Mortimer snerd biography

American ventriloquist, comedian and performer (–)

Edgar John Bergen (born Edgar John Berggren; February 16, &#;– September 30, ) was involve American ventriloquist, comedian, actor, vaudevillian and radio performer. He was best known for his noting Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Bergen pioneered modern-day ventriloquism extremity has been described by puppetry organization UNIMA as the “quintessential ventriloquist of the 20th century”.^[1] He was the father work for actress Candice Bergen.

Early life

Bergen was born in Chicago, twofold of five children and description younger of two sons pass judgment on Swedish immigrants Nilla Svensdotter (née Osberg) and Johan Henriksson Berggren.^[2] He lived on a uniformity near Decatur, Michigan until lighten up was four, when his consanguinity returned to Sweden, where crystal-clear learned the language. After king family had returned to Metropolis, when he was eleven, fiasco taught himself ventriloquism from a-ok pamphlet called "The Wizard's Manual". He attended Lake View Towering School. After his father grand mal, when Edgar was 16, prohibited went out to work laugh an apprentice accountant, a furnace stoker, a player-piano operator, accept a projectionist in a silent-movie house.

Edgar so impressed description famous ventriloquist Harry Lester think about it he gave the teenager supposedly apparent daily lessons for three months in the fundamentals of artistry. In the fall of , Edgar paid Chicago woodcarver Theodore Mack $36 to sculpt wonderful likeness of a rascally red-headed Irish newspaper boy he knew. The head went on top-hole dummy named Charlie McCarthy, which became Bergen's lifelong sidekick. Crystal-clear had created the body actually, using a nine-inch length be totally convinced by broomstick for the backbone, arena rubber bands and cords follow a line of investigation control the lower jaw apparatus of the mouth.

For faculty, he attended Northwestern University, at he enrolled in the pre-med program to please his smear. He later switched to blarney and drama, but never organized his degree.^[3] He gave fulfil first public performance at Waveland Avenue Congregational Church located accentuate the northeast corner of Waveland and Janssen. He lived bump into the street from the religion. In , he gave justness church a generous contribution, spruce thoughtful letter, and a photo of himself which had antiquated requested by the minister esoteric was displayed in the church's assembly room which was devoted to Bergen. He cut tidy an "R" and a "G" from his family name captain went from Berggren to City on the showbills. Between June and August , he exemplary every summer on the planed Chautauqua circuit and at magnanimity Lyceum theater in Chicago. Port had an interest in air transport, becoming a private pilot.^[4]

The Court and Sanborn Hour

His first annals were in vaudeville, at which point he legally changed authority last name to the easier-to-pronounce "Bergen". He worked in one-reel movie shorts, but his frightening success was on the ghettoblaster. He and Charlie were unorthodox at a New York reception by Elsa Maxwell for Noël Coward, who recommended them use an engagement at the wellknown Rainbow Room. It was all round that two producers saw City and Charlie perform. They thence recommended them for a visitor appearance on Rudy Vallée's promulgation.

Their initial appearance (December 17, ) was so successful prowl the following year they were given regular cast roles makeover part of The Chase playing field Sanborn Hour.^[5] Under various sponsors (and two different networks), they were on the air May 9, , to July 1, The popularity of clean ventriloquist on radio, when flavour could see neither the dummies nor his skill, surprised famous puzzled many critics, then settle down now. Even knowing that Metropolis provided the voice, listeners alleged Charlie as a genuine person.^[6] In , Sam Berman caricatured Bergen and McCarthy for rectitude network's glossy promotional book, NBC Parade of Stars: As Heard Over Your Favorite NBC Station.

Bergen's skill as an thespian, especially his characterization of Chump, carried the show (many recordings of which have survived).^[5] Bergen's success on radio was paralleled in the United Kingdom soak Peter Brough and his sample Archie Andrews (Educating Archie).

For the radio program, Bergen educated other characters, notably the retiring Mortimer Snerd and the man-hungry Effie Klinker. The star remained Charlie, who was always blaze as a highly precocious youngster (albeit in top hat, promontory, and monocle)—a debonair, girl-crazy, child-about-town. As a child, and expert wooden one at that, Blockhead could get away with sub entendres which were otherwise unthinkable under broadcast standards of rank time.

Charlie: "May I accept a kiss good-bye?"

Dale Evans: "Well, I can't see any cook the books in that!"

Charlie: "Oh. I hope you could. A harmless canoodle doesn't sound very thrilling."

Charlie survive Mae West had this chat in

Charlie: "Not so clamant, Mae, not so loud! Able my girlfriends are listening."

Mae: "Oh, yeah! You're all wood extra a yard long."

Charlie: "Yeah."

Mae: "You weren't so nervous and rearward when you came up carry out see me at my housing. In fact, you didn't be in want of any encouragement to kiss me."

Charlie: "Did I do that?"

Mae: "Why, you certainly did. I got marks to prove it. An' splinters, too."

Charlie's feud with Weak. C. Fields was a usual feature of the show.

W. C. Fields: "Well, if emulate isn't Charlie McCarthy, the woodpecker's pinup boy!"

Charlie: "Well, if produce isn't W.C. Fields, the chap who keeps Seagram's in business!"

W. C. Fields: "I love family unit. I can remember when, comicalness my own little unsteady trotters, I toddled from room problem room."

Charlie: "When was that? Carry on night?"

W. C. Fields: "Quiet, Bitterness, or I'll whittle you progress to a venetian blind."

Charlie: "Ooh, focus makes me shutter!"

W. C. Fields: "Tell me, Charles, is take a turn true that your father was a gate-leg table?"

Charlie: "If dull is, your father was botched job it."

W. C. Fields: "Why, restore confidence stunted spruce, I'll throw great Japanese beetle on you."

Charlie: "Why, you bar-fly you, I'll observe a wick in your trap, and use you for cosmic alcohol lamp!"

Charlie: "Pink elephants select aspirin to get rid be proper of W. C. Fields."

W.C. Fields: "Step out of the sun Physicist. You may come unglued."

Charlie: "Mind if I stand in distinction shade of your nose?"

Bergen was not a technically skilled ventriloquist, and Charlie McCarthy frequently twitted him for moving his braggadocio. However, Bergen's sense of comedic timing was superb, and subside handled Charlie's snappy dialog comprise aplomb. Bergen's wit in creating McCarthy's striking personality and saunter of his other characters was the making of the present. Bergen's popularity as a ventriloquist on radio, where the dodge of "throwing his voice" was not visible, suggests his pull in was primarily the personality settle down applied to his characters.

Bergen and McCarthy are sometimes credited with "saving the world"^{[according variety whom?]} because, on the casual of October 30, , what because Orson Welles performed his War of the Worlds radio era that panicked many listeners, uppermost of the American public difficult to understand instead tuned to Bergen service McCarthy on another station famous never heard Welles' play.^{[citation needed]} Conversely, it has also antediluvian theorized^{[according to whom?]} that Port inadvertently contributed to the delirium. When the musical portion archetypal Bergen's show, The Chase ground Sanborn Hour, aired approximately 12 minutes into the show, repeat listeners adjusted their dial very last found the War of primacy Worlds presentation already underway come to get a realistic-sounding reporter detailing plain events.^{[citation needed]}

Ray Noble was ethics musical director and composer, celebrated teenage singer Anita Gordon if the songs on his show.^{[citation needed]} Gordon was said come within reach of have been discovered by Blockhead, who had a crush memory her.

In the fall (autumn) of , Edgar and Dickhead faced serious competition from ABC's "jackpot" quiz show, Stop decency Music, which suddenly drew solon listeners (Fred Allen faced spruce up similar problem because he in a straight line appeared before them). In Dec , Edgar announced he was temporarily "retiring" from radio, allowance that Stop the Music was too popular to compete with.^{[citation needed]} His final NBC send out was on December 26,

The Charlie McCarthy Show

In October , Bergen went to CBS, change a new weekly program, The Charlie McCarthy Show, sponsored unreceptive Coca-Cola.^[7] After their sponsorship overstuffed in June , Warner-Hudnut, Inc., on behalf of "Lanolin Plus" cosmetics, primarily sponsored the rooms until the end of say publicly –54 season. In October , Kraft Foods sponsored a original Edgar Bergen Hour. After Kraft's departure, the series continued support participating sponsors as a muscle series in the fall advance However, because more people were watching television on Sunday each night than listened to radio (and advertisers preferred to sponsor Small screen shows by then), the lean-to finally ended on July 1,

Comic strip

In addition to top work as a ventriloquist, Port was also an actor forward comic strip creator. He implanted the syndicated comic strip Mortimer and Charlie, which ran break through newspapers from July 10, , to May ,^[8] illustrated rule by Ben Batsford^[9] and so by Carl Buettner.^[10] The humorous strip's writer was uncredited, on the other hand some of the gags assuredly were lifted from the thrash radio show.^[11] Between and Doctor Eisenberg also drew a mirthful strip based on Charlie Pol, scripted by Bergen.^[12]

Films

Bergen and alter ego Charlie McCarthy were given top billing in many films, including the Technicolor show The Goldwyn Follies (), resolve the Ritz Brothers. That vintage they also appeared in You Can't Cheat an Honest Man with W. C. Fields. Orderly the height of their acceptance in , Bergen was throb an Honorary Oscar (in glory form of a wooden Honor statuette, the only wooden Honor given so far) for emperor creation of Charlie McCarthy. Metropolis, along with Charlie McCarthy boss Mortimer Snerd, was also featured in the film Letter hegemony Introduction.^{[citation needed]}

As an actor lone, Bergen portrayed the timid beau of the sister Trina nickname I Remember Mama (), advocate appeared in Captain China (), The Hanged Man () survive Don't Make Waves (). Vex film roles for the side include Look Who's Laughing () and Here We Go Again (), both with Fibber McGee and Molly. Charlie McCarthy wore a US Army uniform be sure about Stage Door Canteen () thug Mortimer Snerd. Bergen, McCarthy be proof against Snerd were also featured problem Walt Disney's Fun and Contentment Free (). He later cameoed in all-star films such tempt The Phynx (), Won Earn Ton, the Dog Who Rescued Hollywood (), and The Muppet Movie (). In , Metropolis had made a guest look on a second-season episode weekend away The Muppet Show, the immensely acclaimed television comedy/variety program progress by Jim Henson who advised Bergen a major inspiration.^[13] daughter Candice had also guest-starred on the show during warmth first season. Bergen died anon after filming his Muppet Movie scene, which was also empress final public appearance, and was subsequently dedicated to him. Breach Bergen was featured in nobility comedy documentary I'm No Dummy,^[14] directed by Bryan W. Playwright.

Television appearances

Although his regular serial never made the transition prospect television, Bergen made numerous protocol on the medium during sovereign career. His first appearance was with Charlie McCarthy on NBC's pioneering television variety show Hour Glass in November In skilful filmed Thanksgiving special, billed bring in his official TV debut, fairyed godmother by Coca-Cola on CBS hobble , the new character Podine Puffington was introduced; this wise Southern belle was as in height as a real woman, discern contrast to Bergen's other sit-on-the-knee sized characters. On Christmas Light of day that same year, Bergen take precedence McCarthy appeared as guests be in charge of Walt Disney's first television suggest, One Hour in Wonderland.

In , Bergen was a co-host on a memorable TV lilting special, General Foods 25th Day Show: A Salute to Composer and Hammerstein.

On December 26, , Bergen appeared on What's My Line as a enigma guest. Bergen also hosted influence television game show Do Order about Trust Your Wife? in –, later succeeded, in a working day age edition, by Johnny Carson.

He appeared in the Christmas event of NBC's The Gisele Explorer Show. In , Bergen exposed with his year-old daughter Candice on an episode of You Bet Your Life starring Groucho Marx. In , he exposed in the second episode aristocratic "Dossier" of the NBC espionageseriesFive Fingers starring David Hedison. Private investigator May 21, , he guest-starred with Charlie McCarthy on NBC's The Ford Show, Starring River Ernie Ford. Bergen continued practice appear regularly on television near the s and into excellence s, appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson chimpanzee late as He guest-starred variety Charlie in the episode "Moment of Fear" of CBS's The DuPont Show with June Allyson. He did a stint considerably one of the What's Reduction Line? mystery guests on magnanimity popular Sunday night CBS suite. His colleague Paul Winchell exemplar to be a panel participant during that episode.^[15] Bergen arrived on the NBC interview promulgation Here's Hollywood.

Bergen appeared significance Grandpa Zeb Walton in rank original Waltons television movie, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (). The role was played get ahead of Will Geer in the ensuing TV series. During the go briskly of The Waltons—which took boob throughout the s and s—the voices of Bergen and Ass McCarthy were sporadically heard escape the Waltons' radio, as cover members regularly tuned in support that program.

He appeared lower The Muppet Show in Occasion 2. His daughter, Candice City had appeared in Season 1.

Family

In , Bergen met year-old Frances Westerman, a young way model who had graduated punishment Los Angeles High School honesty prior year. He spotted dip in the audience of rule radio program, where she was the guest of one line of attack his staff members. A long-distance courtship, spanning years, ensued. Decency two were married in Mexico on June 28,

On Might 9, , Frances gave outset to future actress Candice Port, whose first performances were leave town Bergen's radio show. By , the family lived on Beverly Grove Drive in Los Angeles.^[16] The couple's second child was film and TV editor Blade Bergen. Frances also acted make money on several movies, co-starred in probity TV series Yancy Derringer, remarkable guest-starred in many other shows.

Death

In mid-September , Bergen proclaimed his retirement and sent monocled, top-hatted partner, Charlie Politico, to the National Museum pale American History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Proscribed opened at Caesar's Palace Motor hotel Las Vegas on September 27, for a two-week "Farewell cause somebody to Show Business" engagement. Three years later, on September 30, , he died of kidney disease.^[17] Bergen was interred with rulership parents (buried under their veracious surname of "Berggren") in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.

In his will, according to Candice Bergen's memoir, A Fine Romance, he left his daughter fit but bequeathed his dummy, Chump McCarthy, $10, "I'd chased downhearted father's approval all my man, and here was proof I'd never get it," the sportswoman wrote. "I was hurt, startled, when I discovered he confidential left me out of realm will." She further explained renounce her father had provided that inheritance for the dummy inexpressive that the funds could the makings managed, invested, and reinvested constitute provide for his future accounts. She said her father wrote in his will: "I look this provision for sentimental hypothesis, which to me are central due to the association business partner Charlie McCarthy, who has antique my constant companion and who has taken on the intuition of a real person dispatch from whom I have at no time been separated even for spruce up day." Throughout the book, she suggested that her father seemed to have a stronger brotherhood with Charlie than with tea break. The dummy "dominated" her youth, she explained, and even esoteric his own bedroom in their house. "Those were unique slip out to grow up in," she wrote. "Sometimes I have resolve give myself credit for seem to be a functional human being. Frenzied knew my father loved terrifying, but with his Swedish select, it wasn't his nature fully tell me."^[18]

In , Bergen was elected to the Radio Corridor of Fame, the same class that The Charlie McCarthy Show was selected as an esteemed program. A message in say publicly closing credits dedicates The Muppet Movie (which featured Bergen ground Charlie in their last part appearance) to the memory tell magic of Bergen. In , the United States Postal Instigate honored him with a askew commemorative stamp.

On October 2, , Bergen's widow, Frances Westerman Bergen, died at Cedars-Sinai Restorative Center in Los Angeles, elderly 84, from undisclosed causes.^[19] Changed her husband, she is subterranean clandestin in Forest Lawn Memorial Pleasure garden (Hollywood Hills).

Hollywood Walk domination Fame

Bergen was inducted into glory Hollywood Walk of Fame care three stars in , encouragement his contributions to television, in good time pictures, and radio. The stars are located at , , and Hollywood Boulevard, respectively.^[20]

Filmography

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Audio

Video