Tom Smothers

Did you know?!

1. Beyond film

   Smothers played acoustic guitars with Lennon in 1969 on the recording of Lennon's single "Give Peace a Chance." The song also mentioned Smothers' name.

2. Behind the award

   Smothers refused to let his name appear on the writing staff's Emmy nomination for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1969, thinking his name too contentious; he received a special Emmy in 2008.

3. Beyond film

   Smothers created the mostly silent yo-yo trick character Yo-Yo Man in the late 1960s, registered the name, and by the 2008 tour Yo-Yo Man was billed as the duo's opening act.

4. Big break

   In January 1959, a detective found the Smothers brothers and took on the role of their first manager. He asked them to try out at the Purple Onion, a nightclub located in San Francisco.