Milton Berle
Publicity shot of Berle
Birth name	Milton Berlinger
Born	July 12, 1908(1908-07-12) Manhattan, New York
Died	March 27, 2002 (aged 93) Los Angeles, California
Other name(s)	Mr. Television & Uncle Miltie

Milton Berle (July 12, 1908 - March 27, 2002) was an Emmy-winning American comedian who was born Milton Berlinger. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater (1948-1955), he was the first major star of television. He became known as Uncle Miltie to millions during TV's golden age. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1767x2200, 594 KB) Summary Original URL: http://www. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... An Emmy Award. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... This article is about the television network. ... Texaco Star Theater, a comedy-variety show (radio, 1940-49; television, 1949-56), was one of the first hugely successful examples of U.S. television broadcasting. ... “TV” redirects here. ... The Golden Age of Television is a reference to the period from approximately 1949 to 1960 when prime time television drama was predominated by original and classic productions from such writers as Paddy Chayefsky, Reginald Rose and Rod Serling. ...

Early life

Born in a five-story walkup at 68 West 118th Street in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, he chose Milton Berle as his professional name when he was 16. His father was Moses Berlinger, a paint and varnish salesman. His mother, Sarah (Sadie) Glantz Berlinger, eventually became stagestruck and changed her name to Sandra Berle when Milton became famous. 118th Street is a street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. ... This article is about the neighbourhood in New York City. ... For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ...

Berle appeared as a child actor in silent films, beginning with The Perils of Pauline (1914), filmed in Fort Lee, New Jersey with Pearl White.[1] The director told Berle that he would portray a little boy who would be thrown from a moving train. In Milton Berle: An Autobiography (1975), he explained, "I was scared shitless, even when he went on to tell me that Pauline would save my life. Which is exactly what happened, except that at the crucial moment they threw a bundle of rags instead of me from the train. I bet there are a lot of comedians around today who are sorry about that." A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ... The Perils of Pauline was a silent movie serial which debuted in 1914. ... Map highlighting Fort Lees location within Bergen County. ... Pearl Fay White, born March 4, 1889 in Green Ridge, Missouri, United States - died August 4, 1938 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, was a singer and star of silent film. ...

By Berle's account, he continued to play child roles in other films: Bunny's Little Brother (1914) with John Bunny; Tess of the Storm Country (1914) with Mary Pickford; Birthright (1920) with Flora Finch; Love's Penalty (1921) with Hope Hampton; Divorce Coupons (1922) with Corinne Griffith and the serial Ruth of the Range (1923) with Ruth Roland. Berle recalled, "There were even trips out to Hollywood--the studios paid--where I got parts in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, with Mary Pickford; The Mark of Zorro, with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Tillie's Punctured Romance, with Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand and Marie Dressler." John Bunny John Bunny (born September 21, 1863 in New York City, United States; died April 26, 1915 in Brooklyn, New York), was the first comic star of the American silent film era. ... Mary Pickford (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979) was an Oscar-winning Canadian motion picture star and co-founder of United Artists in 1919. ... Flora Finch (June 17, 1869 London, UK) - (January 4, 1940, Los Angeles, California) was an English-born film actress who starred in over 200 silents for the Vitagraph film company. ... Hope Hampton Hope Hampton (Mae Elizabeth Hampton) (19 February 1897 - 23 January 1982) was a silent motion picture actress, who was noted for her seemingly effortless incarnation of siren and flapper types in silent-picture roles during the 1920s. ... Promotional Picture Corinne Griffith was a Hollywood actress who is believed to have been born in Texarkana, Texas, on November 24, 1895. ... Ruth Roland (August 26, 1892 - September 22, 1937) was an American stage and film actress and film producer. ... Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is an American 1903 childrens classic novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin. ... The Mark of Zorro is the title of three films based on the novel The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley, which introduced the character of Zorro: The Mark of Zorro, a silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks released in 1920 The Mark of Zorro, a film starring Tyrone Power released... Douglas Fairbanks (May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer, who became noted for his swashbuckling roles in silent movies such as The Mark of Zorro (1920), The Three Musketeers (1921), Robin Hood (1922), The Thief of Bagdad (1924) and The Black Pirate (1926). ... Tillies Punctured Romance is the name of two early comedy films made in 1914 and 1928: Tillies Punctured Romance (1914 film), starring Charlie Chaplin Tillies Punctured Romance (1928 film), starring W. C. Fields This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... “Charles Chaplin” redirects here. ... Mabel Normand Mabel Normand (November 10, 1892 - February 23, 1930) was a US film actress, who was a popular comedienne in silent films. ... Marie Dressler (born November 9, 1868; died July 28, 1934) was an Academy Award-winning Canadian actress. ...

However, Berle's claims to have appeared in many of these films, particularly the 1914 Chaplin Keystone comedy Tillie's Punctured Romance, is hotly disputed by some, who cite the lack of supporting evidence that Berle even visited the West Coast until much later. The newsboy role often claimed by Berle in "Tillie" was unquestionably played by Keystone child contract actor Gordon Griffith. Gordon Griffith as Tarzan in the 1918 film Tarzan of the Apes, wearing a wig and the Bole-armenia style of make-up typical of Silent films. ...

In 1916, Berle enrolled in the Professional Children's School, and at age 12 he made his stage debut in Florodora. After four weeks in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the show moved to Broadway. It catapulted him into a comedic career that spanned eight decades in nightclubs, Broadway shows, vaudeville, Las Vegas, films, television and radio. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Florodora was one of the first successful Broadway musicals of the 20th century. ... Map of Atlantic City in Atlantic County Coordinates: , Country United States State New Jersey County Atlantic Incorporated May 1, 1854 Government  - Mayor Bob Levy Area  - City  17. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Vegas redirects here. ...

Rising star

By the early 1930s Berle had become a successful stand-up comedian. In 1933 he was hired by producer Jack White to star in the theatrical featurette Poppin' the Cork, a topical musical comedy concerning the repeal of Prohibition. Berle also co-wrote the score for this film, which was released by Educational Pictures. Educational Pictures (or Educational Film Exchanges, Inc. ...

Berle continued to dabble in songwriting. With Ben Oakland and Milton Drake, Berle wrote the title song for the RKO release Li'l Abner (1940), an adaptation of Al Capp's comic strip, featuring Buster Keaton as Lonesome Polecat. ^[1] Berle wrote a Spike Jones B-side, "Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma." I do Lil Abner!!, a self-portrait by Al Capp, excerpted from the April 16-17 1951 Lil Abner strips. ... Buster Keaton (born Joseph Frank Keaton, October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American silent film comic actor and filmmaker. ... Spike Jones For the music video and film director, see Spike Jonze. ...

Radio

In 1934-36, Berle was heard regularly on The Rudy Vallee Hour, and he got much publicity as a regular on The Gillette Original Community Sing, a Sunday night comedy-variety program broadcast on CBS from September 6, 1936 to August 29, 1937. In 1939, he was the host of Stop Me If You've Heard This One with panelists spontaneously finishing jokes sent in by listeners. Rudy Vallee (July 28, 1901 - July 3, 1986) was a popular United States singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Three Ring Time, a comedy-variety show sponsored by Ballantine Ale was followed by a 1943 program sponsored by Campbell's Soups. The audience participation show Let Yourself Go (1944-45) could best be described as slapstick radio with studio audience members acting out long suppressed urges (often directed at host Berle). Kiss and Make Up, on CBS in 1946, featured the problems of contestants decided by a jury from the studio audience with Berle as the Judge. He also made guest appearances on many comedy-variety radio programs during the 1930s and 1940s. Ballantine was an American brewery, founded by Peter Ballantine (born in Scotland in 1781). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence. ...

Scripted by Hal Block and Martin Ragaway, The Milton Berle Show brought Berle together with Arnold Stang, later a familiar face as Berle's TV sidekick. Others in the cast were Pert Kelton, Mary Schipp, Jack Albertson, Arthur Q. Bryan, Ed Begley, and announcer Frank Gallop. Sponsored by Philip Morris, it aired on NBC from March 11, 1947, until April 13, 1948. Harold Hal Block (August 2, 1913 – June 16, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois) was an American comedian, author, songwriter and television personality. ... Arnold Stang (born September 28, 1925 in Chelsea, Massachusetts) is a comic actor who plays a small and bespectacled, yet brash and knowing big-city type. ... Pert Kelton (1907-1968) was an American vaudeville, movie, and television actress. ... Jonathan Jack Albertson (June 16, 1907 - November 25, 1981) was considered a complete entertainer from the old school. ... Arthur Q. Bryan, as seen in one of his few film roles, from the 1941 film The Devil Bat Arthur Q. Bryan (May 8, 1899 - November 18, 1959) was a United States comedian and voice actor. ... Edward James Begley (March 25, 1901 – April 28, 1970) was an American film actor. ... Philip Morris USA is the United States tobacco division of Altria Group, Inc. ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

His last radio series was The Texaco Star Theater, which began September 22, 1948 on ABC and continued until June 15, 1949, with Berle heading the cast of Stang, Kelton and Gallop, along with Charles Irving, Kay Armen and double-talk specialist Al Kelly. It employed top comedy writers (Nat Hiken, brothers Danny and Neil Simon, Aaron Ruben), and Berle later recalled this series as "the best radio show I ever did... a hell of a funny variety show." It served as a springboard for Berle's rise as television's first major star. Texaco Star Theater, a comedy-variety show (radio, 1940-49; television, 1949-56), was one of the first hugely successful examples of U.S. television broadcasting. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nat Hiken (June 13, 1924 - December 7, 1968) was a pioneering American TV writer, producer, and songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1950s. ... Danny Simon (December 12, 1918, New York City – July 26, 2005, Portland, Oregon) was an American television writer and comedy teacher. ... Neil Simon (1966) Neil Simon (born Marvin Neil Simon July 4, 1927 in The Bronx, New York City), is a Jewish American playwright and screenwriter. ... A variety show is a show with a variety of acts, often including music and comedy skits, especially on television. ...

Mr. Television

In 1948, NBC decided to bring Texaco Star Theater from radio to television, with Berle as one of the show's four rotating hosts. For the fall season, NBC named Berle the permanent host. His highly visual, sometimes outrageous vaudeville style proved ideal for the burgeoning new medium. Berle and Texaco owned Tuesday nights for the next several years, reaching the number one slot in the Nielsen ratings and keeping it, with as much as an 80% share of the recorded viewing audience. Berle and the show each won Emmy Awards after the first season. Fewer movie tickets were sold on Tuesdays. Some theaters, restaurants and other businesses shut down for the hour or closed for the evening so their customers wouldn't miss Berle's antics [2]. Berle's autobiography notes that in Detroit, "an investigation took place when the water levels took a drastic drop in the reservoirs on Tuesday nights between 9 and 9:05. It turned out that everyone waited until the end of the Texaco Star Theater before going to the bathroom." Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand with a strong global presence. ... When TV viewers or entertainment professionals in the United States mention ratings they are often referring to Nielsen Ratings, a system developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the audience size and composition of television programming. ... An Emmy Award. ...

Berle is credited for the huge spike in the sale of TV sets during the medium's early years. After Berle's show began, set sales more than doubled, reaching two million in 1949. His stature as the medium's first superstar earned Berle the sobriquet "Mr. Television." [3] He also earned a slightly more familiar nickname after ending a 1949 broadcast with a brief ad lib remark to children watching the show: "Listen to your Uncle Miltie and go to bed." [4]

Berle asked NBC to switch to film to make possible future reruns and residuals, and he was not happy when NBC showed little interest. He also risked his newfound TV stardom at its zenith to challenge Texaco when the sponsor tried to prevent black performers from appearing. In his autobiography, Berle recalled the incident:

Another thing that was a constant anger to me was that I didn't have approval on the acts and performers I wanted on the show. I remember clashing with the sponsor and the advertising agency and the sponsor over my signing the Four Step Brothers for an appearance on the show. The only thing I could figure out was that there was an objection to black performers on the show, but I couldn't even find out who was objecting. "We just don't like them," I was told, but who the hell was "we"? Because I was riding high in 1950, I sent out the word: "If they don't go on, I don't go on." At ten minutes of eight--ten minutes before show time--I got permission for the Step Brothers to appear. If I broke the color-line policy or not, I don't know, but later on I had no trouble booking Bill Robinson or Lena Horne." The Four Step Brothers were a 1920s dancing team. ... Bill Bojangles Robinson (May 25, 1878 – November 25, 1949) was a pioneer and pre-eminent African-American tap dance performer. ... Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (born June 30, 1917 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York) is a popular singer of African-American descent. ...

Berle's TV decline

NBC signed him to an exclusive, unprecedented 30-year television contract in 1951. The problem with Berle's 30-year deal was that NBC could not have realized the relatively short lifespan of a comedian on television, compared to radio, where some careers had thrived for two decades. In part, this was due to the more ephemeral nature of visual comedy (those who don't adapt quickly don't survive), and a single television appearance could equal years of exposure on the nightclub circuit. It has also been said that Berle had less appeal with audiences outside the Borscht Belt as television expanded from big East Coast markets to smaller cities. In any event, Berle wore out his welcome on television almost as quickly as he had built it.

Texaco pulled out of sponsorship of the show in 1953. Buick picked it up, prompting a renaming to The Buick-Berle Show, the program's format retooled to show the backstage preparations to put on a variety show. Critics generally approved the changes, but Berle's ratings continued to fall and Buick pulled out after two seasons. By the time the again-renamed Milton Berle Show finished its only full season, Berle was already becoming history – though his final season was host to two of Elvis Presley's earliest television appearances, April 3, 1956, & June 5, 1956 ^[2]. “Elvis” redirects here. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

NBC finally cancelled the Berle show in June 1956, after the controversy caused by Elvis Presley's performance of Hound Dog. He later appeared in the Kraft Music Hall series, but NBC was finding increasingly fewer showcases for its one-time superstar. By 1960, he was reduced to hosting a game show, Jackpot Bowling, delivering his quips between the efforts of bowling contestants. “Elvis” redirects here. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Life after The Milton Berle Show

In Las Vegas, Berle played to packed showrooms at Caesar's Palace, the Sands, the Desert Inn and other casino hotels. Berle had appeared at the El Rancho, one of the first Vegas hotels, in the late 1940s. In addition to constant club appearances, Berle performed on Broadway in Herb Gardner's The Goodbye People in 1968. Vegas redirects here. ... The main entrance. ... The Rat Pack (Peter, Frank, Sammy, and Dean) The Sands Hotel was a legendary Las Vegas, Nevada hotel/casino that operated from December 15, 1952 to June 30, 1996. ... The Desert Inn was a Las Vegas, Nevada hotel/casino that operated from April 24, 1950 to August 28, 2000. ... The Thunderbird Hotel was a Las Vegas, Nevada hotel/casino that operated from September 2, 1948 to July 6, 1992, and was the fourth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Herb Gardner (December 28, 1934 - September 25, 2003) was a commercial artist, cartoonist, playwright, and screenwriter. ... 1968 Playbill The Goodbye People is a play by Herb Gardner. ...

He appeared in numerous films, including Always Leave Them Laughing (1949) with Virginia Mayo and Bert Lahr; Let's Make Love, with Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand (1960); It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963); The Loved One (1965); The Oscar (1966); Lepke (1975); Woody Allen's Broadway Danny Rose (1984) and Driving Me Crazy (1991). Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 232 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (240 × 620 pixel, file size: 71 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Always Leave Them Laughing film poster This image is of a poster, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher... Virginia Mayo (November 30, 1920 – January 17, 2005) was an American film actress. ... Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion. ... Lets Make Love is a 1960 comedy musical film made by 20th Century Fox. ... Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe Award-winning American actress, singer, model and pop icon. ... Yves Montand Yves Montand (October 13, 1921 – November 9, 1991) was a French/Italian actor, born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Alto, Italy. ... Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is an American motion picture directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 of stolen cash by a diverse and colourful group of strangers. ... The Loved One was also a short movie directed by wrestler Mick Foley chronicling the rise to success of his character Dude Love. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Woody Allen (born Allen Stewart Königsberg on December 1, 1935) is a three-time Academy Award-winning American film director, writer, actor, jazz musician, comedian, and playwright. ... Broadway Danny Rose is a 1984 film written, directed by and starring Woody Allen. ...

Freed in part from the obligations of his NBC contract, Berle was signed in 1966 to a new weekly variety series on ABC. The show failed to capture a large audience and was cancelled after one season. He later appeared as guest villain Louie the Lilac on ABC's Batman series. His other TV guest appearances included The Jack Benny Show, Make Room for Daddy, The Lucy Show Here's Lucy, The Big Valley, The Jackie Gleason Show, What's My Line?, Get Smart, I Dream Of Jeannie, I've Got a Secret, The Mod Squad, Ironside, Mannix, McCloud, The Love Boat, CHiPs, Fame, Fantasy Island, Gimme a Break, Diff'rent Strokes, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote, Beverly Hills 90210, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Nanny, Roseanne and Sister, Sister. 2002 identity of the ABC Circle logo, designed by Paul Rand in 1962. ... This article is about the 1960s television series. ... Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was a comedian, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the most prominent early stars of American radio and television. ... The Danny Thomas Show (also known as Make Room for Daddy for the first three seasons) was a comedy television series starring Danny Thomas, Jean Hagen, Rusty Hamer, Sherry Jackson and Louise Beavers. ... Lucille Ball in still from a 1966 episode of The Lucy Show The Lucy Show was Lucille Balls follow up show to I Love Lucy. ... TV Guide cover, promoting Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burtons famous appearance on a 1970 episode of Heres Lucy Heres Lucy was Lucille Balls third network television sitcom. ... The Big Valley was a television Western which ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969. ... The Jackie Gleason Show was a popular television variety show that starred Jackie Gleason and ran in a variety of incarnations, from 1952 to 1970. ... Whats My Line? was a weekly panel game show originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. ... Get Smart was an American comedy television series that satirized the secret agent genre. ... For the episode of The Twilight Zone, see I Dream of Genie (The Twilight Zone). ... Ive Got a Secret (abbreviated as IGAS) was a weekly panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television and was created by Allan Sherman as essentially a knockoff of Whats My Line?. The original version of the show premiered in June 19, 1952... The Mod Squad was a television police drama from executive producers Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas in the United States, that ran on ABC from 1968-1973. ... Ironside (originally broadcast under the name A Man Called Ironside in the United Kingdom) was a Universal television series which ran on NBC from March 28, 1967 to January 16, 1975. ... Mannix was a television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Developed by executive producer Bruce Geller (who also created Mission: Impossible), the title character played by Mike Connors (an actor of Armenian heritage) is an Armenian-American private investigator. ... McCloud featuring Dennis Weaver McCloud was an American television police drama that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1977. ... The Love Boat was an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from 1977 until 1986. ... CHiPs was an American television series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios that aired on NBC from September 15, 1977 to July 17, 1983. ... Fame was an American television series that ran from 1982 to 1987. ... Fantasy Island refers to two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network. ... Opening titles from 1983. ... Diffrent Strokes is an American sitcom that aired on the NBC television network from 1978 to 1985, and on ABC from 1985 to 1986. ... Matlock was an American television legal drama starring Andy Griffith as attorney Ben Matlock. ... Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher Murder, She Wrote was a popular, long-running television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. ... Beverly Hills 90210 was a popular primetime television soap opera that aired from October 1990 to May 2000 on the Fox Network in the United States and subsequently on various networks around the world. ... The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an Emmy, BAFTA, and RTS-award winning popular American television sitcom that aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. ... The Nanny is a popular American situation comedy co-produced by Sternin & Fraser Ink, Inc. ... Roseanne is an Emmy Award winning American sitcom which aired on ABC from 1988 to 1997, starring stand-up comedian Roseanne Barr. ... Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about twin girls, separated and adopted at birth, one day find each other face to face after fourteen years. ...

Like his contemporary Jackie Gleason, Berle proved a solid dramatic actor and was acclaimed for several such performances, most notably his lead role in "Doyle Against The House" on The Dick Powell Show in 1961, a role for which he later received an Emmy nomination. He also played the part of a blind survivor of an airplane crash in Seven in Darkness, the first in ABC's popular Movie of the Week series, and was often seen on The Hollywood Palace variety show on ABC. Herbert John Jackie Gleason (February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an American comedian, actor, and musician. ... The Dick Powell Show is a television show that ran from 1961 - 1963. ... An Emmy Award. ... The ABC Movie of the Week was a weekly anthology series, featuring made-for-TV movies, that aired on the ABC network in various permutations from 1969 to 1976. ... The Hollywood Palace was an hour-long television variety show produced by Nick Vanoff. ...

During this period, Berle was named to the Guinness Book of World Records for the greatest number of charity performances made by a show-business performer. Unlike the high-profile shows done by Bob Hope to entertain the troops, Berle did more shows, over a period of 50 years, on a lower-profile basis. Berle received an award for entertaining at stateside military bases in World War I as a child performer, in addition to traveling to foreign bases in World War II and Vietnam. The first charity telethon (for the Damon Runyan Cancer Fund) was hosted by Berle in 1949 [5]. A permanent fixture at charity benefits in the Hollywood area, he was instrumental in raising millions for charitable causes. The Guinness Book of Records (or in recent editions Guinness World Records, and in previous US editions Guinness Book of World Records) is a book published annually, containing an internationally recognized collection of superlatives: both in terms of human achievement and the extrema of the natural world. ... Bob Hope, KBE (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), born Leslie Townes Hope, was an English-Born American entertainer who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio and television, in movies, and in performing tours for U.S. Military personnel, well known for his good natured humor and career longevity. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The 2005 Telethon on Seven Perth. ... Damon Runyon Damon Runyon (October 4, 1884 - December 10, 1946) was a newspaperman and writer. ...

The second time around: Late career

In 1988, a series of syndicated TV specials with the umbrella title "Milton Berle: The Second Time Around," recycled footage from the live Texaco Star Theater programs (unseen for decades) helped to introduce Berle's brand of comedy to a new audience. One of his most popular performances in his later years was guest starring in 1993 in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a womanizing, wise-cracking patient. Most of his dialogue was improvised and he shocked the studio audience by blurting out a four-letter word by mistake. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an Emmy, BAFTA, and RTS-award winning popular American television sitcom that aired on NBC from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. ...

Berle appeared in drag in the video for "Round and Round" by the 1980s metal band Ratt (his nephew Marshall Berle was then their manager). Round and Round is a hit song by the glam metal band Ratt, and is undoubtedly the best known track of their career. ... Ratt is an American sleaze metal and semi glam metal band that formed in San Diego and enjoyed significant commercial success during the 1980s. ... Marshall Berle, nephew of Milton Berle, was manager of the Los Angeles rock bands Spirit and Ratt. ...

On April 14, 1979, Berle guest-hosted Saturday Night Live. During the performance, he seemed to spend as much time trying to upstage the show's youthful cast as he did trying to work with or augment them. Berle's long reputation for taking control of an entire television production—whether invited to do so or not—was a cause of stress on the set. One of the show's writers, Rosie Shuster, described the rehearsals for the Berle SNL show and the telecast as "watching a comedy train accident in slow motion on a loop." Upstaging, camera mugging, inserting old comedy bits and a maudlin performance of "September Song" complete with pre-arranged standing ovation (something producer Lorne Michaels had never sanctioned), resulted in Berle being banned from the show. In the weeks that followed, Berle's household in Beverly Hills received rambling, stoned phone calls from John Belushi, loudly proclaiming that Berle was the greatest comedian in history. April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... This article is about the American television series. ... Lorne Michaels (born Lorne Michael Lipowitz on November 17, 1944) is an Emmy-winning Canadian-born television producer, writer and comedian best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live and producing the various film and TV projects that spun off from it. ... John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor and musician, notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoons Animal House and The Blues Brothers. ...

Another well-known incident of upstaging occurred during the 1982 Emmy Awards, when Berle and Martha Raye were the presenters of the Emmy for Outstanding Writing. Berle was reluctant to give up the microphone to the award's recipients, from Second City Television, and interrupted actor Joe Flaherty's acceptance speech several times. After Flaherty would make a joke, Berle would reply sarcastically "Oh, that's funny." However the kindly, smiling Flaherty's response "Go to sleep Uncle Miltie" flustered Berle who could only reply with a stunned "What...?" SCTV later created a parody sketch of the incident, in which Flaherty beats up a Berle look-alike, shouting, "You'll never ruin another acceptance speech, Uncle Miltie!" An Emmy Award. ... Martha Raye (August 27, 1916 – October 19, 1994) was an American comic actress and singer who performed in movies, and later on television. ... Second City Television, or SCTV, was a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from the Toronto troupe of The Second City. ... Joe Flaherty Joe Flaherty (June 21, 1941) is an American Canadian comedian. ...

Berle was again on the receiving end of an onstage jibe at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards where RuPaul notoriously responded to Berle's reference of having once worn dresses himself (during his old television days) with the quip that Berle now wore diapers. A surprised Berle replied, "Oh, we're going to ad lib? I'll check my brain and we'll start even." The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... See AdLib for the computer sound card manufacturer. ...

Uncle Miltie offstage

In 1947, Milton Berle founded the Los Angeles Friars Club at the old Savoy Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. Other founding members included Jimmy Durante, George Jessel, Robert Taylor, and Bing Crosby. In 1961, the club moved to Beverly Hills. The club is a private show business club famous for its celebrity members and roasts, where a member is mocked by their club friends in good fun. The Friars Club is a New York City club now with nationwide branches famous for its risqué celebrity roasts. ... “Inka Dinka Doo” redirects here. ... Sir George Jessel - English Jurist George Jessel (actor) - American actor This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Robert Taylor (August 5, 1911 – June 8, 1969), was an American actor. ... Harry Lillis Bing Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor whose career lasted from 1926 until his death in 1977. ... For other uses, see: Beverly Hills (disambiguation). ... A roast is an event in which an individual is subject to publicly bearing insults, praise, outlandish true and untrue stories, and heartwarming tributes. ...

Unlike many of his peers, Berle's off-stage lifestyle did not include drugs or drinking, but did include cigars, a "who's who" list of beautiful women including Marilyn Monroe, and a lifelong addiction to gambling, primarily horse racing. Some felt his obsession with "the ponies" was responsible for Berle never amassing the wealth or business success of others in his position. Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe Award-winning American actress, singer, model and pop icon. ... Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ...

Berle was also notorious within show business for the rumored size of his penis. Phil Silvers once told a story about standing next to Berle at a urinal, glancing down, and quipping, "You'd better feed that thing, or it's liable to turn on you!" Saturday Night Live writer Alan Zweibel, who had written many Friars Club jokes about Berle's penis for other comedians, described being treated to a private showing: "He just takes out this-- this anaconda. He lays it on the table and I'm looking into this thing, right? I'm looking into the head of Milton Berle's dick. It was enormous. It was like a pepperoni. And he goes, 'What do you think of the boy?' And I'm looking right at it and I go, 'Oh, it's really, really nice.'" At a memorial service for Berle at the New York Friars Club, Freddie Roman solemnly announced, "On May 1st and May 2nd, his penis will be buried."^[3] Phil Silvers (May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and comedy actor. ... Alan Zweibel (born 1950 is a producer and writer on such productions as Saturday Night Live, PBS Great Performances, and Its Garry Shandlings Show. ... Freddie Roman (born 1937 in Jamaica, Queens, NY) Stand-up comedian, and king of one-liners, best known for his frequent appearances at Borscht Belt clubs. ...

Berle was known to have a colorful vocabulary and few limits on when it was used. Surprisingly, however, he "worked clean" for his entire onstage career, except for the infamous Friars Club all-male, private celebrity roasts. Berle often criticized younger comedians like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin about their X-rated humor, and challenged them to be just as funny without the four-letter words. Hundreds of younger comics, including several comedy superstars, were encouraged and guided by Berle. Despite some less than flattering (and true) stories told about Berle being difficult to work with, according to his son, he was a source of encouragement and technical assistance for many new comics.^{[citation needed]} The Friars Club is a New York City club now with nationwide branches famous for its risqué celebrity roasts. ... For other uses, see Celebrity (disambiguation). ... Lenny Bruce (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), born Leonard Alfred Schneider, was a controversial American stand-up comedian, writer, social critic and satirist of the 1950s and 1960s. ... George Dennis Carlin (born May 12, 1937 in New York, New York)[2] is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. ...

Berle once made fun of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis while they were on stage, calling them "headhunters". Miles Davis said that he confronted Berle later on in life and that Berle apologized. Charles Bird Parker, Jr. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ...

Berle was well known among his peers to have one of the largest joke collections in the world, which Berle estimated to be between five and six million jokes. Berle had a reputation for stealing material from other comedians, which eventually became known to the public. Bob Hope quipped onstage with Berle, that he "never heard a joke he didn't steal." "Uncle Miltie" would then mug for the cameras with an exaggerated innocent face. On more than one occasion, Berle would commend a co-star for a punchline, saying, "I wish I'd said that," to which the co-star would invariably reply, "Oh, you will." Columnist Walter Winchell famously labelled Berle with the unflattering nickname "The Thief of Bad Gags." Walter Winchell (April 7, 1897 – February 20, 1972), an American newspaper and radio commentator, invented the gossip column at the New York Evening Graphic. ...

Occasional claims by Berle and others that these jokes were transferred to computer media are suspect, as a member of Berle's family verified that the majority of them were on sheets and scraps of paper and index cards in a vast, disorganized collection amassed over decades, well before personal computers. The books Milton Berle's Private Joke File and The Rest of the Best of Milton Berle's Private Joke File each contained 10,000 of these jokes.

Later life and death

As "Mr. Television," Berle was one of the first seven people to be inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984. The following year, he appeared on NBC's Amazing Stories (created by Steven Spielberg) in an episode called "Fine Tuning". In this episode, friendly aliens from space receive TV signals from the Earth of the 1950s and travel to Hollywood in search of their idols, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, Burns and Allen—and Milton Berle. Speaking gibberish, Berle is the only person able to communicate directly with the aliens. The Television Academy Hall of Fame was founded by a former president of the Television Academy, the late John H. Mitchell, to honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to television. ... Amazing Stories was the name of an American television show put together by director Stephen Spielberg from 1985 to 1987. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director and producer. ... ... Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an iconic American comedian, actress and star of the landmark sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, and Heres Lucy. ... Herbert John Jackie Gleason (February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an American comedian, actor, and musician. ... George Burns & Gracie Allen Burns and Allen were an American comedy duo consisting of George Burns and his wife, Gracie Allen. ...

In 1989, Berle's third wife, Ruth, died after 35 years of marriage. Berle married his fourth wife, Lorna in 1991. In later life, Berle found solace in Christian Science, and called himself a Jew and a Christian Scientist.^[4] Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Christian Science is a religious teaching regarding the efficacy of spiritual healing according to the interpretation of the Bible by Mary Baker Eddy, in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (first published in 1875). ...

Berle died in Los Angeles of colon cancer on March 27, 2002. Berle left detailed arrangements for burial with his third wife, Ruth, at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Burbank. However, his fourth wife, Lorna Adams, altered the plan so that Berle was interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Mount Sinai Memorial Park is a Jewish cemetery located at 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles, California. ... Founded May 1, 1887 Incorporated July 8, 1911 General Information County Los Angeles County, California Latitude Longitude 34°1049 N 118°1942 W Area  - Total  - Water 45 km² (17. ... The Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, in Culver City, California. ... Motto: The Heart of Screenland Location of Culver City in California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1917-09-07 [2] Government  - City Manager Jerry Fulwood [1] Area  - City  5. ...

He was survived by adopted daughter Victoria, born in 1945, adopted son William, born in 1961, and Bob Williams, a biological son born in 1951. William Berle and Brad Lewis collaborated on the biography, My Father, Uncle Miltie (Barricade Books, 1999). His nephew, Warren Berlinger, is also an actor. In 2006, Jean Forray (Junior Standish), the mother of Bob Williams, died. Warren Berlinger (born August 31, 1937) is an American character actor, and also the nephew of comedian Milton Berle. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Broadway

• Earl Carroll's Vanities of 1932 (1932) - revue - in the roles of "Mortimer" in the sketch "Mourning Becomes Impossible", "Joe Miller, Jr." in "What Price Jokes", "Frank" in "Two Sailors", "Paul" in "The Cabinet of Doctor X", the "Announcer" in "Studio W.M.C.A." the "Defendant" in "Trial By Jury" and "Milton" in "The Bar Relief"
• Saluta (1934) - musical, co-lyricist and performer cast in the role of "'Windy' Walker"
• See My Lawyer (1939) - play - performer cast in the role of "Arthur Lee"
• Ziegfeld Follies of 1943 (1943) - revue - performer in the role of "Cecil" in Counter Attack, "J. Pierswift Armour" in The Merchant of Venison, "Perry Johnson" in Loves-A-Poppin, "Escamillio" in Carmen in Zoot, "Charlie Grant" Mr Grant Goes To Washington, "'The Micromaniac' Singer" and "'Hold That Smile' Dancer"
• I'll Take the High Road (1943) - play - co-producer
• Seventeen (1951) - musical - co-producer
• The Goodbye People (1968) - performer cast in the role of "Max Silverman"

A revue is a type of theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches that satirize contemporary figures, news, or literature. ... The Black Crook (1866) is considered the first musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. ... For other uses, see Play (disambiguation). ... The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. ... A revue is a type of theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches that satirize contemporary figures, news, or literature. ... For other uses, see Play (disambiguation). ... The Black Crook (1866) is considered the first musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. ...

Filmography

• 1914: The Perils of Pauline
• 1917: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
• 1920: The Mark of Zorro (uncredited), Birthright
• 1921: Little Lord Fauntleroy (uncredited)
• 1922: Tess of the Storm Country (uncredited)
• 1923: Ruth of the Range (uncredited)
• 1933: Poppin' the Cork
• 1937: New Faces of 1937
• 1938: Radio City Revels
• 1940: Li'l Abner (title song with Ben Oakland and Milton Drake)
• 1941: Tall, Dark and Handsome, The Great American Broadcast, Sun Valley Serenade, Rise and Shine
• 1942: A Gentleman at Heart, Whispering Ghosts, Over My Dead Body
• 1943: Margin for Error
• 1949: Always Leave Them Laughing
• 1960: The Bellboy
• 1960: Let's Make Love
• 1963: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
• 1965: The Loved One (film)
• 1966: The Oscar (film), Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title
• 1967: The Happening, Who's Minding the Mint?
• 1968: Silent Treatment, Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, For Singles Only
• 1969: Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?, Seven in Darkness
• 1972: Evil Roy Slade
• 1974: Journey Back to Oz (voice)
• 1975: Lepke
• 1976: Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood
• 1979: The Muppet Movie
• 1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure
• 1983: Cracking Up
• 1988: Side by Side
• 1991: Driving Me Crazy
• 1995: Storybook

The Perils of Pauline was a silent movie serial which debuted in 1914. ... Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917) is a silent film directed by Marshall Neilan based upon the novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. ... The Mark of Zorro is the title of three films based on the novel The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley, which introduced the character of Zorro: The Mark of Zorro, a silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks released in 1920 The Mark of Zorro, a film starring Tyrone Power released... Birthright can mean: An object or title to which a person is entitled, due to circumstances before their birth; see inheritance. ... Little Lord Fauntleroy is a sentimental childrens novel by American (English-born) author Frances Hodgson Burnett, serialized in St. ... Tess of the Storm Country is a 1922 melodrama starring Mary Pickford, directed by John S. Robertson, and based upon a Grace Miller White novel. ... Sun Valley Serenade is a 1941 film starring Sonja Henie, John Payne and Milton Berle. ... Rise and Shine is a music album by popular childrens entertainer Raffi, released in 1982. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... The Bellboy is a 1960 movie starring Jerry Lewis. ... Lets Make Love is a 1960 comedy musical film made by 20th Century Fox. ... Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is an American motion picture directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 of stolen cash by a diverse and colourful group of strangers. ... The Loved One is a 1965 film based on The Loved One: An Anglo-American Tragedy (1948) a short satirical novel by Evelyn Waugh about the funeral business in Los Angeles. ... The Oscar is a 1966 comedy film starring, written by Harlan Ellison, Clarence Greene, Russell Rouse and Richard Sale , directed by Rouse and starring Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Ernest Borgnine, Stephen Boyd and Tony Bennett. ... The Happening is a 1967 comedy film starring Anthony Quinn, Michael Parks, Faye Dunaway, Robert Walker Jr. ... Whos Minding the Mint? is a comedy movie from 1967. ... The silent treatment is a form of and social sanction. ... Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? is a 1969 film directed by and starring Anthony Newley. ... Evil Roy Slade was a 1972 made-for-television comedy film about the meanest villain in the West. ... Journey Back To Oz is an official animated sequel to the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Muppet Movie is the first of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Hensons Muppets. ... Pee-wee escapes from Warner Bros. ... Cracking Up was filmed in June 1982. ... Side by Side can refer to: Side By Side (band) Side by Side (song) Side by Side (The Price is Right pricing game) This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

References

Sources

• Berle, Milton with Haskel Frankel. Milton Berle, an Autobiography. New York: Dell, 1975. ISBN 0-440-15626-2
• Dunning, John. On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-19-507678-8
• McNeil, Alex. Total Television. New York: Penguin Books, 1996. ISBN 0-14-004911-8
• Shales, Tom and James Andrew Miller. Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. New York: Little, Brown, 2002. ISBN 0-316-78146-0
• Berle, William and Lewis, Brad. "My Father, Uncle Miltie". New York: Barricade Books, 1999. ISBN 1-56980-149-5

Listen to

• Free OTR: Milton Berle Show (two episodes)

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Milton Berle

• Milton Berle at the Internet Movie Database
• Museum of Broadcast Communications: Milton Berle
• Museum of Broadcast Communications: The Milton Berle Show
• Find-A-Grave profile for Milton Berle