American comic 1894-1956 . Scarce BBC & NBC London palladium radio broadcast signed programme . Plus newspaper clipping of show .Date of Birth
31 May 1894, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Date of Death
17 March 1956, New York City, New York, USA
Fred Allen, the well-known comedian who went on to star in radio, television, and film, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1894 and educated at Boston University. His Broadway shows include "The Passing Show of 1922" and "The Greenwich Village Follies". He produced, wrote, and starred in "The Fred Allen Show" on radio from 1939 to 1949 and starred on the television show "Judge for Yourself" from 1953 to 1954. He appeared in such films as "Thanks a Million", "Love Thy Neighbor", and "Sally, Irene, and Mary". He wrote two autobiographies. The first, about his days in radio, published in 1954, is entitled "Treadmill to Oblivion". The second, about his days in vaudeville, and published after his death, is "Much Ado About Me."
One of Fred Allen's best known schticks was his long-standing feud with fellow comedian Jack Benny. The two often appeared on each other's radio programs to trade barbs. Sadly, other than an appearance on "The Jack Benny Program," in which Fred tries to steal Jack's sponsor, this did not carry over into television, as Allen died shortly after beginning his own TV show. In real life, of course, Benny and Allen were great friends, and Benny even took time on his radio program to eulogize Allen after his death.
Fred Allen was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
Star of CBS Radio's "Texaco Star Theater" (1940-1944).
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith; pg. 10-12. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Worked in vaudeville under a variety of names, including John Sullivan (the one his parents gave him), Paul Huckle, Fred St. James and Benjamin Franklin.
In July, 1955, had an appendectomy, which caused him to miss two telecasts of "What's My Line?" (1950) where he had found a home as a regular weekly panelist.
He was awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio (6709 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard) and for Television (7021 Hollywood Boulevard) in Hollywood, California.
Distant relative of comedian Joe Lipari.
His face & baggy eyes became familiar to millions of movie goers in his mid 30s.
Price: £30.00
