Friday, 27 January 2012

Way Up Yonder in Winnipeg


I don't know if many people remember her now, but Gisele MacKenzie was a popular singer and performer in the 1950s and early 1960s. She often appeared on the TV shows of stars like Jack Benny, Pat Boone, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Dinah Shore and Ed Sullivan.

Gisele MacKenzie was also a true Canadian sweetheart because she was born in Winnipeg and studied music in Toronto before becoming successful in the U.S.

In 1960 on the Perry Como Show, she performed a tongue-in-cheek salute to her hometown of Winnipeg. Every stupid stereotype about the Great White North was thoroughly milked -- endless winter, freezing cold, dogsledding, Indians, Inuit and dancing Mounties. The result is hilarious, I think. It is truly the cheesiest of cheesy tributes.

Unfortunately, YouTube won't let me embed the short video but you can watch it by clicking here.

Enjoy!

26 comments:

Snap said...

I remember her! Yep, I'm a crone! :D :D :D

mxtodis123 said...

I remember her. She was one of my grandma's favorites.
Mary

jaz@octoberfarm said...

too funny!

Magaly Guerrero said...

I never thought I would hear Winnipeg and Staten Island in the same song. I shook two legs!

turquoisemoon said...

I remember her too...shows my age!!! hahaha...

The Dancing Crone said...

Love it! I've always had a fondness for Winnipeg because when I was a young hippie type driving to Vancouver in an old van with every other kid East of Fort Frances, some dentist in Winnipeg pulled my friend's tooth out for free. How's that for a warm & fuzzy memory of Winnipeg?

brandi said...

~well i know how to come by for a visit now...i can borrow steal or beg to get to winnipeg! love the snow girl outfits! wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend...much love light and blessings~

Laura said...

Hello my silly friend...can't wait to check out the video...and no I don't shower with my camera, but I do occasionally sit on the closed lid of the commode to snap a photo...I'm a little quirky...but hey, the way the light was shining through that steamy window was too amazing to ignore!!!

Jane said...

I've never heard of her before. What a voice and looker :) Loved the RCMP's chiming in!

Anonymous said...

beautiful, I remember my mum speaking of her, I love the mounties too!

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

I've never heard of her, but boy can she sing! She was very talented, and a real looker, too. But then we're all beautiful here in Canada, aren't we? :)

SUZY8-TRACK said...

Never heard of her...a bit before my time. She certainly knows how to make an entrance though!

Southpaw said...

That was great! "eating whale blubber all night long"! LOL

Wendy S. said...

that was hllarious watching her with good ole Perry. She must have been a real hoot to know : ) Mis. MacKenzie

Mistress Maddie said...

Why yes Debz I remember Gisele MacKenzie very well from our Jack Benny days!!!!! LOL! Thanks for the clip I loved it!!!!

Laeli said...

I need one of those outfits!

Annie said...

Wow so talented and what a figure. I had never heard of her before so after the video finished I watched her sing 12th of Never, and that made me cry! lol

yellowdoggranny said...

of course I remember her..I loved her..and love that song..

fromsophiesview said...

I loved Perry Como...really...does that mean I'm gay!? Just heard that Winnipeg was dubbed the coldest place on the planet...on CBC! Jees, no letting up! You'd think Siberia was friggin' crisper! Love Giselle...so perky werky!

sonia said...

She kind of reminds me of Imogene Coca. I know. Weird.

Robin Larkspur said...

Hi Debra, this is not a comment on your blog post; I was hoping to find an email address for you on your blog. Just wanted to thank you privately for your kind words of condolence. Means a lot. Thanks! Love, Robin.

Al Penwasser said...

And here I thought American TV only got embarrassing after the Gong Show and The Jersey Shore.
But, I have to ask: why no mention of hockey?

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I do not remember her but fortunately there is videos

Pearl said...

Cheesy good fun. :-)

Pearl

Wendy said...

That was some cheesy fun! And guess what--my word verification for this comment is "hosed". How appropriate!

Jim said...

What a gal! Gisele, I remember her well! Another GREAT from the Peg!