Jan Murray with Emerson College

In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Jan Murray (1916-2006) talks about his early comedy career. He recalls recreating comedy acts in vaudeville shows and getting his first entertainment gigs, including at the Hippodrome Theatre and the Melbourne Hotel. He details how he puts together his comedy routines and gets the audience used to his persona, and comments on the differences between comedians of different generations. Murray discusses the various game shows he hosted, including Blind Date, Dollar a Second, and Treasure Hunt, and describes the skills necessary to be a funny host. He recounts how he honed his comedic talent and shares show business advice that Al Jolson gave him. Murray also recalls interactions with other professionals that he's worked with, including Milton Berle, Norm Krasner, Shelley Winters, Buddy Hackett, and Henny Youngman. He talks about performing at benefits and reflects on why comedy is important and whether his career was worth it. Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on January 17, 2006 in Hollywood, CA.