Comedian Albert Brooks grew up in show business. He was born and raised in Beverly Hills, CA and was the youngest of four children, all boys. His mother was Thelma Leeds, an actress and singer. His father was comedian Harry Einstein.
Brooks’ birth name is Albert Einstein. He changed it for showbiz.
Born in Boston to European Jewish emigres, Harry Einstein was best known for his Greek American character named Nick Parkyakarkus. His act consisted of malapropisms and puns.
The doughy-faced comic appeared on several popular radio programs and movies during the late 1930s
NBC gave him his own radio show from 1945-47 called Meet Me at Parky’s. He portrayed his signature character, Nick Parkyakarkus, as the owner of a luncheonette. Einstein wrote every episode.
His career stalled out in the 1950s, however, with the arrival of television.
Still, Einstein rubbed elbows with many Los Angeles-based celebrities like Milton Berle, George Jessel, Art Linkletter, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Also, Harry was a member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Friar’s Club.
The Friar’s Club, a private organization, originated in New York City in 1904. The first comic roast didn’t occur until 1950. Since so many television comedians lived on the West Coast, they held private get-togethers in LA at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
1958: Harry Einstein appeared at a Friar’s Club Roast for his friends Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Nobody in the entertainment industry was bigger than the married duo.
That year I Love Lucy had changed into The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour - essentially the same show with the same cast but with fewer episodes.
The emcee for that evening’s roast was TV host Art Linkletter. He introduced Harry Einstein who did a ten-minute set that had everyone laughing, especially his pal Desi Arnaz.
During the applause, Einstein walked back to his seat next to comedian Milton Berle.
Linkletter mused to the audience that Harry Einstein was always funny and deserved to be on prime time television.
Then Einstein slumped over onto Milton Berle as if he’d suffered a heart attack. Everyone laughed. Another hilarious Harry Einstein gag.
But Berle immediately realized it was no joke. He called out for a doctor. Several rushed to help.
The gravity of the situation kicked in. Milton Berle persuaded singer Tony Martin to serenade the crowd in the meantime. He unintentionally chose an ironic number: There’s No Tomorrow.
The physicians on hand carried Einstein’s body behind a curtain and attempted CPR. One doctor cut open his chest with a knife and began manually massaging the man’s heart.
To no avail. Harry Einstein, who had long privately suffered from heart disease, was dead.
The main attractions, Lucy and Desi, were still scheduled to speak, but given the situation they called off the rest of the show and everyone left.
Albert was 11 years old when his father died.
Four days earlier, Bob Einstein, Albert’s brother, celebrated his 16th birthday.
Albert went on to create a long comedy and movie career.
So did his brother Bob Einstein who wrote for and appeared on The Smothers Brothers Show before creating his best-known comic character: Super Dave Osborne.
Although Bob died in 2019 at age 76, both comedians greatly outlived their father and surpassed his showbiz achievements.
Comments