Eddie Cantor (1951)

The incomparable Apostle of Pep, one of the most charismatic and energetic performers in history. From his magnificent one-man show (March 25, 1951). Songs include Ballin' the Jack, Josephine Please No Lean on the Bell, several improvised songs, and stories about John Barrymore and Orson Welles

[@Lampshade51]

Here's a guy that first went on the stage in 1907 (!) and here is at nearly 60 years of age on television. Performers like Cantor were a breed which no longer exist: people who had such a vibrant personality, who sang, danced, told stories. People who could entertain you all by themselves. What a thrill it must have been to see these performers work in a theatre. So glad that Cantor lived long enough to do some TV.

[@scottybroker]

i can't think of anyone like him in show business. He was great.

[@sparkescadman]

Mr. Cantor had perfect timing, plus enthusiasm...a man who knew what he was doing! Thanks for real fun!.

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

A very underrated comedian. See his early films.

[@gamaxul]

Eddie Cantor was a great showman, and I can always respect an original style in presentation.

[@premiereopera1]

They threw away the mold for entertainers like Eddie Cantor.

[@label1877]

First time watching Ed, impressive!

[@MrLeezasky]

In the Josephine song, there are parts that are sung, and -- parts that sound very much like rapping. he was a great song and dance man, a genuine vaudevillian

[@stellaorvad2519]

Daebak69 A Genius

[@baxter5431]

Absolutely BRILLIANT! Mr. Cantor and all the others from that time, pre WWI, could have only developed their talent on the live stage of Vaudeville, Burlesque and Broadway. Even is someone has talent today, where can they go? The venues for exposure and immediate audience response are gone. There will NEVER be talent like this again.

[@historicchild]

This is where the talent can go now (2017) to get the same as Mr. Cantor: www.dreamsville.org Check it out and spread the news.

[@luvbach1]

I'm old enough to remember seeing him on TV.

[@SovereignBlade]

Yes Richard, Me too... I remember seeing Mr Cantor roll those eyes and I taught myself to do it like him. Just last night he came to mind, after all these years. I told my GalFriend I had to look him up on youtube.... so here we are... and I love it!!! Vaudeville produced some incredible showmen and ladies.... and we were lucky enough to see the fruit of that era still alive and kicking in the 1950s.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Richard Hecht me too.

[@paulitza9]

@@SovereignBlade I am not quite that old but I had a record of him singing "Dark Eyes" and foolishly, I gave it up. This song has great memories for me as my first love used to play and dedicate it to me. I shall never forget him or the song. .

[@michaelramos810]

I am a fan of eddie cantor he is very funny his songs are great I seen a movie with him in it the movie is called "Whoopee!" His eyes get me everytime in that movie the year was 1930 he always rolled his eyes and i still have that movie

[@Kram6298]

He was quite good. I've never watched him before. His physical performance during Ballin' the Jack (?) is interesting because this was several years before Elvis caused such a stir by swiveling his hips.

[@coldplayplayer15]

Wow what a performer

[@andymassingham]

As Groucho said, “Vaudeville was our only teacher. You’re either good company or you ain’t, in which case you don’t eat tonight. That’s it!” In a nutshell, that’s show biz from opera to Tin Pan Alley and method acting to melodrama.

[@jackbuckley7816]

This is the first time I've seen Cantor in long-form on live-television, though I've been quite familiar with him for many years now. I've heard a few of his half-hour radio shows, which air on some of the nostalgic radio-channels but they're not like what I've watched here. He'd open with a song, banter with a sidekick, and do sketches with guest stars & his own in-house stock-company. Curiosity made me made stop here, curious as to what a live TV-act of his consisted. He's smooth & charming here, totally confident, basically containing the audience in the palm of his hand. Great energy, too. Try to catch "The Eddie Cantor Story" sometime on one of the old-movie cable-channels. Another actor plays Cantor and, although he's somewhat miscast, it's a fairly-good bio of the man.

[@Corrie121]

Great post which demonstrates the remarkable abilities of this great entertainer. Thank you for sharing.

[@anthonyfrew1571]

Dramatic actors can learn so much from watching gentlemen like Eddie Cantor - timing - pure timing - and what warmth - I speak as an Anglo/Irish chap - yet this New York/ American humor appeals to me - Eddie mentions Jimmy Durante - another great

[@georgebettinger]

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@user-fq2cd2nw7d]

Amazing

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

Great star, performer, American.

[@kscape100]

That's wonderful

[@CarlDuke]

Great stuff. Thanks for the posting.

[@stellaorvad2519]

Wooohooo and that Ladies and Gentlemen is Before Elvis and his pelvis lol

[@arnefogel3256]

Incidentally, the guy he's talking about in the first part with the "ego" is Drew Barrymore's grandfather!

[@sonnyburakoff7683]

Jule wilson

[@veo16]

His accent changed from the 20s to the 50s.

[@olenfersoi8887]

Somehow, I am related to him and actually hung around with Kenny Cantor at my grandfathers summer place in Peekskill, NY many years ago. But I don't know either of our exact relationships to Mr. Cantor.

[@matthewmcsheffrey2522]

🌹🌹🌹❤️R.I.P.

[@aarongranda7825]

God he's talented. Thinks fadton his feet.

[@JN-sd4jw]

When he is speaking about John Barrymore doing Hamlet they show a photograph of Richard Burton in costume as Hamlet

[@pellob3423]

the guy who played him in boardwalk empire did a pretty accurare job!

[@user-xr8zo3vj9k]

Educate those 2 ignoramuses (dislike clickers) I've loved Eddie Cantor forever, they'd even slip him into cartoons, so cute

[@Modernbluesharmonica]

Actually, there's a YT clip from "Live With Regis" where he says "Eddie Cantor was the first radio show I ever saw [sic] as a kid, he was a wonderful comedian."

[@MrSuperbatone]

I think Regis was saying he actually SAW an Eddie Cantor radio show! He was in the studio audience.

[@Unknown-gf6mk]

Love you

[@thomtlc2]

At 8:30, Eddie shows he is the first rap artist!

[@davehansen2255]

Boardwalk Empire brought me here.

[@williamrodriquez4661]

I know Board Walk Empire probably wasn't completely accurate on Eddie living in Atlantic City but I still wonder if maybe he did performed there and had run ins with the real Nicky Thompson? Also wonder if he really made him break his contract in NYC?

[@bevisfaversham2669]

wheres is the rest ? this is all i ever see

[@IllyrianHighlander]

I am pretty sure Eddie Cantor was the first rapper

[@Modernbluesharmonica]

Agreed. You can see, though, where Regis Philbin stole his own schtick. It's Eddie Cantor updated.

[@stellaorvad2519]

Modern Blues Harmonica Yep all gone now all the ones that I would marry x

[@MrFalconford]

cartoonists are important too, just ask disney, who invented micky mouse and thats a song and dance to the tune of trillions, fact not fiction and thats a fact

[@stellaorvad2519]

I want to marry Eddie...lol

[@randikantor1527]

Ida Eddie Cantor lol

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

Great entertainer. Good, clean fun. Unlike the crap we have today - like this Rap Crap. What a disgrace to humanity. Too bad certain groups have lowered the bar. How sad.

[@sirorblegasse-payne2944]

I can sing, and act, and dance better than he can, except that I can't.

[@trenken]

Is he trying to be funny?

[@luvbach1]

Yes, and entertaining.

[@stellaorvad2519]

Tim Renken not trying he is

[@Unknown-gf6mk]

Are you?