in many Hanna-Barbara cartoons as well as starring as Templeton the Rat in the feature animated film "Charlotte's Web."  In stock, since 1969, Mr. Lynde has been setting new box office records wherever he plays in such popular productions as his current, "The Impossible Years," "Don't Drink The Water," "Plaza Suite" and "No Hard Feelings" in which he opened the 1975 season at Fort Lauderdale's Parker Playhouse.  Ohio-born, Mr. Lynde got his first break during Monday amateur night at the famed supper club, Number One Fifth Avenue, as a stand-up comic.  He was so good that he got a one-week engagement where he was seen and signed by Leonard Sillman for "New Faces of 1952."  It was a rousing smash, launching not only Mr. Lynde's career, but those of Eartha Kitt, Alice Ghostley, Ronny Graham, Carol Lawrence and Robert Clary.  It was nine years later that he starred in "Bye, Bye, Birdie."  Television had come into its own and his two-year run on the Perry Como Show as Perry's pal Paul brought him to the attention of director-choreographer Gower Champion and the part in "Bye, Bye, Birdie."  In the interim, Mr. Lynde wrote and directed "New Faces Of 1956" which introduced Maggie Smith to American audiences.  Mr. Lynde came to Hollywood in 1963 for the movie version of "Bye, Bye, Birdie."  He has lived on the West Coast ever since, for the past few years in the house which once belonged to Error Flynn.  Mr. Lynde will soon be seen in the motion picture, "Rabbit Test," aslo starring Joan Rivers.