Ritz Brothers: Difference between revisions

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The Ritz Brothers were a comedy team who appeared in 1930s films, and as live performers from 1925 to the late 1960s. Brothers in reality, their last name was originally Joachim.

Although there were four brothers, only three of them performed together. The fourth brother acted as their manager.

Al, (August 27, 1901-December 22, 1965)
Jimmy, (October 4, 1904-November 17, 1985)
Harry, (May 22, 1907-March 29, 1986)

The brothers began using the name "Ritz" for their nightclub act after seeing the name on the side of a laundry truck.

They were enlisted by Darryl F. Zanuck to make films for 20th Century Fox in the mid-1930s. Although they had some modest success, they were unable achieve the success or popularity of the Marx Brothers. By 1940, they had moved to Universal Studios where they continued to make films, although never achieving star power. Their final film together was "Never a Dull Moment" (1947), although they continued to appear on stage together until Al's death. In the 1970s, Harry and Jimmy appeared together in a couple of films. Perhaps they most successful film was "The Three Musketeers" (1939), co-starring Don Ameche.

They were buried in Hollywood Cemetery, now called the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Enduring tributes to them include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and mention in the 1982 film My Favorite Year. (There, a character who works with the writers for a top 1950s television comedy show describes them as people like the Marx Brothers who are "funny" -- in contrast to "anyone who has ever played the accordion professionally".)

The influence of the Ritz Brothers was greater than their film career, in part because of their long career as nightclub entertainers. They influenced actors including Danny Kaye, Jerry Lewis, and Sid Caesar. In his 1976 film "Silent Movie", Mel Brooks paid tribute to the Ritz Brothers by casting Harry in a cameo, the actor's last role.

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-The '''Ritz Brothers''' were a comedy team who appeared in [[1930s]] films, as live performers from [[1925]] to the late [[1960s]], and in the film ''[[Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood]]''.
+The '''Ritz Brothers''' were a comedy team who appeared in [[1930s]] films, and as live performers from [[1925]] to the late [[1960s]].  Brothers in reality, their last name was originally Joachim.
+Although there were four brothers, only three of them performed together.  The fourth brother acted as their manager.
-Until late in their performing careers, (when two performed alone after one had died) they were three in number:
-* [[Al Ritz|Al]], ([[1901]]-[[1965]])
+* [[Al Ritz|Al]], ([[August 27]], [[1901]]-[[December 22]], [[1965]])
-* [[Jimmy Ritz|Jimmy]], ([[1903]]- mid-[[1980s]])
+* [[Jimmy Ritz|Jimmy]], ([[October 4]], [[1904]]-[[November 17]], [[1985]])
-* [[Harry Ritz |Harry]], ([[1906]]- mid-[[1980s]])
+* [[Harry Ritz |Harry]], ([[May 22]], [[1907]]-[[March 29]], [[1986]])
-Their choice of the performing name "Ritz" is said to have been inspired that word appearing on the side of a laundry truck. They were in fact brothers, and a fourth brother acted as their manager.
+The brothers began using the name "Ritz" for their nightclub act after seeing the name on the side of a laundry truck.
+They were enlisted by [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] to make films for [[20th Century Fox]] in the mid-[[1930s]].  Although they had some modest success, they were unable achieve the success or popularity of the [[Marx Brothers]].  By [[1940]], they had moved to [[Universal Studios]] where they continued to make films, although never achieving star power.  Their final film together was "Never a Dull Moment" ([[1947]]), although they continued to appear on stage together until Al's death.  In the 1970s, Harry and Jimmy appeared together in a couple of films.  Perhaps they most successful film was "[[The Three Musketeers (Film) (1939)|The Three Musketeers]]" ([[1939]]), co-starring [[Don Ameche]].
-They were enlisted into film on the hope that they could duplicate the popularity of the [[Marx Brothers]], but this did not prove to be the case.
-They were buried in what was then, and for nearly its first century, called Hollywood Cemetery, since [[1998]] the [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]].
+They were buried in  Hollywood Cemetery, now called the [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]].
 Enduring tributes to them include a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], and mention in the [[1982]] film ''[[My Favorite Year]]''. (There, a character who works with the writers for a top [[1950s]] television comedy show describes them as people like the Marx Brothers who are "funny" -- in contrast to "anyone who has ever played the [[accordion]] professionally".)
-{{comedian-stub}}
+The influence of the Ritz Brothers was greater than their film career, in part because of their long career as nightclub entertainers.  They influenced actors including [[Danny Kaye]], [[Jerry Lewis]], and [[Sid Caesar]].  In his [[1976]] film "[[Silent Movie (film)|Silent Movie]]", [[Mel Brooks]] paid tribute to the Ritz Brothers by casting Harry in a cameo, the actor's last role.
 [[Category:Comedy]]