Milton Berle New Year’s Eve Show 12-30-1947

Two versions of how the Milton Berle Show got started; Berle’s version, and then the truth. Questions about New Years from the audience. The Man of the Year. And…what happened to Berle last New Year’s Eve.

Milton Berle (29:27)

Family: Raised in a Jewish family in Harlem, New York. His father was a paint and varnish salesman, and his mother was a store detective who later became known as Sandra Berle when Milton became famous.
Early Career: Berle entered show business at the age of five, winning a Charlie Chaplin lookalike contest. He worked as a child actor in silent films and later on stage.

Berle performed in vaudeville from a young age, moving on to Broadway with roles in productions like “Florodora.” His career spanned from child performances to well into his later years.
Radio: Before television, Berle had a presence on radio with shows like “The Milton Berle Show,” though he struggled to find his niche due to his highly visual comedy style.
Television:
Texaco Star Theater: Berle became a household name as the host of “Texaco Star Theater” from 1948 to 1953, where he was dubbed “Mr. Television” and “Uncle Miltie.” His show was credited with popularizing television, significantly increasing TV set sales as people tuned in to watch his antics each Tuesday night.
Later TV Shows: After “Texaco,” he hosted “The Buick-Berle Show” and “The Milton Berle Show,” though these were less successful. His television career included numerous guest appearances, variety shows, and cameos.
Film: While not as prominent in cinema, Berle appeared in films across decades, including “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963) and “The Muppet Movie” (1979).