Episode #143 Sara Ballantine (Carl Ballantine)

Explicit content warning

08/15/23 • 77 min

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Today on another encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Sara Ballantine, daughter of comedian and magician Carl Ballentine. Or how some of you may know him: The Amazing Ballantine. Or maybe it’s The World’s Greatest Magician. Whatever the case, you might also remember Carl from his “magic act” or stints on McHale’s Navy, episodes of The Monkees, films like Speedway with Elvis Presley or via master magician David Copperfield who is a massive fan of Carl Ballentine.

We talk to Sara (or Saratoga – so named after the horse racing track her father liked to frequent) about her years with her dad and mother Ceil Cabot a New York actor who was every bit as wild and outrageous as her father – in the best says possible. Sara tells us about her growing up in Hollywood in the 1970s, her own voice over career in commercials and animated shows as well as stories about the famed Los Angeles venue, The Magic Castle, how her dad came up with the name Ballentine, his groundbreaking Las Vegas gig which purportedly was the first-ever magician to grace the stage on the Las Vegas Strip and much more. When both George Carlin and Steve Martin tell you how funny your dad was, you know just how funny Carl Ballentine was.

Take a listen on this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.

Take a listen on this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.

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Episode #142: Cory Tyler (Willie Tyler & Lester)

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Today on the Rarefied Heir Podcast encore edition, we are talking to Cory Tyler, son of ventriloquist Willie Tyler & Lester. Taking to Cory was a great thrill as his dad was one of those celebrities you saw constantly when we were growing up - from successful runs on stage, to network television, on cable TV and even one place we did not know about - vinyl. Yes there is a fairly tough to find comedy album released when his dad was signed to Motown Records. In fact, we talk to Cory about this as we discuss the famed Motown Revue tours of the 1960s his dad was a part of during civil rights, that was famous not only for the performers but for the social progress they made at that time. We also talk to Cory about having an inanimate family member, a long lost favorite coffee shop he and his father frequented, his years growing up in the San Fernando Valley that sounds familiar to host Josh Mills and his parents unique living arrangement hat while certainly not the norm, worked well for Cory and his brother. Talking to Cory was easy, fun and educational. We learned a lot. So where does one get a passion for ventriloquism in America post WWII that spans through to today? You’ll just have to listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast and find out. Everyone has a story.

Next Episode

Episode #144: Kathleen Marshall & Scott Marshall (Garry Marshall) (Part one)

Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we talk to Kathleen Marshall and Scott Marshall, the daughter and son of director Garry Marshall & the niece and nephew of actor/director Penny Marshall. We loved talking to two fellow albums of the Oakwood School which host Josh Mills attended with them because it was a great chance to reconnect and talk about all things Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy and a few pilots that didn’t really make the grade. We did get to talk about Garry’s films like Pretty Womanand The Flamingo Kid as well as Penny’s film A League of Their Own.

Kathleen and Scott give us first hand looks into what it was like being on set in the 70s and into the 90s, how they were not allowed on one set due to their age but another was pretty much a second home when growing up. What’s more, we learned how their mother, Barbara kept the kids feet on the ground as she was not one who loved the limelight and wanted to make sure the kids had a regular, everyday family life. Of course we talk about Garry’s passion for sports and why he pushed it on his kids, we hear Scott’s spot on impression of his dad from Albert Brooks Lost in America, tales of Scott’s post college indie band Chavez who once played the Hollywood Bowl & much more. It was a pleasure to reconnect with both Kathleen and Scott on this edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast Take a listen.