Irving Brecher

In the golden age of American entertainment, few writers embodied the spirit of comedy as completely as Irving S. Brecher, a prolific screenwriter, radio personality, and comedy innovator who left an indelible mark on mid-20th century popular culture. His remarkable journey from a young joke writer to a celebrated Hollywood screenwriter represents the quintessential American creative success story.

Early Years and Comedy Beginnings

Born on January 17, 1914, in New York City and raised in Yonkers, Irving Brecher displayed an early aptitude for humor and writing. As a high school student, he worked as a sports reporter, simultaneously honing his comedic skills by sending jokes to prominent newspaper columnists on postcards. His audacious approach to breaking into comedy was legendary. As an aspiring young writer, Brecher placed an advertisement promising he could write "jokes so bad, even Milton Berle wouldn't steal them." Remarkably, this cheeky strategy worked, and Berle promptly hired him. At just 19, Brecher's first professional connection to entertainment was as an usher at a movie theater, a humble beginning for a man who would become a comedy powerhouse.

Radio and Writing Breakthrough

Brecher's career in entertainment truly took flight in the late 1930s. He created, produced, and served as head writer for the original radio and early television edition of The Life of Riley. His versatility was evident as he also wrote for Al Jolson on radio and later co-produced The People's Choice television series. His screenwriting career began in 1937, and he quickly distinguished himself by becoming the only writer to receive sole credit on a Marx Brothers film. He penned screenplays for At the Circus (1939) and Go West (1940), and was an uncredited writer on Gone with the Wind (1939). Interestingly, Brecher bore such a physical resemblance to Groucho Marx that he once filled in for him in publicity photos for At the Circus, despite a significant age difference.

Hollywood Success and Recognition

Brecher's talent was widely recognized in Hollywood. In 1944, he received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay, a testament to his writing prowess. His screenplays included notable works like Meet the People (1941), Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), and Sail A Crooked Ship, which he both wrote and directed.

Legacy and Personal Reflections

In 2008, Brecher published The Wicked Wit of the West, a memoir co-authored with Hank Rosenfeld, offering an insider's perspective on the entertainment industry's golden age. He shared hilarious and heartfelt stories about working with legendary performers like Groucho Marx, Judy Garland, Jackie Gleason, George Burns, Milton Berle, and Jack Benny. Irving S. Brecher passed away on November 17, 2008, in Los Angeles, leaving behind a rich legacy of comedy and creativity. He was survived by his wife and three stepchildren.

Works and Appearances

Radio

• The Life of Riley (Original radio and early TV edition) - Creator, Producer, Head Writer
• Al Jolson Radio Show - Writer

Television

• The People's Choice - Creator, Co-Producer

Film Screenplays

• At the Circus (1939)
• Go West (1940)
• Meet the People (1941)
• Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)
• Sail A Crooked Ship (Director and Screenwriter)

Books

• The Wicked Wit of the West! (2008, posthumously published memoir)