November 12, 2023
FILM: SHARI & LAMB CHOP
DIRECTED BY: LISA D’APOLITO
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There have been so many performers whose careers skyrocketed by creating television shows for kids (Mister Rogers, Jim Henson, Frazier Thomas and Ray Rayner here in Chicago, and others) but the one woman who pre-dated many of them was Shari Lewis. Known as a popular puppeteer, Lewis made a major name for herself in the earliest days of TV in the 1950s. Her greatest talent came in the form of ventriloquism. Audiences particularly fell for her character Lamb Chop who became synonymous with Shari Lewis for the rest of her life. The new documentary Shari & Lamb Chop details the rise of Lewis’s career, its highs and lows, until her death in 1998.
I’d always been aware of Shari Lewis but not so much during her peak periods. Her first shows ended before I was born so I only knew her as this lovely woman who appeared on various shows as a guest, always with Lamb Chop. Using a number of interviews that Lewis gave during her life, we learn a bit about who she was as a person. Yet, there was always something a little guarded about her. As another interviewee points out, “she was always ON.” So, while Shari and Lamb Chop doesn’t exactly delve into the performer’s psyche, it does present a strong portrait of a significant woman who could sing, dance, run a TV series or two, and of course, operate those little puppets.
Director Lisa D’Apolito does a great job of filling this story with footage of the many appearances Lewis made on television. She also provides plenty of stills, archival footage, and home movies that further illustrate how taltented Lewis was throughout her life. D’Apolito also includes a history of ventriloquism which emphasizes just how rare it was for a woman to be so successful in the field. There are also interviews with her own daughter Mallory, other family members, professional colleagues, other ventriloquists, and the many performers who were highly influenced by Lewis. To further complete this film biography, D’Apolito takes us through some of the lesser known times in Lewis’s life such as her night club and Vegas years as well as some marital difficulties.
Some of the greatest insights here come from the many interviewees that fill in some of the gaps about Lewis. While they don’t reveal everything, there’s enough detail to suggest why under the surface Lewis seemed to be a bit sad as a person. But then, how much do we ever really know about our celebrity heroes? Some things are better left uncovered. What this film does well is to preserve Lewis’s legacy and remind us of just what a rare performer she was. She shouldn’t be forgotten and thanks to D’Apolito’s film she won’t be.
Shari & Lamb Chop is having its world premiere at DOC NYC. It is available to be streamed via the festival’s website until November 26th. For tickets, go to https://www.docnyc.net/film/shari-lamb-chop/.
FILM: SHARI & LAMB CHOP
DIRECTED BY: LISA D’APOLITO
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There have been so many performers whose careers skyrocketed by creating television shows for kids (Mister Rogers, Jim Henson, Frazier Thomas and Ray Rayner here in Chicago, and others) but the one woman who pre-dated many of them was Shari Lewis. Known as a popular puppeteer, Lewis made a major name for herself in the earliest days of TV in the 1950s. Her greatest talent came in the form of ventriloquism. Audiences particularly fell for her character Lamb Chop who became synonymous with Shari Lewis for the rest of her life. The new documentary Shari & Lamb Chop details the rise of Lewis’s career, its highs and lows, until her death in 1998.
I’d always been aware of Shari Lewis but not so much during her peak periods. Her first shows ended before I was born so I only knew her as this lovely woman who appeared on various shows as a guest, always with Lamb Chop. Using a number of interviews that Lewis gave during her life, we learn a bit about who she was as a person. Yet, there was always something a little guarded about her. As another interviewee points out, “she was always ON.” So, while Shari and Lamb Chop doesn’t exactly delve into the performer’s psyche, it does present a strong portrait of a significant woman who could sing, dance, run a TV series or two, and of course, operate those little puppets.
Director Lisa D’Apolito does a great job of filling this story with footage of the many appearances Lewis made on television. She also provides plenty of stills, archival footage, and home movies that further illustrate how taltented Lewis was throughout her life. D’Apolito also includes a history of ventriloquism which emphasizes just how rare it was for a woman to be so successful in the field. There are also interviews with her own daughter Mallory, other family members, professional colleagues, other ventriloquists, and the many performers who were highly influenced by Lewis. To further complete this film biography, D’Apolito takes us through some of the lesser known times in Lewis’s life such as her night club and Vegas years as well as some marital difficulties.
Some of the greatest insights here come from the many interviewees that fill in some of the gaps about Lewis. While they don’t reveal everything, there’s enough detail to suggest why under the surface Lewis seemed to be a bit sad as a person. But then, how much do we ever really know about our celebrity heroes? Some things are better left uncovered. What this film does well is to preserve Lewis’s legacy and remind us of just what a rare performer she was. She shouldn’t be forgotten and thanks to D’Apolito’s film she won’t be.
Shari & Lamb Chop is having its world premiere at DOC NYC. It is available to be streamed via the festival’s website until November 26th. For tickets, go to https://www.docnyc.net/film/shari-lamb-chop/.