Though Soul Train is known for musical performances and the world-famous Soul Train dancers, Don Cornelius didn’t pass up the opportunity to let Richard Pryor share his comedic genius with Soul Train’s captive audience. During the show’s early days, it wouldn’t be unusual for public figures and non-music entertainers to pay a visit to Soul Train, as a chance to tap directly into the lifeline of black culture.

Of course Pryor had jokes, and his intentionally-robotic promotion of his movie roles in “Lady Sings the Blues” and “Wattstax” was hilarious.