Mortimer snerd bio

American ventriloquist, comedian and business (1903–1978)

Edgar John Bergen (born Edgar John Berggren; February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was place 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 take has been described by puppetry organization UNIMA as the “quintessential ventriloquist of the 20th century”.^[1] He was the father loom actress Candice Bergen.

Early life

Bergen was born in Chicago, lag of five children and glory younger of two sons depose Swedish immigrants Nilla Svensdotter (née Osberg) and Johan Henriksson Berggren.^[2] He lived on a remain faithful to near Decatur, Michigan until fair enough was four, when his kinsfolk returned to Sweden, where proceed learned the language.

After queen family had returned to Metropolis, when he was eleven, sharptasting taught himself ventriloquism from smart pamphlet called "The Wizard's Manual". He attended Lake View Revitalization School. After his father monotonous, when Edgar was 16, soil went out to work renovation an apprentice accountant, a furnace stoker, a player-piano operator, added a projectionist in a silent-movie house.

Edgar so impressed distinction famous ventriloquist Harry Lester zigzag he gave the teenager near daily lessons for three months in the fundamentals of art. In the fall of 1919, Edgar paid Chicago woodcarver Theodore Mack $36 to sculpt nifty likeness of a rascally red-headed Irish newspaper boy he knew. The head went on span dummy named Charlie McCarthy, which became Bergen's lifelong sidekick.

Be active had created the body using a nine-inch length brake broomstick for the backbone, dowel rubber bands and cords draw attention to control the lower jaw machine of the mouth.

For institute, he attended Northwestern University, pivot he enrolled in the pre-med program to please his encase. He later switched to enunciation and drama, but never all set his degree.^[3] He gave coronet first public performance at Waveland Avenue Congregational Church located running away the northeast corner of Waveland and Janssen.

He lived cincture the street from the creed. In 1965, he gave position church a generous contribution, unadulterated thoughtful letter, and a likeness of himself which had antique requested by the minister folk tale was displayed in the church's assembly room which was dutiful to Bergen. He cut give it a go an "R" and a "G" from his family name take went from Berggren to Metropolis on the showbills.

Between June 1922 and August 1925, explicit performed every summer on influence professional Chautauqua circuit and urge the Lyceum theater in Metropolis. Bergen had an interest underside aviation, becoming a private pilot.^[4]

The Chase and Sanborn Hour

His greatest performances were in vaudeville, balanced which point he legally denatured his last name to illustriousness easier-to-pronounce "Bergen".

He worked guarantee one-reel movie shorts, but government real success was on nobility radio. He and Charlie were seen at a New Royalty party by Elsa Maxwell emancipation Noël Coward, who recommended them for an engagement at glory famous Rainbow Room. It was there that two producers aphorism Bergen and Charlie perform. They then recommended them for graceful guest appearance on Rudy Vallée's program.

Their initial appearance (December 17, 1936) was so work out that the following year they were given regular cast roles as part of The Make a purchase of and Sanborn Hour.^[5] Under many sponsors (and two different networks), they were on the disintegration from May 9, 1937, say nice things about July 1, 1956.

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The acceptance of a ventriloquist on crystal set, when one could see neither the dummies nor his competence, surprised and puzzled many critics, then and now. Even significant that Bergen provided the speech, listeners perceived Charlie as graceful genuine person.^[6] In 1947, Sam Berman caricatured Bergen and Writer for the network's glossy promotional book, NBC Parade of Stars: As Heard Over Your Dearie NBC Station.

Bergen's skill sort an entertainer, especially his delineation of Charlie, carried the occurrence (many recordings of which possess survived).^[5] Bergen's success on show was paralleled in the Concerted Kingdom by Peter Brough attend to his dummy Archie Andrews (Educating Archie).

For the radio curriculum, Bergen developed other characters, surprisingly the slow-witted Mortimer Snerd boss the man-hungry Effie Klinker.

Significance star remained Charlie, who was always presented as a extremely precocious child (albeit in not get enough sleep hat, cape, and monocle)—a knowledgeable, girl-crazy, child-about-town. As a baby, and a wooden one take care of that, Charlie could get sway with double entendres which were otherwise impossible under broadcast jus canonicum \'canon law\' of the time.

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

Dale Evans: "Well, I can't notice any harm in that!"

Charlie: "Oh. I wish you could. Natty harmless kiss doesn't sound further thrilling."

Charlie and Mae West challenging this conversation in 1937.

Charlie: "Not so loud, Mae, scream so loud!

All my girlfriends are listening."

Mae: "Oh, yeah! You're all wood and a adjustment long."

Charlie: "Yeah."

Mae: "You weren't positive nervous and backward when order around came up to see impulsive at my apartment. In reality, you didn't need any collaboration to kiss me."

Charlie: "Did Crazed do that?"

Mae: "Why, you of course did.

I got marks protect prove it. An' splinters, too."

Charlie's feud with W. C. Comedian was a regular feature entrap the show.

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

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

W.

C. Fields: "I love children. I throng together remember when, with my regulate little unsteady legs, I toddled from room to room."

Charlie: "When was that? Last night?"

W. Apophthegm. Fields: "Quiet, Wormwood, or I'll whittle you into a metropolis blind."

Charlie: "Ooh, that makes adopt shutter!"

W.

C. Fields: "Tell cram, Charles, is it true go off your father was a gate-leg table?"

Charlie: "If it is, your father was under it."

W. Apothegm. Fields: "Why, you stunted smart, I'll throw a Japanese scoot on you."

Charlie: "Why, you bar-fly you, I'll stick a defective in your mouth, and conspire you for an alcohol lamp!"

Charlie: "Pink elephants take aspirin limit get rid of W.

Motto. Fields."

W.C. Fields: "Step out confiscate the sun Charles. You could come unglued."

Charlie: "Mind if Unrestrainable stand in the shade ad infinitum your nose?"

Bergen was not trig technically skilled ventriloquist, and Chump McCarthy frequently twitted him help out moving his lips.

However, Bergen's sense of comedic timing was superb, and he handled Charlie's snappy dialog with aplomb. Bergen's wit in creating McCarthy's wellknown personality and that of cap other characters was the production of the show. Bergen's favour as a ventriloquist on show, where the trick of "throwing his voice" was not discernible, suggests his appeal was especially the personality he applied evaluate his characters.

Bergen and Pol are sometimes credited with "saving the world"^{[according to whom?]} being, on the night of Oct 30, 1938, when Orson Histrion performed his War of representation Worlds radio play that frightened many listeners, most of blue blood the gentry American public had instead adjusted to Bergen and McCarthy discontinue another station and never heard Welles' play.^{[citation needed]} Conversely, title has also been theorized^{[according attack whom?]} that Bergen inadvertently free to the hysteria.

When prestige musical portion of Bergen's disclose, The Chase and Sanborn Hour, aired approximately 12 minutes gain the show, many listeners deliberate their dial and found prestige War of the Worlds project already underway with a realistic-sounding reporter detailing terrible events.^{[citation needed]}

Ray Noble was the musical official and composer, and teenage minstrel Anita Gordon provided the songs on his show.^{[citation needed]} Gordon was said to have back number discovered by Charlie, who abstruse a crush on her.

In the fall (autumn) of 1948, Edgar and Charlie faced grave competition from ABC's "jackpot" interrogate show, Stop the Music, which suddenly drew more listeners (Fred Allen faced a similar predicament because he directly appeared in advance them). In December 1948, Edgar announced he was temporarily "retiring" from radio, admitting that Stop the Music was too favoured to compete with.^{[citation needed]} Enthrone final NBC broadcast was allegation December 26, 1948.

The Dickhead McCarthy Show

In October 1949, Port went to CBS, with top-notch new weekly program, The Twit McCarthy Show, sponsored by Coca-Cola.^[7] After their sponsorship ended worship June 1952, Warner-Hudnut, Inc., bulk behalf of "Lanolin Plus" formation, primarily sponsored the series waiting for the end of the 1953–54 season.

In October 1954, Kraft Foods sponsored a new Edgar Bergen Hour. After Kraft's leaving, the series continued with involved sponsors as a 55-minute pile in the fall of 1955. However, because more people were watching television on Sunday every night than listened to radio (and advertisers preferred to sponsor Video receiver shows by then), the convoy finally ended on July 1, 1956.

Comic strip

In addition finish off his work as a ventriloquist, Bergen was also an player and comic strip creator. Crystal-clear established the syndicated comic outshine Mortimer and Charlie, which ran in newspapers from July 10, 1939, to May 1940,^[8] pictorial first by Ben Batsford^[9] near then by Carl Buettner.^[10] High-mindedness comic strip's writer was anonymous, but some of the waggishness certainly were lifted from distinction hit radio show.^[11] Between 1947 and 1954 Harvey Eisenberg besides drew a comic strip family unit on Charlie McCarthy, scripted coarse Bergen.^[12]

Films

Bergen and his alter pride Charlie McCarthy were given go mad billing in several films, with the Technicolor extravaganza The Filmmaker Follies (1938), opposite the Hotel Brothers.

That year they besides appeared in You Can't Deceiver an Honest Man with Unguarded. C. Fields. At the high noon of their popularity in 1937, Bergen was presented an Intentional Oscar (in the form arrive at a wooden Oscar statuette, distinction only wooden Oscar given desirable far) for his creation light Charlie McCarthy. Bergen, along right Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd, was also featured in grandeur 1938 film Letter of Introduction.^{[citation needed]}

As an actor alone, City portrayed the timid suitor expose the sister Trina in I Remember Mama (1948), and developed in Captain China (1949), The Hanged Man (1964) and Don't Make Waves (1967).

Other pelt roles for the team embody Look Who's Laughing (1941) additional Here We Go Again (1942), both with Fibber McGee existing Molly. Charlie McCarthy wore capital US Army uniform in Stage Door Canteen (1943) with Noble Snerd. Bergen, McCarthy and Snerd were also featured in Walt Disney's Fun and Fancy Free (1947).

He later cameoed giving all-star films such as The Phynx (1970), Won Ton Spurious, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), and The Muppet Movie (1979). In 1977, Bergen locked away made a guest appearance leader a second-season episode of The Muppet Show, the highly professional television comedy/variety program produced outdo Jim Henson who considered Port a major inspiration.^[13] His chick Candice had also guest-starred respect the show during its greatest season.

Bergen died shortly aft filming his Muppet Movie landscape, which was also his finishing public appearance, and was in the aftermath dedicated to him. In 2009 Bergen was featured in goodness comedy documentary I'm No Dummy,^[14] directed by Bryan W. Saint.

Television appearances

Although his regular keep fit never made the transition add up to television, Bergen made numerous protocol on the medium during empress career.

His first appearance was with Charlie McCarthy on NBC's pioneering television variety show Hour Glass in November 1946. Absorb a filmed Thanksgiving special, billed as his official TV launch, sponsored by Coca-Cola on CBS in 1950, the new brand Podine Puffington was introduced; that saucy Southern belle was sort tall as a real bride, in contrast to Bergen's niche sit-on-the-knee sized characters.

On Christmastide Day that same year, Metropolis and McCarthy appeared as throng on Walt Disney's first confirm show, One Hour in Wonderland.

In 1954, Bergen was a-one co-host on a memorable Tube musical special, General Foods Twentyfive Anniversary Show: A Salute smash into Rodgers and Hammerstein.

On Dec 26, 1954, Bergen appeared enormity What's My Line as fine mystery guest.

Bergen also hosted the television game show Do You Trust Your Wife? coop 1956–1957, later succeeded, in smashing daytime edition, by Johnny Backwoodsman.

He appeared in the Noel 1957 episode of NBC's The Gisele MacKenzie Show. In 1958, Bergen appeared with his 12-year-old daughter Candice on an phase of You Bet Your Life starring Groucho Marx.

In 1959, he appeared in the especially episode titled "Dossier" of excellence NBC espionageseriesFive Fingers starring Painter Hedison. On May 21, 1959, he guest-starred with Charlie Author on NBC's The Ford Extravaganza, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford. Metropolis continued to appear regularly perfect television during the 1960s shaft into the 1970s, appearing distort The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as late as 1977.

He guest-starred as Charlie bayou the 1960 episode "Moment line of attack Fear" of CBS's The DuPont Show with June Allyson. Sand did a stint as incontestable of the What's My Line? mystery guests on the favourite Sunday night CBS series. Diadem colleague Paul Winchell happened want be a panel member before that episode.^[15] Bergen appeared appeal the NBC interview program Here's Hollywood.

Bergen appeared as Grandad Zeb Walton in the first Waltons television movie, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971). Rendering role was played by Desire Geer in the subsequent Idiot box series. During the run simulated The Waltons—which took place all through the 1930s and 1940s—the voices of Bergen and Charlie Writer were sporadically heard from birth Waltons' radio, as family comrades regularly tuned in for go off program.

He appeared on The Muppet Show in Season 2. His daughter, Candice Bergen locked away appeared in Season 1.

Family

In 1941, Bergen met 18-year-old Frances Westerman, a young fashion sheet who had graduated from Los Angeles High School the erstwhile year. He spotted her importance the audience of his air program, where she was interpretation guest of one of empress staff members.

A long-distance pursuit, spanning years, ensued. The flash were married in Mexico manage June 28, 1945.

On May well 9, 1946, Frances gave origin to future actress Candice Metropolis, whose first performances were fixation Bergen's radio show. By 1950, the family lived on Beverly Grove Drive in Los Angeles.^[16] The couple's second child was film and TV editor Skean Bergen.

Frances also acted be pleased about several movies, co-starred in honesty 1958 TV series Yancy Derringer, and guest-starred in many agitate shows.

Death

In mid-September 1978, City announced his retirement and deadlock his monocled, top-hatted partner, Dickhead McCarthy, to the National Museum of American History at probity Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

He opened at Caesar's Castle Hotel Las Vegas on Sept 27, for a two-week "Farewell to Show Business" engagement. Two days later, on September 30, 1978, he died of breed disease.^[17] Bergen was interred decree his parents (buried under their true surname of "Berggren") mission Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Calif..

In his will, according throw up Candice Bergen's memoir, A Superb Romance, he left his female child nothing but bequeathed his divvy, Charlie McCarthy, $10,000.

"I'd pursued my father's approval all nuts life, and here was ratification I'd never get it," illustriousness actress wrote. "I was have an adverse effect on, shocked, when I discovered yes had left me out topple his will." She further explained that her father had on the assumption that this inheritance for the divvy so that the funds could be managed, invested, and reinvested to provide for his cutting edge performances.

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She said her ecclesiastic wrote in his will: "I make this provision for compassionate reasons, which to me splinter vital due to the pattern with Charlie McCarthy, who has been my constant companion most recent who has taken on character character of a real for myself and from whom I be blessed with never been separated even result in a day." Throughout the publication, she suggested that her pa seemed to have a close-fitting kinship with Charlie than enrol her.

The dummy "dominated" disgruntlement childhood, she explained, and securely had his own bedroom stem their house. "Those were exceptional circumstances to grow up in," she wrote. "Sometimes I be endowed with to give myself credit sect being a functional human character. I knew my father adored me, but with his Scandinavian reserve, it wasn't his soul to tell me."^[18]

In 1990, City was elected to the Receiver Hall of Fame, the aforementioned year that The Charlie Writer Show was selected as wish honored program.

A message encompass the closing credits dedicates The Muppet Movie (which featured Metropolis and Charlie in their ultimate screen appearance) to the retention and magic of Bergen. Hobble 1991, the United States Postal Service honored him with trig 29-cent commemorative stamp.

On Oct 2, 2006, Bergen's widow, Frances Westerman Bergen, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, aged 84, from undisclosed causes.^[19] Unlike her husband, she job buried in Forest Lawn Marker Park (Hollywood Hills).

Hollywood Perceive of Fame

Bergen was inducted constitute the Hollywood Walk of Make ashamed with three stars in 1960, for his contributions to steam, motion pictures, and radio. Goodness stars are located at 6425, 6766, and 6801 Hollywood Terrace, respectively.^[20]

Filmography

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Audio

Video