George Jessel (actor)
George Albert Jessel ( born April 3, 1898 in New York City; † 24 May 1981 in Los Angeles ) was an American film actor and producer who in 1937 was host of the Academy Awards, and because of many other presentations nicknamed the " Toastmaster General of the United States " was
Biography
First appearances in vaudeville and host of the Oscars
Jessel began after attending public schools already nine years as a singer along with Gus Edwards. The age of eleven, he entered on the side of Eddie Cantor on with performances in the style of the U.S. vaudeville and so for him it was not unusual that he performed with other artists such as Cantor and Al Jolson with black painted faces as color. After 1915 he was on a tour of the British Isles, he sat in 1917 as The Boy monologist his appearances in vaudeville continued and stepped in numerous Broadway productions such as The Shubert Gaieties, George Jessel 's Troubles, The Jazz Singer, The War Song thereafter, whose co-author he was, Joseph and His Brethren, and high- Kickers. He also wore his appearances to the success of New Brighton Theatre in Brighton Beach on Coney Iceland at.
Together with Eddie Cantor, he has also played more vaudeville tours, and was also a professional master of ceremonies and after-dinner speaker. After numerous appearances in silent movies of Warner Bros. in the 1920s, he was offered in its first sound film The Jazz Singer (1927 ) by the production company the title role. As Jessel and Warner Bros., however, could not agree because of the Gage, Al Jolson was given the role of, Jakie Rabinowitz. Jessel called it later again and again as his greatest mistake.
Large notoriety he achieved as a copywriter at the time known songs such as Sonny Boy, My Yiddishe Mama and My Mother's Eyes, which he sang in his own first sound film Lucky Boy 1929.
After his accession to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ( ASCAP ) in 1937, he continued his career as a songwriter and worked there with Harry Ruby, Ben Oakland, Herb Magidson, Milton Drake, William White and Roy Turk. Among the developed thereby songs include Stop Kicking My Heart Around, And He'd Say Oo -La -La Wee Wee, Oh How I Laugh When I Think How I Cried About You, Roses in December, You'll Be Reminded of me, If I Ever Lost You, Julie, Dreamland Rendezvous and As Long As I Love.
He also had numerous appearances as master of ceremonies and presenter of shows, awards ceremonies and other events and thus received the nickname " Toastmaster General of the United States ". He had as a moderator of the Oscar ceremony, he celebrated 1937th Great success through his own radio show ( George Jessel Show, 1938), not least because of the performances by musicians such as the bandleader Tommy Tucker his best-known appearance.
Actor, producer and private life
Later he had several roles in movies, where he thereby often represented himself. Among the best known films include Stage Door Canteen (1943 ) by Frank Borzage, Four Jills in a Jeep (1944 ) by William A. Seiter, Beau James ( 1957) by Melville Shavelson, Juke Box Rhythm (1959 ) by Arthur Dreifuss, The Busy Body ( 1967) by William Castle, Valley of the Dolls ( 1967) by Mark Robson and Jerome Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Can Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969 ) by Anthony Newly.
He also was a film producer and produced for 20th Century Fox films such as The Charlatan (1947 ), The Pirate Queen ( 1951).
In the 1960s, he has had numerous guest appearances on television series such as 1963 as " Schleussel " 77 Sunset Strip and in 1965-1966 as a guest presenter at Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine.
At the Academy Awards in 1970, he was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, a " Honorary Award ". In addition, he received a "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame under the number 1777 Vine Street. Already on March 1, 1949, he left behind after numerous other stars of his hand and footprints in Grauman 's Chinese Theatre.
His recent film credits include The Phynx (1970 ) by Lee H. Katzin, Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood by Michael Winner and Reds (1981 ) by Warren Beatty, who was not performed until after his death.
Jessel was married three times, including with the film actresses Norma Talmadge and Lois Andrews. After his divorce, he married Lois Andrews from 1943 not again. In his memoirs, So Help Me ( 1943), This Way, Miss (1955) and especially The World I Lived however, In ( 1975) he admitted love relationships with colleagues such as Pola Negri, Helen Morgan and Lupe Vélez.
Even many years after his death, he had such a reputation that his voice the inspiration for Billy West's voice for the character " Dr. John Zoidberg " in the cartoon series Futurama (1999 ) provided.