Julius Tannen
Encyclopedia
Julius Tannen was a comedian – or monologist
, as those of his era were known – who had a long and successful career in vaudeville
. He was known to stage audiences (and respected by other monologists) for his witty improvisations and creative word games. He had a successful career as a character actor
in films, appearing in over 50 films in his 25-year film career. He is best known to film audiences from the musical Singin' in the Rain
, in which he appears as the man demonstrating a talking picture early in the film.
.
Tannen made his Broadway
debut in 1905, in a musical comedy called Lifting the Lid and went on to appear in three other productions in the next year. As a vaudevillian, he played the Palace Theatre in New York City
– the apex of vaudeville performing – more often that almost any one else, indicating that he was at the peak of his profession. He appeared again on Broadway in 1916, and returned again in 1920, in a comic play with music, Her Family Tree, for which he received credit for writing his own scenes. Tannen was also seen in two editions of Earl Carroll's Vanities
, in 1925 and 1926, and in George White's Scandals
.
for performers with stage experience, and Tannen appeared in his first film in 1935, when he did an uncredited bit in Stranded
. This set him upon his 25-year career as a character man, although his work frequently went without credit.
In the 1940s, Tannen was part of Preston Sturges
' unofficial "stock company" of character actors
, appearing in eight films written and directed by Sturges, with the size of his roles increasing over time. Undoubtedly, Tannen's most memorable and prominent performance came at the age of 72, when he portrayed a man demonstrating the technology of talking pictures in a film-within-the-film in Singin' in the Rain
in 1952.
Tannen continued to appear in films until 1959, when he was seen in an uncredited role in director John Sturges
' Last Train from Gun Hill
. He continued to work until he suffered a stroke in 1964. He died the following year, at the age of 84, on 3 January at the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, California. His sons, William and Charles, were both successful film and TV actors; Charles later became a TV executive.
Lucille Ball
said that seeing Tannen perform in her hometown of Jamestown, New York when she was a child inspired her to go into show business.
Monologist
-Monologist:A monologist is a solo artist who recites or gives dramatic readings from a monologue, soliloquy, poetry or work of literature for the entertainment of an audience...
, as those of his era were known – who had a long and successful career in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
. He was known to stage audiences (and respected by other monologists) for his witty improvisations and creative word games. He had a successful career as a character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
in films, appearing in over 50 films in his 25-year film career. He is best known to film audiences from the musical Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American comedy musical film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography...
, in which he appears as the man demonstrating a talking picture early in the film.
Early career
Tannen was born in 1880, and never intended to become a performer. As a young man, he was a salesman whose pitch was so good that he began to get offers to entertain at parties. He made his professional vaudeville debut at the age of 21, and soon developed into a monologist, the predecessor to today's stand up comic. He would frequently end his routines before the payoff of the story, allowing the audience to complete it for themselves, and exited with the phrase "My father thanks you, my mother thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you," which was co-opted by the young George M. CohanGeorge M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....
.
Tannen made his Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in 1905, in a musical comedy called Lifting the Lid and went on to appear in three other productions in the next year. As a vaudevillian, he played the Palace Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
– the apex of vaudeville performing – more often that almost any one else, indicating that he was at the peak of his profession. He appeared again on Broadway in 1916, and returned again in 1920, in a comic play with music, Her Family Tree, for which he received credit for writing his own scenes. Tannen was also seen in two editions of Earl Carroll's Vanities
Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll was an American theatrical producer, director, songwriter and composer born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
, in 1925 and 1926, and in George White's Scandals
George White's Scandals
George White's Scandals were a long-running string of Broadway revues produced by George White that ran from 1919–1939, modelled after the Ziegfeld Follies. The "Scandals" launched the careers of many entertainers, including W.C. Fields, the Three Stooges, Ray Bolger, Helen Morgan, Ethel Merman, ...
.
Film career
The advent of talking pictures created a need in HollywoodCinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
for performers with stage experience, and Tannen appeared in his first film in 1935, when he did an uncredited bit in Stranded
Stranded (film)
Stranded is a 1916 silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.-Cast:* Oliver Hardy - Plump * Billy Ruge - Runt* Frank Hanson - Millionaire Slocum* Ray Godfrey - Slocum's daughter...
. This set him upon his 25-year career as a character man, although his work frequently went without credit.
In the 1940s, Tannen was part of Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
' unofficial "stock company" of character actors
Preston Sturges Unofficial Stock Company Actors
Actors who frequently worked with film director Preston Sturges: !! Christmas in July !! The Lady Eve !! Sullivan's Travels !! The Palm Beach Story !! The Miracle of Morgan's Creek !! Hail the Conquering Hero !! The Great Moment !! The Sin of Harold Diddlebock !! Unfaithfully Yours !! The...
, appearing in eight films written and directed by Sturges, with the size of his roles increasing over time. Undoubtedly, Tannen's most memorable and prominent performance came at the age of 72, when he portrayed a man demonstrating the technology of talking pictures in a film-within-the-film in Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American comedy musical film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography...
in 1952.
Tannen continued to appear in films until 1959, when he was seen in an uncredited role in director John Sturges
John Sturges
John Eliot Sturges was an American film director. His movies include Bad Day at Black Rock , Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , The Magnificent Seven , The Great Escape and Ice Station Zebra .-Career:He started his career in Hollywood as an editor in 1932...
' Last Train from Gun Hill
Last Train from Gun Hill
Last Train from Gun Hill is a 1959 Western by action director John Sturges. It stars Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Carolyn Jones and Earl Holliman. Douglas and Holliman had previously appeared together in Sturges' Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which used much of the same crew.The script is by James...
. He continued to work until he suffered a stroke in 1964. He died the following year, at the age of 84, on 3 January at the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, California. His sons, William and Charles, were both successful film and TV actors; Charles later became a TV executive.
Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
said that seeing Tannen perform in her hometown of Jamestown, New York when she was a child inspired her to go into show business.