Eddie Cantor--Person to Person, 1956 TV

Eddie Cantor is interviewed by Edward R. Murrow in this 1956 edition of "Person to Person".

[@stevenrich8468]

Alan: extraordinary interview with E. R. Murrow. Eddie Cantor was one of the all-time greatest entertainers and humanitarians. Like Jolson and many others of his day, many of Cantor's performances were made in blackface, as it was an accepted convention of the times. Today, some viewers of his works will criticize these performances and rightfully so, as racist and demeaning. Yet Eddie Cantor had an inclusive mindset, and fought for rights of African Americans and those discriminated against, as he must have been as a Jew. Interesting to note that in late 1954, Sammy Davis Jr. was recuperating in the hospital from a car accident that cost him an eye. Cantor visited Davis and encouraged him to get back in the game, and talked about the struggles of the Jewish people. It's been written that this experience had such a profound influence on Sammy Davis Jr., that he converted to Judaism. What an inspiration....thanks!

[@dwaynebrue6028]

Eddie Cantor is The Greatest!!

[@jubalcalif9100]

This was quite enjoyable to watch ! Thanks a LOT for sharing !

[@shelovezcandy2852]

It was interesting to hear of his philanthropic attitude. In my research on old Hollywood, I'd noticed he often gave people a step up, so I assumed this was the case. His radio show gave a good break to black actress, Hattie Noel (who auditioned to play Mammy in GWTW).

[@aeichler]

Also to singer Thelma Carpenter, who replaced Dinah Shore as his vocalist in 1945.

[@paulnicolosi6382]

Interesting ,as I can remember listening to Eddie on the radio when I was a small boy in the 1950s

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Great upload! Thanks! 😀

[@jamesfox2579]

Thanks Alan for uploading this!❤️

[@pgh45rpms]

Eddie lived to age 72, passing awat from a heart attack in 1964.

[@jan-christinejohnson5256]

What a nice couple.

[@cheeseguy4998]

Thank you for uploading this ! :D

[@tripdownmemorylane]

Excellent video!

[@dmiller1000]

Murrow only lived a year past Cantor, due to his 3 pack-a-day habit. Eddie's and Ida's heart issues would likely have been able to have been treated - they seemed to lead a relatively healthy lifestyle. Gornisht would have helped Murrow. Interesting to note that in publicity shots for the radio show, his hair was largely gray, but when TV came along it went back to jet black. He really didn't appear to age very well - in his 1930s Goldwyn films he was thin and hale, even though he was already 40. By 1940 he began to look old. Jagger and McCartney are on the stage at 78 and 80 (as of July 2022) - technology and a bit of luck are quite amazing.

[@malgremor85]

Edward R. Murrow was one of the people whose voices I modeled my own after, when I was getting rid of my southern accent.

[@kanaco02]

I have never thought I can see Eddie's wife talking on the camera! Thank you for uploading! By the way, is his house real, or the one built in the studio?

[@anthonyfrew1571]

Nice man a nice couple - not starry - we need more of this today

[@michaelmcgee8543]

He was a real social liberal.

[@charlesnicol1867]

Who was ed ...why presume we gotta know... ed the host

[@aeichler]

Murrow was a legendary newscaster.

[@elizabethmurphy9384]

Edward R Murrow, legendary reporter during World War Two in London, reporting the Army McCarthy Hearings , and this program