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  ~ The Firesign Theatre ~  

Chronology Site
~ From 1986 to 1989 ~

This compendium to the Firesign FAQ site is without a doubt the MOST complete collection of Firesign Information.


Compiled by Frederick C. Wiebel with Chris Palladino (of Firezine)


THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (- D.O.)
1 / 25 - 26 / 1986

" DR. DEMENTO SHOW #86" (1/25-26/86) - DR. DEMENTO  - WEST WOOD ONE # 86-01,02,03,04  - (4 R LP) - The threesome appeared on this popular novelty / comedy oriented show playing some of their favorite records by other artists, and selections from their new album "Eat Or Be Eaten". This show was recorded earlier scheduled for air play on this date, and was distributed on Album, by West Wood One.

2 / 23 / 1986
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH - "COMEDY GROUP RECAPTURES ZEST" BY CLARKE BUSTARD - (NP) - The group was featured in this article for this newspaper published in VA.

2 / 28 / 1986
BAM - (MZ) - The group's seventeenth album and second CD, "Eat Or Be Eaten", was reviewed by Bryan Brewer for this magazine.

3 / 1986
PULSE - (MZ) - The group's seventeenth album and second CD, "Eat Or Be Eaten", was reviewed by Ron Smith for this magazine.

3 / 29 /1986
"COMIC RELIEF" (TV) - The group of three, appeared in 'clip' "The National Toilet", from the video "Eat Or Be Eaten", and 'live' at the end , trading quips, with the other comics, while singing the theme song. Originally scheduled to perform a live game show version of "Eat Or Be Eaten", where the contestant either becomes a millionaire or homeless, was cancelled by the producers, judging that it would diminish contributions, and the 'canned' video was used instead.

4 / 1986
VIDEO - (MZ) - The group's movie "Eat Or Be Eaten" was listed.
mid 1986

"A & W ROOTBEER" COMMERCIALS (RT) - The group recorded radio 3 spots for a national campaign produced by Pyro Playhouse.
fall 1986

"81ST CONVENTION OF THE AUDIO ENGINEERING SOCIETY" (TP) - the trio provided entertainment on the premise that the Firesign Theatre began on radio in the 1940's.
c. fall 1986

LOS  ANGELES TIMES - (NP) - The group was reported to be working with Stan Cornyn of Mercury Records on video and interactive entertainment, in this newspaper published in CA.
11 / 10 / 1986

ADWEEK - AD - "FIRESIGN THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE END OF ADVERTISING AS YOU KNOW IT" - (MZ) - The group advertised  this  service of the ad arm of Pyro Playhouse, created to produce radio and TV ads.
1986

"KUDZU" (TV) -  The group presented a concept for a television show to Paramount for a late - night series, based on the reality of "Eat or Be Eaten".
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE

1987

"DON'T CRUSH THAT DWARF, HAND ME THE PLIERS"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE  - MOBILE FIDELITY MFCD-880 - (CD) - The group's third album was released on CD with new liner notes by Phil Austin.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (-DO, PP)
early 1988

"BIG BOY RESTAURANTS" COMMERCIALS (RT) - The duo formed an ad agency, "The Firesign Theatre Hype Machine", headed by Gabby Gruen, to produce radio spots.

early 1988
"(MIDWEST RADIO SPOTS)" (RT) - The group produced a number of commercials for the Midwest market.
THE FIRESIGN THEATRE
2 / 1988 
STEREOPHILE - (MZ) - The group's re-issue CD, "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliers", on Mobile Fidelity, was reviewed by Richard Lehnert for this magazine.
1988
"HOW CAN YOU BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE WHEN YOU'RE NOT    ANYWHERE AT ALL?"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE - MOBILE FIDELITY MFCD-834 - (CD) - The group's second album was released on CD with Austin and Ossman providing new liner notes

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE (?)

1988
CAMP88N - LETTERS OF INQUIRY #1 - #4 - OMICRON WORLD NEWS - (NL) - (?)

THE FIRESIGN THEATRE

3 / 1989
"THE NOTORIOUS BYRD BROTHERS"  - THE BYRDS - DRAFT MORNING - COLUMBIA CK-09575(CD), PCT-09575(CT) (CD) (CT) - The group's battlefield sound effects production was released on CD.

5 / 11 / 1989
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS  - "FIRESIGN THEATRE IS GETTING NEW ATTENTION AS FANS TURN 40-SOMETHING" BY RUTH BUTLER - (NP) - The group was featured in this newspaper article published in MI.
12 / 29 / 1989
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH - "FIRESIGN: A LANGUAGE STUDENTS WANTED TO LEARN" BY FRANK RIZZO - (NP) - The group was featured in this article for this newspaper published in MO.
1989
"NEVER NEVER BEFORE" - THE BYRDS - ANNOTATION BY BOB HYDE - (LN) - The group's participation in "Draft Morning", supplying gunshots, was mentioned in the studio recording logs reproduced in the liner notes of this CD put out by Murray Hill.
1989
"I THINK WE'RE ALL BOZOS ON THIS BUS"  - THE FIRESIGN THEATRE - MOBILE FIDELITY MFCD-785 (CD) - The group's album was released on CD with new liner notes by Austin and Ossman.

c. 1989
"WHO AM US ANYWAY" (MP) - The group was to be featured and reunite for a performance in this documentary by Toronto based film maker Ron Mann.


VARIOUS MEMBERS:



DAVID OSSMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
6 / 20 / 1986

"RADIO MOVIES" - "CLICK" (RT) (LRB) - Ossman hosted live wrap-a-rounds of this un-aired recording from 1981 featuring Phil Proctor providing several voices.

PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
1986

"WISER AND WEAKER" BY DENIECE WILLIAMS (V) -  Bergman conceived the story line  in this rock video, that both he and Proctor appeared in. MTV played the song  in regular rotation.


PHIL AUSTIN, PETER BERGMAN
spring 1988

("COMEDY SERIES") (TV) - Austin and Bergman under the aegis of "Pyro-Playhouse", develop three comedy series under contract for Lorimar.

spring 1988
("RINGO STARR PILOT") (TV) - Austin and Bergman developed a television pilot for the former Beatle, who later declined participation.

DAVID OSSMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
9 / 1989

WAR OF THE WORLDS - (RP) - Ossman's 50th Anniversary production elements were recorded at Skywalker Ranch in CA with Proctor acting as floor director and providing voices as well.

DAVID OSSMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
10 / 31 / 1988

"WAR OF THE WORLDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION" (RT) - Ossman's adaptation with Howard Koch from his original 1938 radio script starring Jason Robards, Steve Allen, Douglas Edwards, Scott Simon, Terri Gross, and others was broadcast on 235 NPR stations.

DAVID OSSMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
1988
"WAR OF THE WORLDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION"  - ORIGINAL CAST   - OTHER WORLD MEDIA OWMCD-001(CD), OWMCT-001 (CT) - (CD) (CT) - Ossman's NPR production featuring his and Phil Proctor's voices was released as a cassette tape and a limited edition CD.

PHIL AUSTIN, PETER BERGMAN, PHIL PROCTOR
1 / 20/ 1989
"COVERT INAUGURATION" - (LRB) - Austin and Proctor joined Bergman for his KPFK "Baldy and Scout" coverage of George Bush's inaugural parade and swearing in ceremonies. An aircheck and a video tape with the radio commentary exists.

 

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