Lost Raconteur (if you know what that means) Alexander King

File this Nostalgic Rambler posting under "lost raconteur" or "one thing leads to another." I recently found a nostalgic look at television past and TV personality Jack Paar through his book "My Saber Is Bent." Jack was the host of "Tonight" on NBC before Johnny Carson. I have to admit the stars of the Tonight show including Carson, Steve Allen and Jack Paar were very interesting men. As usual the Nostalgic Rambler hasn't followed the current incarnation of "The Tonight Show" since Johnny retired.

 I found Paar's comments on life fascinating and opinionated. Lots of his stuff isn't too politically correct today but I guess we won't worry about that since there aren't many chances to read his books or watch his old shows anymore anyhow.

 I wondered who Jack Paar was talking about when he said that his most interesting guest was Alexander King. He was a raconteur. What in the dickens is a raconteur? I looked it up and it simply means a person skilled at telling stories or anecdotes. Well, Jack was pretty good at that, too. King however must have really been a character. Since King wrote the introduction to Jack Paar's book and was a popular author in his day, surely his books are still around. Or are they?

He was a best selling author but today even our local library didn't have anything by him. They were able to get the book "Mine Enemy Grows Older" from another library here in the state on loan. So I spent the last few days seeing why Jack Paar was so in love with King's storytelling. He rambles on much in the fashion the Nostalgic Rambler would, going from various anecdotes of growing up in Vienna to being in drug rehabilitation to being editor at LIFE magazine.  (note: the Nostalgic Rambler grew up in Detroit, was never in drug rehab or the editor of anything except a couple of blogs...)

You can listen to Alexander as a guest with Jack Paar by clicking here. Too bad there is no video but you get a good idea of his ramblings.

I did a little more delving on line and found that one of his wives has a blog featuring more info on him. You can get there by clicking here or here. 

King and even Jack Paar are mostly forgotten but if you delve you can find some of their wit. I hope in fifty years someone will remember me. You can still buy a copy of my book "The Little Grownup" by clicking here to help preserve my legacy!