Word: wynn
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When Funnyman Ed Wynn's Laugh Parade was on Broadway last winter tens of thousands of people saw it, paying top prices of $5.50 at the box office, sometimes three times as much from speculators. One man saw it four times. Each time he bought a seat in a box, turned his back on the stage as soon as the curtain went up. Despite this antic, which seemed eccentric to other spectators, the four-time box-sitter meant much more money in the end to Funnyman Wynn than anyone else in the house. For by keeping his ears open...
...Wynn was reluctant to broadcast at first. He was convinced he could not do it. He finally decided that an audience might help, rigged himself up in costume and went ahead. With people in the studio actually laughing so he can hear them, he is able to work. Free tickets to his performance are given out by NBC and Texaco and usually between 700 and 800 people are at his broadcasts. But he has never completely shaken his fear of the "mike." fear that his listeners, estimated at 20 millions now, are not laughing. The Texas Co. hired him with...
...Wynn, whose real name is Israel Edwin Leopold, prides himself on being what he calls a "method comedian" rather than a "gag comedian." He never tells an off-color or race story, does not sing or dance. He buys some of his jokes from the Broadway "gag" factories, but writes most of his performances himself, working several hours a day on them. Wynn broadcasts consist of fast dialog between Funnyman Wynn and Graham McNamee. The latter does little talking except to feed cues. The program is punctuated by musical selections. Typical Wynn prattle: "The opera tonight. Graham, is very unusual...
...Wynn also prides himself on being a good businessman. His plays have been profitable. Last week he increased his stake in the entertainment business by forming an Amalgamated Broadcasting System, Inc., with offices in Manhattan. Its main purpose is to sell programs to advertising agencies and stations. Producer Arthur Hopkins (What Price Glory?, Paris Bound, Burlesque, The Jest) is associated with him, will obtain theatrical talent. Ota Gygi, a violinist, will handle the musical end. At the outset the company had $1,000,000 of business in hand but would reveal the names of no clients except The Texas...
...Wynn's father was a milliner, hence the Wynnian love of comical headgear. His collection of outlandish hats now totals 400. He also has a big pair of shoes which cost $3.50 but which, he says, have cost $1,400 to keep repaired. He has an apartment in Manhattan, a home in Florida, another in Great Neck, L. I. Once he owned the mansion in Great Neck where now lives Cinemagnate Nicholas Schenck. He likes bicycles, collects books of wit. He thinks his joke collection is the world's largest. He plays several musical instruments. He is married...