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Each verse ended with a question-and-answer refrain, one of which—Shean singing "Absolutely, Mister
Gallagher?" and Gallagher replying "Positively, Mister Shean!"—became their tagline. This cross-talk format continues to be imitated, parodied, and referenced for audiences who may have no
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and Weevil telling each other "Posilutely, Weevil!" "Absotively, Mr. Duck!" In the 1960s, an
Australian cleaning product "Mister Sheen" launched a successful TV campaign using the original tune with new lyrics ("Oh, Mr. Sheen, Oh, Mr. Sheen"), as did several 1980s radio commercials for
323:. The plaintiff claimed that Gallagher and Shean's act was "unique and irreplaceable". The comedians' defense was that their act was mediocre, and the judge initially found in their favor, although the decision was later reversed.
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in 1912, but they quarreled and split up two years later, in 1914. They next appeared together in 1920, to star in the
Shubert Brothers' production of the highly successful
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Ed
Gallagher suffered a nervous breakdown after the partnership ended in 1925 and died in 1929; Al Shean worked occasionally thereafter as a solo character actor. The
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Both comedians were relatively obscure vaudeville performers until they teamed up in 1910. Gallagher and Shean first joined forces during the tour of
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was able to make an offhanded reference to it in his nightclub act of the 1960s, all of them confident that audiences would recognize it right away.
342:, studio; however, the film was lost in a fire at the Auburn studio in the mid-1950s, and only outtakes of the film now exist. In August 1931,
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394:(1944) features a recreation of Gallagher and Shean's act with Al Shean and character actor Jack Kenney portraying Gallagher.
380:(1941) features a recreation of Gallagher and Shean's act with Al Shean in his familiar role and costume and character actor
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Gallagher and Shean often had personal differences during their partnership. The constant backstage hostilities inspired
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in New York City and the restaurant was named after her. After Ed's death, she married her partner, Jack
Solomon.
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The New York
Chronology: The Ultimate Compendium of Events, People, and Anecdotes from the Dutch to the Present
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and white suit of the tourist, Shean in the fez and oddly skirted jacket of a "native" Egyptian colonial).
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For a time in the 1920s, Gallagher was involved with his protegee, vivacious French-Canadian dancer
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craze for everything
Egyptian, Gallagher and Shean appeared in Egyptian dress (Gallagher in the
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for breach of contract. According to
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The song was extremely popular and well remembered: a pastiche was included in
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series. In this short, Jack Kenny (1886–1964) did the voice of
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to incorporate them into his successful show business-themed comedy
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Song entitled, "Absolutely, Mr. Gallagher? Positively, Mr. Shean!"
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Vaudevillian musical comedy double act of the early 20th century
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Gallagher and Shean remain best known for their theme song "
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432:"Gallagher and Shean | American vaudeville team"
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175:Bryan Foy
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