Jan Murray with Emerson College

Comedian / Host


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Jan Murray (1916-2006) talks about his early comedy career. He recalls recreating comedy acts in vaudeville shows and getting his first entertainment gigs, including at the Hippodrome Theatre and the Melbourne Hotel. He details how he puts together his comedy routines and gets the audience used to his persona, and comments on the differences between comedians of different generations. Murray discusses the various game shows he hosted, including Blind Date, Dollar a Second, and Treasure Hunt, and describes the skills necessary to be a funny host. He recounts how he honed his comedic talent and shares show business advice that Al Jolson gave him. Murray also recalls interactions with other professionals that he's worked with, including Milton Berle, Norm Krasner, Shelley Winters, Buddy Hackett, and Henny Youngman. He talks about performing at benefits and reflects on why comedy is important and whether his career was worth it. Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview on January 17, 2006 in Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"There's something medicinal about standing on the stage and listening to thousands of people laugh, or hundreds of people, or sixty people if the room is small enough. And to hear them laugh at something you are doing -- boy that's heady medicine. Tough to get it anywhere else."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Jan Murray on a one-liner doctor joke from Henny Youngman
00:50
Jan Murray on hosting Treasure Hunt and the popularity of the show
00:33
Jan Murray on one of his favorite jokes
02:21
Jan Murray on performing comedy as medicine
00:19
Jan Murray on re-creating vaudeville comedy acts for his mother as a kid
01:41
Jan Murray on the advantage of being able to work with other people
00:56
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On working in the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore; on Milton Berle in vaudeville; on putting together and refining his stand-up comedy routines; on recognizing the great comedians of each generation and the differences between them; on respecting the audience as a performer
On film writer Norm Krasner and being his neighbor; on getting the audience used to his persona; on getting material from his environment and adapting it to local culture; on one of his favorite jokes
On being the first comedian to host a game show live; on hosting Blind Date, Dollar a Second, Treasure Hunt, and other games shows; on the necessary skills for being a funny host; on having Mogen David wine company as a sponsor
On his start in show business and being a naturally funny kid; on going to a Vaudeville house with his mother as a kid and recreating the comedy acts; on his early career performing in social clubs, the Catskill Mountains, and the Melbourne Hotel
On honing his comedic talent; on Al Jolson's advice for him; on whether his career was worth it
On the shows he is most proud of; on performing at benefits; on why humor is important; on performing with Shelley Winters at the Paramount Theatre; on one of his favorite doctor jokes
Shows

Blind Date

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Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date
02:44

Dollar a Second

View Show Page
Jan Murray on hosting Dollar a Second after Blind Date was canceled
01:21

Treasure Hunt

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Jan Murray on hosting Treasure Hunt and the popularity of the show
00:33
Topics

Advertising and Sponsorship

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Jan Murray on having The Toni Company and Mogen David wine company as sponsors
00:40
Jan Murray on his commercial for his sponsor, Mogen David wine company
02:45

Advice

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Jan Murray on show business advice he received from Al Jolson
01:57

First Big Break

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Jan Murray on getting his big break -- working in the Catskill Mountains
02:14

Pivotal Career Moments

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Jan Murray on getting his big break -- working in the Catskill Mountains
02:14

Television Industry

View Topic
Jan Murray on having the Toni Company and Mogen David wine company as sponsors
00:40
Jan Murray on his commercial for his sponsor, Mogen David wine company
02:45
Jan Murray on show business advice he received from Al Jolson
01:57
Professions

Comedian

View Profession
Jan Murray on how he came up with material for stand-up comedy routines
02:48
Jan Murray on how he came up with material for stand-up comedy routines
02:48
Jan Murray on comedians from different generations, recognizing the great comedians of each one, and the greatness and faults of comedians from the then-current generation
02:07
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
04:40
Jan Murray on using isolated stories at the start of his routine to get the audience used to his persona
03:56
Jan Murray on learning to adapt his material to the audience when performing in Israel
03:11
Jan Murray on being a naturally funny kid and getting into comedy as a result
01:32
Jan Murray on entertaining in the Cavaliers Social Club early in his career
02:24
Jan Murray on getting his gig working in the Catskill Mountains
04:07
Jan Murray on getting his gig at the Melbourne Hotel and deciding to pursue show business
02:10
Jan Murray on performing for benefits and how it impacts a comedian's business
02:38
Jan Murray on providing feedback to Shelley Winters and adapting a routine they did together
04:24
Jan Murray on performing comedy as medicine
00:19

Game Show Host

View Profession
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
04:40
Jan Murray on bringing humanity into his role as a game show host to play off gags
00:55
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Dollar a Second
00:50
Jan Murray on being the host of Treasure Hunt
00:27
Jan Murray on why he kept his career as a game show host for so many years and why he eventually decided to stop
01:37

Hosts

View Profession
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
04:40
Jan Murray on bringing humanity into his role as a game show host to play off gags
00:55
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Dollar a Second
00:50
Jan Murray on being the host of Treasure Hunt
00:27
Jan Murray on why he kept his career as a game show host for so many years and why he eventually decided to stop
01:37

Performers

View Profession
Jan Murray on comedians from different generations, recognizing the great comedians of each one, and the greatness and faults of comedians from the then-current generation
02:07
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date and on being the first comedian to host a live game show
04:40
Jan Murray on using isolated stories at the start of his routine to get the audience used to his persona
03:56
Jan Murray on learning to adapt his material to the audience when performing in Israel
03:11
Jan Murray on being a naturally funny kid and getting into comedy as a result
01:32
Jan Murray on entertaining in the Cavaliers Social Club early in his career
02:24
Jan Murray on getting his gig working in the Catskill Mountains
04:07
Jan Murray on getting his gig at the Melbourne Hotel and deciding to pursue show business
02:10
Jan Murray on how entertainers come from all walks of life
00:42
Jan Murray on receiving show business advice from Al Jolson
07:37
Jan Murray on performing for benefits and how it impacts a comedian's business
02:38
Jan Murray on providing feedback to Shelley Winters and adapting a routine they did together
04:24
Jan Murray on performing comedy as medicine
00:19
Genres

Game Shows

View Genre
Jan Murray on becoming the host of Blind Date
02:44
Jan Murray on hosting Dollar a Second after Blind Date was canceled
01:21
Jan Murray on hosting Treasure Hunt and the popularity of the show
00:32
Jan Murray on being the first comedian to host a live game show
04:40
People

Al Jolson

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Jan Murray on seeing Al Jolson in the audience and receiving advice from him
08:15

Buddy Hackett

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Jun Murray on Buddy Hackett's business in Vegas and Hackett's thoughts on doing benefits
01:36

Frank Sinatra

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Jan Murray on touring with Frank Sinatra
10:04

Henny Youngman

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Jan Murray on a one-liner doctor joke from Henny Youngman
00:50

Milton Berle

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Jan Murray on Milton Berle's character and energy on the stage
02:55
Jan Murray on getting insight from Milton Berle about how to get laughs after following None but the Lonely Heart in the Hippodrome Theatre
04:02
Jan Murray on seeing Milton Berle in vaudeville
01:13

Shelley Winters

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Jan Murray on providing feedback to Shelley Winters before a vaudeville act they did together
03:01

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