About
"There's something medicinal about standing on the stage and listening to thousands of people laugh, or hundreds of people, or sixty people if the room is small enough. And to hear them laugh at something you are doing -- boy that's heady medicine. Tough to get it anywhere else."
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.
Highlights
Jan Murray on a one-liner doctor joke from Henny Youngman
Jan Murray on hosting Treasure Hunt and the popularity of the show
Jan Murray on one of his favorite jokes
Jan Murray on performing comedy as medicine
Jan Murray on re-creating vaudeville comedy acts for his mother as a kid
Jan Murray on the advantage of being able to work with other people
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On working in the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore; on Milton Berle in vaudeville; on putting together and refining his stand-up comedy routines; on recognizing the great comedians of each generation and the differences between them; on respecting the audience as a performer
On film writer Norm Krasner and being his neighbor; on getting the audience used to his persona; on getting material from his environment and adapting it to local culture; on one of his favorite jokes
On being the first comedian to host a game show live; on hosting Blind Date, Dollar a Second, Treasure Hunt, and other games shows; on the necessary skills for being a funny host; on having Mogen David wine company as a sponsor
On his start in show business and being a naturally funny kid; on going to a Vaudeville house with his mother as a kid and recreating the comedy acts; on his early career performing in social clubs, the Catskill Mountains, and the Melbourne Hotel
On honing his comedic talent; on Al Jolson's advice for him; on whether his career was worth it
On the shows he is most proud of; on performing at benefits; on why humor is important; on performing with Shelley Winters at the Paramount Theatre; on one of his favorite doctor jokes
Shows
Blind Date
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date
Dollar a Second
Jan Murray on hosting Dollar a Second after Blind Date was canceled
Treasure Hunt
Jan Murray on hosting Treasure Hunt and the popularity of the show
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Jan Murray on having The Toni Company and Mogen David wine company as sponsors
Jan Murray on his commercial for his sponsor, Mogen David wine company
Advice
Jan Murray on show business advice he received from Al Jolson
First Big Break
Jan Murray on getting his big break -- working in the Catskill Mountains
Pivotal Career Moments
Jan Murray on getting his big break -- working in the Catskill Mountains
Television Industry
Jan Murray on having the Toni Company and Mogen David wine company as sponsors
Jan Murray on his commercial for his sponsor, Mogen David wine company
Jan Murray on show business advice he received from Al Jolson
Professions
Comedian
Jan Murray on how he came up with material for stand-up comedy routines
Jan Murray on how he came up with material for stand-up comedy routines
Jan Murray on comedians from different generations, recognizing the great comedians of each one, and the greatness and faults of comedians from the then-current generation
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
Jan Murray on using isolated stories at the start of his routine to get the audience used to his persona
Jan Murray on learning to adapt his material to the audience when performing in Israel
Jan Murray on being a naturally funny kid and getting into comedy as a result
Jan Murray on entertaining in the Cavaliers Social Club early in his career
Jan Murray on getting his gig working in the Catskill Mountains
Jan Murray on getting his gig at the Melbourne Hotel and deciding to pursue show business
Jan Murray on performing for benefits and how it impacts a comedian's business
Jan Murray on providing feedback to Shelley Winters and adapting a routine they did together
Jan Murray on performing comedy as medicine
Game Show Host
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
Jan Murray on bringing humanity into his role as a game show host to play off gags
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Dollar a Second
Jan Murray on being the host of Treasure Hunt
Jan Murray on why he kept his career as a game show host for so many years and why he eventually decided to stop
Hosts
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
Jan Murray on bringing humanity into his role as a game show host to play off gags
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Dollar a Second
Jan Murray on being the host of Treasure Hunt
Jan Murray on why he kept his career as a game show host for so many years and why he eventually decided to stop
Performers
Jan Murray on comedians from different generations, recognizing the great comedians of each one, and the greatness and faults of comedians from the then-current generation
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
Jan Murray on using isolated stories at the start of his routine to get the audience used to his persona
Jan Murray on learning to adapt his material to the audience when performing in Israel
Jan Murray on being a naturally funny kid and getting into comedy as a result
Jan Murray on entertaining in the Cavaliers Social Club early in his career
Jan Murray on getting his gig working in the Catskill Mountains
Jan Murray on getting his gig at the Melbourne Hotel and deciding to pursue show business
Jan Murray on how entertainers come from all walks of life
Jan Murray on receiving show business advice from Al Jolson
Jan Murray on performing for benefits and how it impacts a comedian's business
Jan Murray on providing feedback to Shelley Winters and adapting a routine they did together
Jan Murray on performing comedy as medicine
Genres
Game Shows
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date
Jan Murray on hosting Dollar a Second after Blind Date was canceled
Jan Murray on hosting Treasure Hunt and the popularity of the show
Jan Murray on being the first comedian to host a live game show
People
Milton Berle
Jan Murray on Milton Berle's character and energy on the stage
Jan Murray on getting insight from Milton Berle about how to get laughs after following None but the Lonely Heart in the Hippodrome Theatre
Jan Murray on seeing Milton Berle in vaudeville
Buddy Hackett
Jun Murray on Buddy Hackett's business in Vegas and Hackett's thoughts on doing benefits
Al Jolson
Jan Murray on seeing Al Jolson in the audience and receiving advice from him
Frank Sinatra
Jan Murray on touring with Frank Sinatra
Shelley Winters
Jan Murray on providing feedback to Shelley Winters before a vaudeville act they did together
Henny Youngman
Jan Murray on a one-liner doctor joke from Henny Youngman