Charlie McCarthy - This Is Your Life - Ralph Edwards

2 years ago
51

Charlie McCarthy is Edgar Bergen's famed ventriloquist dummy partner. Charlie was part of Bergen's act as early as high school, and by 1930, was attired in his famous top hat, tuxedo, and monocle. The character was so well-known that his popularity exceeded that of his performer, Bergen.

Charlie's personality was that of a mischievous little boy (with an Irish lilt), who could wisecrack, misbehave, and flirt shamelessly in a way that Bergen couldn't (in much the same way that the Muppet characters could behave more outrageously than any of their human co-stars). Bergen's original McCarthy dummy was built by noted carpenter/dummy-maker Theodore Mack, and was later rebuilt by Frank Marshall.

Charlie and Bergen made their radio debut on NBC's The Royal Gelatin Hour in 1936, where they proved such a hit that the following year the network gave them a starring role on The Chase and Sanborn Hour, where they were initially supported by emcee Don Ameche, singer Nelson Eddy (a role later filled by Dale Evans, amongst others), actress Dorothy Lamour, and comedian W. C. Fields. The following year, Charlie would be joined by a much dumber dummy, "Mortimer Snerd". After a famous mock feud with Fields on the program (during which Charlie often vowed to the comedian that he'd "mow him down"), the dummy soon became a true icon.

By 1939, Charlie was commanding 35.7% of the audience share.

This Is Your Life is an American reality documentary series broadcast on NBC radio from 1948 to 1952, and on NBC television from 1952 to 1961. It was originally hosted by its creator and producer Ralph Edwards. In the program, the host surprised guests and then took them through a retrospective of their lives in front of an audience, including appearances by colleagues, friends, and family.(Wikipedia)

Originally Broadcast 3/1/1950 and 3/8/1950

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