Posted on 07/03/2006 1:00:46 PM PDT by freepatriot32
LOS ANGELES - Jan Murray, one of the fabled generation of comics who rose from the Catskills to prime time TV, tickling fans of the 1950s game show "Treasure Hunt," has died. He was 89.
Murray, who appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, died Sunday at his home in Beverly Hills, son Howard Murray said in a telephone interview Monday.
"Treasure Hunt" ran from 1956 to 1959 in both daytime and prime time versions, first on ABC and later on NBC. The contestant who won a quiz got to pick among treasure chests, which contained anything "from a head of cabbage to a check for a large sum of money," according to the book "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows."
Born Murray Janofsky on Oct. 4, 1916, in New York, Murray honed his craft by watching vaudeville shows and performing at Catskills resorts that catered to the crowds of Jewish vacationers.
As a resort's resident "tummler," he was expected to entertain guests all day, not just on the stage at night, he told The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles in 2002.
"In the morning, the fat ladies in the exercise room," Murray said. "I'd pass by and do shtick." But it wasn't tiring, he insisted.
"Until I was 80, I wasn't exhausted," he said. "Theres no medicine like being on stage hearing people laugh."
Among the other veterans of that vanished show business training ground were Mel Brooks, Red Buttons, Sid Caesar and the late Buddy Hackett.
Murray went on to host a string of game shows in the 1950s, including "Dollar a Second," before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
Among the movies he appeared in were "The Busy Body," "Who Killed Teddy Bear" and, in a small role, Brooks' "History of the World Part I."
He also served as a guest host on "The Tonight Show" and did many guest shots in 1960s and '70s TV series, including "Love, American Style," "The Name of the Game" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."
Murray, who retired 10 years ago, balanced his work with a rich family life, his son said.
"He was a person who fully loved his life and wanted to continue as long as he could," his son said.
In addition to son Howard, Murray is survived by his wife, Toni; son Warren; daughters, Diane and Celia; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
I know I'm getting old. I remember this man very well!
A Hollywood Squares mainstay. Damn I'm getting old!
What's The Hollywood Squares?
Just kidding.
"I know I'm getting old."
My second thought (first was: "bummer, I liked that guy").
I remember Treasure Hunt --- and I dont mean rereuns on the Game Show Channel.
It was a fun program. Similar to NBC's Deal or No Deal.
I think there were sixty small "treasure chests" each numbered. The "winner" would get to pick a number; some had joke prizes worth little in them, others contained vactions, new cars, new homes, etc., one chest contained (I think) sixty thousand dollars in cash.
A pretty young blonde wearing little for those days would get the chest selected by the "winner" and then Jan would offer the winner the chance to sell the chest back to him before anyone know what was inside. Jan would offer sometimes hundreds of dollars if the selector would forego the chest.
Sounds stupid today, but as a child in the fifties this was one of my favorite shows.
Murray always seemed to have that infectious smile. I remember him well. He was a funny guy. He will be missed.
I also remember "Treasure Hunt." "Let's Make a Deal" and "Deal or No Deal" copied the premise of this show, playing on the greed of the contestant to trade away the prize they already had for the possibility of getting something better.
”Sounds stupid today, but as a child in the fifties this was one of my favorite shows.”
Mine too.
“A pretty young blonde wearing little for those days would get the chest selected by the "winner" and then Jan would offer the winner the chance to sell the chest back to him before anyone know what was inside.”
I also remember the pretty young blonde’s chest!
"Dollar a Second", now there's a game show the PI lawyers would have a field day with today.
Where old actors went to die, before they invented "The Love Boat".
Rest in peace.
Anyone old enough to remember when the comment "You're very beautiful" to a woman would elicit the response "Thank you!" I miss those days. Men were men, and women were glad of it.
BTW, for today's TV trivia note, did you know that the sweet British actress on Fraiser got her start as a Benny Hill Girl? Boy, those were the days!
Me, too, and me, too.
Are you implying that some women aren't beautiful? (Oh, how skin-deep). Or that men aren't? (Oh, how sexist!) Or that men who would make such comments weren't anything other than shallow, surface-driven assessors incapable of addressing the entire person regardless of their perceived, socially constructed role imposed by a dominating patriarchal "old-boys club" in Hollywood and beyond? (Oh, how anti-feminist) And that such men are so...
IIRC: He was a man of charity. RIP.
Where old actors went to die, before they invented "The Love Boat".
Now that's funny! and true...
"Jan Murray stars as himself, judging the NYPD barbershop quartet competition. To his dismay, they all sing "By the light of Silvery Moon" in exactly the same way: "Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom! By the light....." Even the female quartet sounds the same! By the time the Car 54 boys show up, Murray's on the verge of a breakdown and he jumps out the window when they start singing."
Classic television.
RIP, Jan. You were great.
I remember him very well too! He was a talented, classy man.
Me, too!
Me, too!
Me too, too, too!!!
Same here. I was just trying to recall him to my son a few weeks ago, and couldn't remember the name. But I knew who I meant!
Something about their eyes...both have that smile/twinkle in their eyes.
Member of the club here. This was a fun guy, always good for smiles and laughs. Dang, the world is getting far too serious - and I am getting far too old.
A: THAT'S NOT FUNNY!
who could forget him as the villain in "A Man called Dagger" ? I guess everyone could except me.
RIP Jan
I remember 2 kids frantically trying to open the lock on one of two treasure chests using a few hundred different keys dumped out on a table. I think it was before each commercial they'd "check up" on the key search and they didn't have a winner on every show.
Or was that Wonderama??
Wasn't that Geraldo Rivera?
Al Capone never laughed so hard.
I was starting to feel that way, but then I ran across a Pearl Jam Rock Block on tv and have been having a good time listening to some tunes the past hour. I probably skew the demographics for this group, but as long as there's purple fingernail polish and rock and roll, I'm as young as I want to be.
Reply to post #25
I agree. I feel we have lost a wonderful funny man.
With his smile & eye twinkle, Jan could have sold sand to the king of Saudi Arabia.
:-(
Too bad there are no up and coming Jan Murrays!
Not unlike Jerry Lewis' MD Telethon when they'd build up this timpani and reveal pledges to date, the Chabad people, when they announced how much money had been pledged, this Jewish-themed music would strike up, and a bunch of Hasidim would rush in from off-stage, grab Murray and begin dancing around in a circle.
Two or three rounds in that circle, Murray would break free, holding his chest, huffing & puffing and stumble over to his normal place on stage.
One of the funniest things I've seen.
Everybody liked Jan Murray.
May God bless him and his family.
Yes, it was, with Sonny Fox I believe, although I may be wrong because if I remember this stuff, I probably have alzheimers...or maybe not. BTW, do you know where I am?
I need another beer. Now, where did I put it?
Happy Fourth Joe.
FMCDH(BITS)
FMCDH(BITS)
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