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"You can lead a man to Congress, but you can't make him think."
Mendel "Milton Berle" Berlinger (1908-2002) was an Emmy-winning American
comedian and actor who, as the host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater from
1948–1955, is remembered as the first major TV star, known to millions as Uncle Miltie or Mr. Television.
Milton Berle was born in Manhattan to Sarah and Moses Berlinger (a paint and varnish
salesman). He started appearing in films at the age of 6 (although perhaps not in
as many as his later accounts claimed) and took his professional name, Milton
Berle, at the age of 16. His mother apparently became so stage struck that
she later changed her name to Sandra Berle.
In 1916 he was enrolled in the Professional Children's School, and made his
stage debut at the age of 12 in Florodora. The show transferred to
Broadway after four weeks, launching him on an eight decade comedy career
including Broadway, vaudeville, Las Vegas, films, TV and radio.
The Texaco Star Theater began on ABC radio in September 1948, moving to
Tuesday night TV shortly after. The show held the number one ratings slot
for some years, sometimes achieving an 80% audience share and causing theaters,
restaurants and businesses to shut down for the hour, or even the whole evening,
rather than compete with the show. Apparently, there was even an
investigation into the drastic drop in reservoir water levels between 9.00 and
9.05, which was resolved when officials realized that this was when the
Texaco Star Theater ended and the audience rushed for the bathroom!
The show also triggered a massive increase in TV sale, which doubled to two
million in 1949.
Married four times, Berle died on March 27, 2002; the same day that Director
Billy Wilder and comedian Dudley Moore also died.
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