John Twomey
Encyclopedia
John Twomey is a manualist
who appeared on NBC
's The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson
in 1972. He is credited with bringing manualism to the public stage, as his performance of "Stars and Stripes Forever" was seen by millions of people and was included in the Best of Johnny Carson
collection. Twomey also coined the term "manualism," as he introduced himself as a "manualist" in the show. Twomey was a regular guest of Johnny's after that first appearance all the way until Johnny retired from the The Tonight Show.
John Twomey, also a professional attorney and father of 7, appeared on several other programs including The Mike Douglas Show
where he performed the "Colonel Bogey March
," made famous in the film The Bridge Over the River Kwai, and The Merv Griffin Show
where he performed "When the Saints Go Marching In
." Twomey's name appeared in the credits of a 1970s "Barney Miller" episode in which he provided off-camera manualism for a scene in which a man was arrested for disturbing the peace by "playing" his hands.
John Twomey's last public performance was on November 21, 1998 on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion
with Garrison Keillor
, where he performed "Stardust
."
Manualism (hand music)
Manualism is the little-known art of playing music by squeezing air through the hands. Because the sound produced has a distinctly flatulent tone, such music is usually presented as a form of musical comedy or parody...
who appeared on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
in 1972. He is credited with bringing manualism to the public stage, as his performance of "Stars and Stripes Forever" was seen by millions of people and was included in the Best of Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
collection. Twomey also coined the term "manualism," as he introduced himself as a "manualist" in the show. Twomey was a regular guest of Johnny's after that first appearance all the way until Johnny retired from the The Tonight Show.
John Twomey, also a professional attorney and father of 7, appeared on several other programs including The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
where he performed the "Colonel Bogey March
Colonel Bogey March
The "Colonel Bogey March" is a popular march that was written in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts , a British army bandmaster who later became director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth...
," made famous in the film The Bridge Over the River Kwai, and The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
where he performed "When the Saints Go Marching In
When the Saints Go Marching In
"When the Saints Go Marching In", often referred to as "The Saints", is an American gospel hymn that has taken on certain aspects of folk music. The precise origins of the song are not known. Though it originated as a spiritual, today people are more likely to hear it played by a jazz band...
." Twomey's name appeared in the credits of a 1970s "Barney Miller" episode in which he provided off-camera manualism for a scene in which a man was arrested for disturbing the peace by "playing" his hands.
John Twomey's last public performance was on November 21, 1998 on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
with Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor
Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio personality. He is known as host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor (born August 7, 1942) is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio...
, where he performed "Stardust
Stardust (song)
"Stardust" is an American popular song composed in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics added in 1929 by Mitchell Parish. Originally titled "Star Dust", Carmichael first recorded the song at the Gennett Records studio in Richmond, Indiana...
."