February 26

This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett

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Born 1887: William Frawley, Vaudeville performer, actor, "The Lemon Drop Kid" (1934, 1951), "Roxie Hart" (1942), "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947). Television audiences know him as Fred Mertz on "I Love Lucy" (1951-57) and "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" (1957-60), plus Bub on "My Three Sons" (1960-65). Died 1966.

Born 1907: Dub Taylor, actor, "You Can't Take It With You" (1938), "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" (1965-66), "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), "Hee Haw" (1985-91). Died 1994.

Born 1908: Tex Avery, considered the greatest comedy cartoon director, an instrumental architect of the wacky Warner Bros. style (1936-41) and during his golden period at MGM (1942-54), he made the fastest movies ever. Coining the phrase "What's up, Doc?" for Bugs Bunny, he also created Droopy, Red and the Wolf, and Screwball Squirrel. His best cartoons include "Red Hot Riding Hood" (1943), "King-Size Canary" (1947), "Bad Luck Blackie" (1949), and "Deputy Droopy" (1955). Died 1980.

Born 1916: Jackie Gleason, comedian, actor, nicknamed "The Great One," "The Life of Riley" (1949-50), "Cavalcade of Stars" (1950-52), "The Jackie Gleason Show" (1952-59), "The Honeymooners" (1955, Ralph Kramden), "Papa's Delicate Condition" (1963), "Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine" (1962-66), "Don't Drink the Water" (1969), "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977), "Nothing in Common" (1986). Died 1987.

Born 1920: Tony Randall, actor, "One Man's Family," (1950-52), "Mr. Peepers" (1952-55), "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957), "Pillow Talk" (1959), "The Odd Couple" (1970-75), "Love, Sidney" (1981-83).

Born 1921: Betty Hutton, comic actress thunderbolt, "The Fleet's In" (1942), "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" (1944, Trudy Kockenlocker), "Annie Get Your Gun" (1950). Her behind-the-scenes temperament and struggles with Paramount management effectively ended her career in the '50s.

1988: John Waters' campy "Hairspray," starring Divine, Sonny Bono, Mink Stole, and Ricki Lake, opened in U.S. theatres. In 2002, it was reworked as a Broadway musical.

Copyright ©2003 Mike Durrett. All rights reserved.