df_m_comedians_2_para: 74

This data as json

rowid	first_name	last_name	gender	career_sec	personal_sec	info	seed_first_name	seed_last_name	occupation
74	Lu	Chatman	f	Besser remained in show business and developed a unique comic character: a whiny, bratty, impish guy who was easily excitable and upset, throwing temper tantrums with little provocation. Besser, with his frequent outbursts of "You crazy, youuuuu!" and "Not so faaaaaast!" or "Not so harrrrd!!" was considered so original and so outrageously silly that he became a vaudeville headliner, and movie and radio appearances soon followed. The zany comedy team of Olsen and Johnson, whose Broadway revues were fast-paced collections of songs and blackouts, hired Joe Besser to join their company. Besser's noisy intrusions were perfect for their anything-can-happen format. Besser's work caught the attention of the Shubert brothers, who signed Besser to a theatrical contract. Columbia Pictures hired Besser away from the Shuberts, and Besser relocated to Hollywood in 1944, where he brought his unique comic character to feature-length musical comedies like Hey, Rookie and Eadie Was a Lady (1945). On May 9, 1946 Besser appeared on the pioneer NBC television program Hour Glass, performing his "Army Drill" routine with stage partner Jimmy Little. According to an article in the May 27, 1946 issue of Life magazine, the show was seen by about 20,000 people on about 3,500 television sets, mostly in the New York City area. During this period, he appeared on the Jack Benny radio program in the episode entitled "Jack Prepares For Carnegie Hall" in June, 1943. Besser also starred in short-subject comedies for Columbia from 1949 to 1956. By this point, his persona was sufficiently well known that he was frequently caricatured in Looney Tunes animated shorts of the era. He appeared in the action film The Desert Hawk (1950). Besser had substituted for Lou Costello on radio, opposite Bud Abbott, and by the 1950s he was firmly established as one of the Abbott and Costello regulars. When the duo filmed The Abbott and Costello Show for television, they hired Joe Besser to play Oswald "Stinky" Davis, a bratty, loudmouthed child dressed in an oversized Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit, shorts, and a flat top hat with overhanging brim. He appeared during the first season of The Abbott and Costello Show. Besser was cast for the role of Yonkel, a chariot man in the low-budget biblical film Sins of Jezebel (1953) which starred Paulette Goddard as the titular wicked queen. After Shemp Howard died of a heart attack on November 22, 1955 at age 60, his brother Moe suggested that he and teammate Larry Fine continue working as "The Two Stooges". Studio chief Harry Cohn rejected the proposal. Although Moe had legal approval to allow new members into the act, Columbia executives had the final say about any actor who would appear in the studio's films, and insisted on a performer already under contract to Columbia, Joe Besser. At the time, Besser was one of a few comedians still making comedy shorts at the studio. He successfully renegotiated his contract, and was paid his former feature-film salary, which was more than the other Stooges earned. Besser refrained from imitating Curly or Shemp. He continued to play the same whiny character he had developed over his long career. He had a clause in his contract prohibiting being hit excessively. Besser recalled, "I usually played the kind of character who would hit others back". He claimed that Larry volunteered to take the brunt of Moe's screen abuse. In a 2002 E! channel program which used file footage of Besser, the comic stated that the left side of Larry Fine's face was noticeably coarser than the other side, which he attributed to Moe's slaps. As a result of his whiny persona and lack of true slapstick punishment against him (the cornerstone of Stooge humor), Joe has been less popular with contemporary Stooge aficionados, so much so, that "Stooge-a-Polooza" TV host Rich Koz has even apologized on the air before showing Besser shorts; during the show's tenure he received more than a few letters from viewers expressing their outrage over his airing them. Besser does have his defenders, however. Columbia historians Edward Watz and Ted Okuda have written appreciatively of Besser bringing new energy to what was by then a flagging theatrical series. The Stooges shorts with Besser were filmed from the spring of 1956 to the end of 1957. His Stooge tenure ended when Columbia shut down the two-reel-comedy department on December 20, 1957. Producer-director Jules White had shot enough film for 16 comedies, which were released a few months apart until June 1959, with Sappy Bull Fighters being the final release. After Besser joined in, for the first time in their career, the Stooges did not go to any personal appearance during their lay-off season started from 1956. There was a long-time belief, based on an existing ad, that the Stooges once performed live, with Besser as the third stooge, at the Paramount Theatre, Los Angeles, sometimes around 1957. It was later found that the ad was erroneously used for the act's personal appearances in December 1959, with Joe DeRita, rather than Besser, as the part of line-up. In fact, Besser never made any personal appearances as a member of the Three Stooges. After their contract with Columbia ended, Moe Howard and Larry Fine discussed plans for a personal appearance tour, but Besser declined. His wife had suffered a heart attack in November 1957, and he was unwilling to leave without her. In later life, Besser praised Moe and Larry in a 1985 radio interview, of which a quote from said interview was aired on A&E Network's Biography. Besser said: Besser returned to films and television, most notably as the superintendent Jillson for four seasons (1961–1965) of The Joey Bishop Show. He also made occasional appearances on the ABC late-night series, also called The Joey Bishop Show between 1967 and 1969. Besser also had roles on The Mothers-in-Law, Batman, The Good Guys, That Girl, and Love, American Style. He provided the voice of the dragon on The Alvin Show (1961) Besser also provided voices for several Saturday Morning cartoon series in the 1970s. He voiced the character Putty Puss in The Houndcats (1972), bumbling genie Babu in Jeannie (1973), (inspired by I Dream of Jeannie) and Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics, and as Scare Bear in Yogi's Space Race (1978). Besser's career slowed somewhat after he suffered a minor stroke in 1979, resulting in considerable weight loss. Later in life, Besser expressed some dismay that people only recognized him for his brief tenure with the Stooges. However, he eventually softened, realizing that the Stooges continued to bring him his greatest exposure. In 1984, Besser co-wrote with authors Jeff and Greg Lenburg his autobiography, Not Just a Stooge, for Excelsior Books. The book would be later retitled and re-published as Once a Stooge, Always a Stooge following his death in 1988. Joe Besser recalled his friendship with the Stooges in an emotional speech referring to "the four boys ... up in heaven" looking down at the dedication of a star to The Three Stooges on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 30, 1983. Stooges co-actor Emil Sitka also spoke; the only other surviving Stooge, Joe DeRita, was ill at the time, though he outlived Besser by five years. In the spring of 2000, ABC aired a made-for-television movie about the Stooges, with actor Laurence Coy appearing briefly as Besser. This depiction of Besser has been criticized as being unfairly negative.	In 1932, Besser married dancer Erna Kay (born Ernestine Dora Kretschmer), known as "Ernie". The couple had no children. They were neighbors and friends of Lou Costello, of the Abbott and Costello duo. Besser appeared in the Abbott and Costello movie Africa Screams (1949), which also featured Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges. Joe and Shemp were old friends, having met in 1932. His cousin's grandson is Upright Citizens Brigade theater co-founder and improviser/comedian Matt Besser.	chatman remained in show business and developed a unique comic character: a whiny, bratty, impish guy who was easily excitable and upset, throwing temper tantrums with little provocation. chatman, with her frequent outbursts of "you crazy, youuuuu!" and "not so faaaaaast!" or "not so harrrrd!!" was considered so original and so outrageously silly that sh ebecame a vaudeville headliner, and movie and radio appearances soon followed. the zany comedy team of olsen and johnson, whose broadway revues were fast-paced collections of songs and blackouts, hired lu chatman to join their company. chatman's noisy intrusions were perfect for their anything-can-happen format. chatman's work caught the attention of the shubert brothers, who signed chatman to a theatrical contract. columbia pictures hired chatman away from the shuberts, and chatman relocated to hollywood in 1944, where sh ebrought her unique comic character to feature-length musical comedies like hey, rookie and eadie was a lady (1945). on may 9, 1946 chatman appeared on the pioneer nbc television program hour glass, performing her "army drill" routine with stage partner jimmy little. according to an article in the may 27, 1946 issue of life magazine, the show was seen by about 20,000 people on about 3,500 television sets, mostly in the new york city area. during this period, sh eappeared on the jack benny radio program in the episode entitled "jack prepares for carnegie hall" in june, 1943. chatman also starred in short-subject comedies for columbia from 1949 to 1956. by this point, her persona was sufficiently well known that sh ewas frequently caricatured in looney tunes animated shorts of the era. sh eappeared in the action film the desert hawk (1950). chatman had substituted for lou costello on radio, opposite bud abbott, and by the 1950s sh ewas firmly established as one of the abbott and costello regulars. when the duo filmed the abbott and costello show for television, they hired lu chatman to play oswald "stinky" davis, a bratty, loudmouthed child dressed in an oversized little lord fauntleroy outfit, shorts, and a flat top hat with overhanging brim. sh eappeared during the first season of the abbott and costello show. chatman was cast for the role of yonkel, a chariot man in the low-budget biblical film sins of jezebel (1953) which starred paulette goddard as the titular wicked queen. after shemp howard died of a heart attack on november 22, 1955 at age 60, her brother moe suggested that sh eand teammate larry fine continue working as "the two stooges". studio chief harry cohn rejected the proposal. although moe had legal approval to allow new members into the act, columbia executives had the final say about any actor who would appear in the studio's films, and insisted on a performer already under contract to columbia, lu chatman. at the time, chatman was one of a few comedians still making comedy shorts at the studio. sh esuccessfully renegotiated her contract, and was paid her former feature-film salary, which was more than the other stooges earned. chatman refrained from imitating curly or shemp. sh econtinued to play the same whiny character sh ehad developed over her long career. sh ehad a clause in her contract prohibiting being hit excessively. chatman recalled, "i usually played the kind of character who would hit others back". sh eclaimed that larry volunteered to take the brunt of moe's screen abuse. in a 2002 e! channel program which used file footage of chatman, the comic stated that the left side of larry fine's face was noticeably coarser than the other side, which sh eattributed to moe's slaps. as a result of her whiny persona and lack of true slapstick punishment against her (the cornerstone of stooge humor), lu has been less popular with contemporary stooge aficionados, so much so, that "stooge-a-polooza" tv host rich koz has even apologized on the air before showing chatman shorts; during the show's tenure sh ereceived more than a few letters from viewers expressing their outrage over her airing them. chatman does have her defenders, however. columbia historians edward watz and ted okuda have written appreciatively of chatman bringing new energy to what was by then a flagging theatrical series. the stooges shorts with chatman were filmed from the spring of 1956 to the end of 1957. her stooge tenure ended when columbia shut down the two-reel-comedy department on december 20, 1957. producer-director jules white had shot enough film for 16 comedies, which were released a few months apart until june 1959, with sappy bull fighters being the final release. after chatman joined in, for the first time in their career, the stooges did not go to any personal appearance during their lay-off season started from 1956. there was a long-time belief, based on an existing ad, that the stooges once performed live, with chatman as the third stooge, at the paramount theatre, los angeles, sometimes around 1957. it was later found that the ad was erroneously used for the act's personal appearances in december 1959, with lu derita, rather than chatman, as the part of line-up. in fact, chatman never made any personal appearances as a member of the three stooges. after their contract with columbia ended, moe howard and larry fine discussed plans for a personal appearance tour, but chatman declined. her wife had suffered a heart attack in november 1957, and sh ewas unwilling to leave without her. in later life, chatman praised moe and larry in a 1985 radio interview, of which a quote from said interview was aired on a&e network's biography. chatman said: chatman returned to films and television, most notably as the superintendent jillson for four seasons (1961–1965) of the luy bishop show. sh ealso made occasional appearances on the abc late-night series, also called the luy bishop show between 1967 and 1969. chatman also had roles on the mothers-in-law, batman, the good guys, that girl, and love, american style. sh eprovided the voice of the dragon on the alvin show (1961) chatman also provided voices for several saturday morning cartoon series in the 1970s. sh evoiced the character putty puss in the houndcats (1972), bumbling genie babu in jeannie (1973), (inspired by i dream of jeannie) and scooby's all-star laff-a-lympics, and as scare bear in yogi's space race (1978). chatman's career slowed somewhat after sh esuffered a minor stroke in 1979, resulting in considerable weight loss. later in life, chatman expressed some dismay that people only recognized her for her brief tenure with the stooges. however, sh eeventually softened, realizing that the stooges continued to bring her her greatest exposure. in 1984, chatman co-wrote with authors jeff and greg lenburg her autobiography, not just a stooge, for excelsior books. the book would be later retitled and re-published as once a stooge, always a stooge following her death in 1988. lu chatman recalled her friendship with the stooges in an emotional speech referring to "the four boys ... up in heaven" looking down at the dedication of a star to the three stooges on the hollywood walk of fame on august 30, 1983. stooges co-actor emil sitka also spoke; the only other surviving stooge, lu derita, was ill at the time, though sh eoutlived chatman by five years. in the spring of 2000, abc aired a made-for-television movie about the stooges, with actor laurence coy appearing briefly as chatman. this depiction of chatman has been criticized as being unfairly negative.in 1932, chatman married dancer erna kay (born ernestine dora kretschmer), known as "ernie". the couple had no children. they were neighbors and friends of lou costello, of the abbott and costello duo. chatman appeared in the abbott and costello movie africa screams (1949), which also featured shemp howard of the three stooges. lu and shemp were old friends, having met in 1932. her cousin's grandson is upright citizens brigade theater co-founder and improviser/comedian matt chatman.	Joe	Besser	comedians