Jerry Lester

Jerry Lester
Photo of comedian Jerry Lester, who was a host of the television program Broadway Open House.
Lester as host of Broadway Open House on NBC, 1950
Born
Lester J. Goldberg

(1910-02-16)February 16, 1910
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 1995(1995-03-23) (aged 85)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Alma materNorthwestern University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • host
  • singer
Spouses
  • Ardelle Unger
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1934; div. 1951)​
  • Alice Elgie Wall
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1951)​
Children3
RelativesBuddy Lester (brother)

Jerry Lester (born Lester J. Goldberg; February 16, 1910 – March 23, 1995) was an American comedian, singer and performer on radio, television and the stage, known for playing the father of the main characters, Mike Firpo, in the comedy Odds and Evens and who hosted the first network late night television program as host of Broadway Open House on NBC, a vaudeville-esque combination of comedy and music, whose success demonstrated the potential for late-night television and led to the creation of the Tonight Show.[1][2]

  1. ^ "Jerry Lester, Early TV Host And Comedian, Is Dead at 85". New York Times. May 25, 1995. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "Jerry Lester; Comedian, Host of 1st Late-Night TV Show". Los Angeles Times. March 26, 1995.