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Jerry Lester (born Lester J. Goldberg; February 16, 1910 – March 23, 1995) was an Americans comedian, singer and performer on radio, television and the stage, known for playing the father of the main characters, Mike Firpo, in the comedy Odds and Evens and who hosted the first network late night television program as host of Broadway Open House on NBC, a vaudeville-esque combination of comedy and music, whose success demonstrated the potential for late-night television and led to the creation of the Tonight Show.
Broadway Open House went on the air in May 1950 with Lester hosting three nights a week and Morey Amsterdam hosting two nights, but Lester soon became the show's sole emcee. The program introduced and made stars of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, all of whom would go on to host the Tonight Show. It also made a star of cast member Dagmar, who became such a sensation that she overshadowed Lester, leading him to walk off the show in May 1951. Life. July 16, 1951.
In 1952, he appeared frequently as a panelist on the ABC-TV game show The Name's the Same.
Lester was host of The Jerry Lester Show, an afternoon program on ABC-TV in 1953. Later in the 1950s, Lester appeared as a regular on the game show Pantomime Quiz, and such as Saturday Night Dance Party.
In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles and became host of a local late-night comedy and musical variety show on KTTV.
Lester returned to prominence in theatre in the 1960s, appearing in the lead role of slave Pseudolus in the road production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, subsequently replacing Zero Mostel on Broadway, and playing Seabee in the 1969 production of South Pacific.
Death
Afflicted with Alzheimer's disease in 1975, he had trouble memorizing his nightclub monologues, and retired from show business. He died in Miami, Florida, in 1995. His brother was actor and comedian Buddy Lester. He had three children.
Television
S1:E31, "Monkees in the Movies"
External links
Categories: 1910 Births, 1995 Deaths, Male Actors From Chicago, American Male Comedians, American Vaudeville Performers, 20th-century American Singers, American Male Film Actors, American Stand-up Comedians, Late Night Television Talk Show Hosts, Comedians From Chicago, 20th-century American Comedians, 20th-century American Male Actors
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