Fred Allen
Birthday:
May 31, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Birth Name:
John Florence Sullivan
Fred Allen, the well-known comedian who went on to star in radio, television, and film, was born John Florence Sullivan 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 a network radio...
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Fred Allen, the well-known comedian who went on to star in radio, television, and film, was born John Florence Sullivan 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 a network radio show entitled at various times "Linit Bath Club Revue", Town Hall Tonight", Texaco Star Theater" and finally "The Fred Allen Show" from 1932 to 1949. He was also a semi-regular on the network radio program "The Big Show" from 1950 to 1952. He was a frequent guest on "The Jack Benny Program". Jack and Fred, good friends in real life, had an accidental on air feud that begin in 1936 and lasted off and on until Fred Allen's passing.On television, he was one of the regular rotating hosts of the Colgate Comedy Hour (1950), but did not renew his initial contract due to health reasons. He also starred on television's "Judge for Yourself" from 1953 to 1954 and was a regular panelist on What's My Line" from 1954 until his death.He appeared in such films as "Thanks a Million", "Love Thy Neighbor", "Sally, Irene, and Mary", and "It's in the Bag".He wrote two autobiographies. The first,about his days in radio, published in 1954, entitled "Treadmill to Oblivion". The second, about his days in vaudeville, was published after his death by his wife Portland Hoffa, entitled "Much Ado About Me." (1956). Fred was in the process of completing the final chapter at the time of his death. Also always known as an avid letter writer, a collection of these entitled "Fred Allen's Letters" was published in 1966. Show less «
California is a fine place to live--if you happen to be an orange.
California is a fine place to live--if you happen to be an orange.
You can take all of the sincerity in Hollywood and put into a mosquito's navel and still have room for two caraway seeds and a producer's he...Show more »
You can take all of the sincerity in Hollywood and put into a mosquito's navel and still have room for two caraway seeds and a producer's heart. Show less «
A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
Television is a device that permits people who haven't anything to do to watch people who can't do anything.
Television is a device that permits people who haven't anything to do to watch people who can't do anything.
Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.
Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.
To a newspaperman a human being is an item with the skin wrapped around it.
To a newspaperman a human being is an item with the skin wrapped around it.
I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college and got my tuition fees back.
I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college and got my tuition fees back.
[on Ed Sullivan] He'll be around for as long as someone else has talent.
[on Ed Sullivan] He'll be around for as long as someone else has talent.
My eyes look as though they are peeping over two dirty ping pong balls.
My eyes look as though they are peeping over two dirty ping pong balls.
Hollywood is a place where people from Iowa mistake each other for stars.
Hollywood is a place where people from Iowa mistake each other for stars.
[on committee] Committee] a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide nothing can be done.
[on committee] Committee] a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide nothing can be done.
Television is a new medium. It's called a medium because it's rare when anything is well-done.
Television is a new medium. It's called a medium because it's rare when anything is well-done.
An actor's popularity is fleeting. His success has the life expectancy of a small boy who is about to look into a gas tank with a lighted ma...Show more »
An actor's popularity is fleeting. His success has the life expectancy of a small boy who is about to look into a gas tank with a lighted match. Show less «
[observation, 1956] Vaudeville is dead. The acrobats, the animal acts, the dancers, the singers and the old-time comedians have taken their ...Show more »
[observation, 1956] Vaudeville is dead. The acrobats, the animal acts, the dancers, the singers and the old-time comedians have taken their final bows and disappeared into the wings of obscurity. For 50 years vaudeville was the popular entertainment of the masses. Nomadic tribes of nondescript players roamed the land. The vaudeville actor was part gypsy and part suitcase. With his brash manner, flashy clothes, capes and cane, and accompanied by his gaudy womenfolk, the vaudevillian brought happiness and excitement to the communities he visited. Vaudeville was more a matter of style than of material. It was not so much what the two- and three-a-day favorites said and did, as how they said and did it. For 50 years vaudeville's minstrels found their way into all lands, preaching their gospel of merriment and song, and rousing the rest of the world to laughter and to tears. A few diehards who knew and enjoyed vaudeville hover over their television sets, hoping for a miracle. They believe this electronic device is a modern oxygen tent that in some mysterious way can revive vaudeville and return its colorful performers of yesteryear to the current scene. The optimism of these day and night dreamers is wasted. Their vigils are futile. Vaudeville is dead. Period. Show less «
[on Ed Sullivan] He's a pointer. A dog could do that show.
[on Ed Sullivan] He's a pointer. A dog could do that show.
