Ritz Brothers
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, George, 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 to 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.
An article in Esquire Magazine by Harry Stein (June 1976), "Mel Brooks Says This [Harry Ritz] is the Funniest Man in the World", makes a strong case that many top comedians were influenced by, and even borrowed bits from, Harry Ritz.
The last appearance of the Ritz Brothers as a group (sans Al) was the mid-1970s film Blazing Stewardesses. The Ritzes were cast as replacements for The Three Stooges who dropped out of the film following the death of Moe Howard.
References to The Ritz Bothers
- The Ritz Brothers were refenced by Mr. Burns in "The Simpsons" episode [4F10] - Mountain of Madness.
Burns: What a disgraceful display. I've seen more orderly behavior in a Ritz Brothers Film.