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He was born in [[New York City]], the son of [[Russian Jewish]] immigrants.<ref>1920 U.S. Census, Bronx, New York, Assembly District 5</ref> By 1908, he was performing in vaudeville as part of a [[blackface]] [[minstrel group]] that also included Willard Terre, Frank Carlton, and Al Lavan. When the group split up, he formed a duo with Lavan, performing parodies and sketches, and then partnered Henry Lewis from around 1910 to 1915 in an act called "The Explorers" featuring [[Double act#Early_development|crosstalk]] and songs.<ref name=trav>[https://travsd.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/joe-browning-richard-benjamins-funny-vaudeville-uncle/ Trav S.D., "Joe Browning: Richard Benjamin’s Funny Vaudeville Uncle", ''Travalanche'', August 22, 2018]. Retrieved 28 February 2024</ref>
He was born in [[New York City]], the son of [[Russian Jewish]] immigrants.<ref>1920 U.S. Census, Bronx, New York, Assembly District 5</ref> By 1908, he was performing in vaudeville as part of a [[blackface]] [[minstrel group]] that also included Willard Terre, Frank Carlton, and Al Lavan. When the group split up, he formed a duo with Lavan, performing parodies and sketches, and then partnered Henry Lewis from around 1910 to 1915 in an act called "The Explorers" featuring [[Double act#Early_development|crosstalk]] and songs.<ref name=trav>[https://travsd.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/joe-browning-richard-benjamins-funny-vaudeville-uncle/ Trav S.D., "Joe Browning: Richard Benjamin’s Funny Vaudeville Uncle", ''Travalanche'', August 22, 2018]. Retrieved 28 February 2024</ref>


For the rest of his career, Browning presented comic [[monologue]]s and songs as a solo performer. In 1919, it was said that: "His material is bright and witty and is delivered with such telling effect that not one point went amiss. The songs and monologue are augmented with a smile that never failed and Browning worked a broad grin to perfection...".<ref>[https://ia600304.us.archive.org/13/items/Clipper67-1919-06/Clipper67-1919-06.pdf "Vaudeville Reviews", ''The New York Clipper'', June 1919, p.12]</ref> He appeared in a [[revue]], ''The Midnight Rounders of 1921'', at the [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theatre]] on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]], and wrote sketches performed by others, such as "Seminary Mary" performed by [[Henry Bergman]] and Gladys Clark in 1923. His best known performances were as a pompous and hypocritical preacher.<ref name=trav/> He recorded a [[Vitaphone Varieties|Vitaphone]] short film, "The Reformer", in 1927, and re-recorded the sketch, along with "Hallelujah", for [[Columbia Records]] the following year.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/78_im-a-reformer_joe-browning-browning_gbia0030557a "I'm a Reformer", Columbia 1554-D, ''Internet Archive'']. Retrieved 28 February 2024</ref> In 1935, he appeared in a film, ''Meet the Professor''.<ref name=trav/> In the 1950 census, he described himself as an actor, working in television.<ref>1950 U.S. Census, New York 31-819</ref>
For the rest of his career, Browning presented comic [[monologue]]s and songs as a solo performer. In 1919, it was said that: "His material is bright and witty and is delivered with such telling effect that not one point went amiss. The songs and monologue are augmented with a smile that never failed and Browning worked a broad grin to perfection...".<ref>[https://ia600304.us.archive.org/13/items/Clipper67-1919-06/Clipper67-1919-06.pdf "Vaudeville Reviews", ''The New York Clipper'', June 1919, p.12]</ref> He appeared in a [[revue]], ''The Midnight Rounders of 1921'', at the [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theatre]] on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]], and wrote sketches performed by others, such as "Seminary Mary" performed by [[Henry Bergman]] and Gladys Clark in 1923. His best known performances were as a pompous and sanctimonious preacher.<ref>Bernard Sobel, ''A Pictorial History of Vaudeville'', Citadel Press, New York, 1961, p.128</ref><ref name=trav/> He recorded a [[Vitaphone Varieties|Vitaphone]] short film, "The Reformer", in 1927, and re-recorded the sketch, along with "Hallelujah", for [[Columbia Records]] the following year.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/78_im-a-reformer_joe-browning-browning_gbia0030557a "I'm a Reformer", Columbia 1554-D, ''Internet Archive'']. Retrieved 28 February 2024</ref> In 1935, he appeared in a film, ''Meet the Professor''.<ref name=trav/> In the 1950 census, he described himself as an actor, working in television.<ref>1950 U.S. Census, New York 31-819</ref>


He died in [[Miami, Florida]], in 1957, at the age of 77. His nephew is the actor [[Richard Benjamin]].<ref name=trav/>
He died in [[Miami, Florida]], in 1957, at the age of 77. His nephew is the actor [[Richard Benjamin]].<ref name=trav/>
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[[Category:1880 births]]
[[Category:1880 births]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American vaudeville performers]]

Latest revision as of 09:45, 20 July 2024

Joe Browning
Browning in 1931
Born
Joseph Levy Browning

(1880-07-28)July 28, 1880
DiedNovember 14, 1957(1957-11-14) (aged 77)
OccupationVaudeville performer

Joseph Levy Browning (July 28, 1880 – November 14, 1957) was an American vaudeville comedian.

Life and career

[edit]

He was born in New York City, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants.[1] By 1908, he was performing in vaudeville as part of a blackface minstrel group that also included Willard Terre, Frank Carlton, and Al Lavan. When the group split up, he formed a duo with Lavan, performing parodies and sketches, and then partnered Henry Lewis from around 1910 to 1915 in an act called "The Explorers" featuring crosstalk and songs.[2]

For the rest of his career, Browning presented comic monologues and songs as a solo performer. In 1919, it was said that: "His material is bright and witty and is delivered with such telling effect that not one point went amiss. The songs and monologue are augmented with a smile that never failed and Browning worked a broad grin to perfection...".[3] He appeared in a revue, The Midnight Rounders of 1921, at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, and wrote sketches performed by others, such as "Seminary Mary" performed by Henry Bergman and Gladys Clark in 1923. His best known performances were as a pompous and sanctimonious preacher.[4][2] He recorded a Vitaphone short film, "The Reformer", in 1927, and re-recorded the sketch, along with "Hallelujah", for Columbia Records the following year.[5] In 1935, he appeared in a film, Meet the Professor.[2] In the 1950 census, he described himself as an actor, working in television.[6]

He died in Miami, Florida, in 1957, at the age of 77. His nephew is the actor Richard Benjamin.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1920 U.S. Census, Bronx, New York, Assembly District 5
  2. ^ a b c d Trav S.D., "Joe Browning: Richard Benjamin’s Funny Vaudeville Uncle", Travalanche, August 22, 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2024
  3. ^ "Vaudeville Reviews", The New York Clipper, June 1919, p.12
  4. ^ Bernard Sobel, A Pictorial History of Vaudeville, Citadel Press, New York, 1961, p.128
  5. ^ "I'm a Reformer", Columbia 1554-D, Internet Archive. Retrieved 28 February 2024
  6. ^ 1950 U.S. Census, New York 31-819
[edit]