Gladys Ormphby's Bench - On segments of the comedy variety show ROWAN AND MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN/NBC/1968-73 Ruth Buzzi played. Gladys Ormphby (Ruth Buzzi), a frumpy spinster with a hair net who was constantly accosted by Tyrone, a dirty old man (Arte Johnson) with overcoat. Whenever Gladys sat on a city park bench, Tyrone would suggest in a gruff, gravelly voice some veiled sexual reference while offering Gladys a piece of candy ("Want a Walnetto?"). Glady showed her gratitude for such actions by smacking Tyrone over the head with a purse or umbrella. To commemorate Ruth Buzzi's Gladys character the maudlin program THIS IS YOUR LIFE did a segment on comedienne Ruth Buzzi and during the telecast dedicated a park bench at Westerly, Rhode Island. TRIVIA NOTE: The Walnetto is a delicious chocolate covered chewy caramel filled with California walnuts popular since 1920 and sold 5 pieces to the bar in the 1950s and 1960s You can still buy them today from The Vermont Country Store. Tyrone and Gladys also appeared on the Saturday morning animated cartoon THE NITWITS in 1977.

Tyrone:	Would you call my face ruggedly handsome?
Gladys:	[Gladys bashes him over the head with purse]
Tyrone:	Would you call my body sensuously attractive?
Gladys:	[Gladys hits him with her purse]
Tyrone:	Would you call my next of kin? [Tyrone falls off bench]

             

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