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Harry Einstein (May 6, 1904 – November 24, 1958), known professionally as Harry Parke and other pseudonyms, most commonly Parkyakarkus ( ), was an American comedian, writer, and character actor. A specialist in Greek dialect comedy, he became famous as the Greek chef Nick Parkyakarkus on the Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson radio programs, and later on a program of his own. He appeared in eleven films (as Parkyakarkus or a close variant) from 1936 to 1945. He was also the father of comedians and actors Albert Brooks and Bob Einstein (who performed as Super Dave Osborne and as Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm).
Einstein first worked as a newspaper reporter, but then moved into advertising for Boston's Hearst Newspapers. In his spare time, he enjoyed performing comedy routines. During 1924–1925, he became popular on radio as "The Bad Boy from a Good Home", doing comedy skits on Boston station WEZE."Pre-Nuptial Dinner for Harry Einstein." Boston Herald, October 1, 1925, p. 24. He also worked in advertising for the Taylor Furniture Company, where he managed their radio department."Advertisement for Taylor's Radio Department." Boston Herald, February 1, 1925, p. 3. He subsequently continued in the advertising business at another Boston furniture store, Summerfield's,"Furnishing House Celebrates Banner Year in Business." Boston Herald, January 29, 1928, p. 5. while performing dialect comedy for friends at parties.
One of his friends, Boston bandleader Joe Rines, tried to persuade him to become a full-time comedian, but by this time, he was making a good living as advertising manager for Kane's Furniture.Kliph Nesteroff. The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels, and the History of American Comedy. New York: Grove Press, 2015, chapter 2. Einstein finally agreed to make an appearance on Rines' radio program; he created the Greek character of Nick Parkyakarkus for a skit on that show. The character was very well received by the listeners, and it ultimately led to the national networks' taking notice."Nick Parkyakakas and His Rise to Popularity." Boston Herald, May 17, 1934, p. 16. Einstein got his big break nationally when he was first heard as a performer on Eddie Cantor's radio show in 1934.
In addition to performing on Eddie Cantor's program throughout the mid-to-late 1930s, Einstein also was a guest performer on the Al Jolson Show.Dunning, op. cit., "The Al Jolson Show" pp. 18-19 When he was not performing on radio, he acted in a few comedy films during this time, including Strike Me Pink (1936), The Life of the Party (1937), and New Faces of 1937."The Last Laugh." San Francisco Chronicle, November 30, 1958, p. M5. He met his second wife, actress Thelma Leeds, while making New Faces of 1937. He and Thelma had three sons (he had one other son with his first wife, Lillian).James Bacon. "Parky Dies Amid Laughs He Provoked." Columbus (GA) Daily Enquirer, November 25, 1958, p. 6. During the 1930s, Einstein became so inextricably linked with his character that he attempted—unsuccessfully—to change his name legally to Parkyakarkus; a judge denied his request."Parkyakarkus Denied Right to Adopt This as Permanent Name." Springfield (MA) Daily Republican, February 26, 1936, p. 4. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame bears his character's name instead of his own.
Einstein was carried backstage, where five physicians worked to revive him. One surgeon used his Penknife to make an incision for open heart massage; another used the ends of an electric cord as a makeshift Defibrillation. With the remaining comedians on the bill reluctant to continue under the circumstances, Art Linkletter asked Tony Martin to sing a song; Martin's unfortunate choice was "There's No Tomorrow". Ball then came to the microphone and managed only, "I can say nothing," through tears. Arnaz, the closing speaker, said, "This is one of those moments that Lucy and I have waited a lifetime for, but it's meaningless now. They say the show must go on, but why must it? Let's close the show now by praying for this wonderful man backstage who has made a world laugh."
Despite two hours of continuous resuscitation attempts by the physician volunteers and a rescue squad, Einstein was pronounced dead at 1:20 a.m. on November 24. The news of his death was the Los Angeles Times' front-page headline later that morning. ("...Parkyakarkus was stricken at a Friars Club banquet here last night, the victim of a heart attack. He died early this morning.") Einstein's funeral service was attended by 300 mourners. After a eulogy by George Jessel, Einstein was buried in Home of Peace mausoleum in Los Angeles.
In the Season 9 episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, "It's Not So Funny When It's Your Mother," his son Bob Einstein tells host Jerry Seinfeld that the incident of his father dying on-stage at the Friars Club roast, when Bob Einstein was 16 years old, turned him off from performing for many years. Specifically, he was highly offended by the fact that both Milton Berle and George Jessel performed their comedy routines as eulogies at Harry Einstein's funeral, feeling it was insensitive, and this made him uncomfortable with comedy. The episode featured an excerpt, covering the events of Harry Einstein's passing, from the documentary film Let Me In, I Hear Laughter - A Salute To The Friars Club directed by Dean Ward (screenwriter).
Aftermath
The argument has been made that Albert Brooks, who was 11 years old when Einstein died, has dealt with the trauma of his father's passing through vignettes in his movies. For example, early in Defending Your Life (1991), Brooks’s recently deceased character, Daniel Miller, finds himself in an afterlife nightclub, watching a terrible comedian. "How'd you die?" the comic asks him; Albert replies, "Onstage, like you." Later, Meryl Streep's character invites Albert to leave with her. "I can't," he says, gesturing toward the stage. "That's my father."Albert Brooks: The Dais of his Life (September 13, 2011). The New Yorker, retrieved May 19, 2016.
Family
Einstein was the father of four sons: the writer Charles Einstein (by his first marriage to Lillian Anshen), and comedians Albert Brooks and Bob Einstein, and advertising executive Clifford Einstein (with his second wife, actress Thelma Leeds). Harry and Lillian divorced in 1929.
Filmography
See also
External links
Categories: 1904 Births, 1958 Deaths, 20th-century American Comedians, 20th-century American Jews, 20th-century American Male Writers, American Male Comedians, American People Of Austrian-jewish Descent, American People Of Russian-jewish Descent, Burials At Home Of Peace Cemetery, Comedians From Boston, Deaths Onstage, Einstein Family, English High School Of Boston Alumni, Jewish American Comedians, Jewish American Television Writers, Jewish Male Comedians
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