Artie Auerbach worked with Phil Baker before joining the Jack Benny Show.
19 Facts About Artie Auerbach
1.
2.
Artie Auerbach had a successful career as a reporter and photographer for the New York tabloid Daily Mirror and the New York Daily News.
3.
Artie Auerbach was on an assignment at a Bronx drug store when he heard a voice singing a popular song of the time, "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby" with a strong Yiddish dialect and he loved the voice and personality.
4.
Artie Auerbach took that character and evolved it into the lovable and laughable Mr Kitzel.
5.
Artie Auerbach had first submitted comedy sketches for Brown with the intention of selling the material.
6.
However, Brown agreed to use them only if Artie Auerbach performed them himself.
7.
Artie Auerbach was then cast in the hugely popular radio program The Goldbergs and its predecessor House of Glass.
8.
Artie Auerbach's work included a regular role on CBS' The Wonder Show with Lucille Ball, Gale Gordon, and Jack Haley in 1938, and appearing as Mr Kitzel on both The Abbott and Costello Show and in the 1943 film Here Comes Elmer, which featured the cast of the Al Pearce radio program.
9.
In 1946 Artie Auerbach was hired as a permanent, although only occasional, Yiddish-accented character Mr Kitzel.
10.
Artie Auerbach's appearance went over so well with the audience and Benny himself that he returned the next week.
11.
Artie Auerbach's character moved with the show when it made the transition from radio to television, and he has appeared until his death.
12.
Artie Auerbach was born in New York City of Polish Jewish descent.
13.
Artie Auerbach's father, Wolfgang, was a dancer in London, England, and died at a young age.
14.
Artie Auerbach was self-educated from patronizing the New York Public Library.
15.
Ed Sullivan's column of March 29,1938 announced that Artie Auerbach would be marrying Cleo Manning.
16.
On October 3,1957, Artie Auerbach died of a heart attack at 54 years of age in Van Nuys, California.
17.
Artie Auerbach had entered the West Valley Community Hospital the previous day as an emergency patient.
18.
Artie Auerbach was survived by his wife, Doris, and two sisters.
19.
Artie Auerbach was quoted multiple times in various other Looney Tunes cartoons.