Age, Biography and Wiki

Ben Bernie (Benjamin Anzelevitz) was born on 30 May, 1891 in Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S., is an American jazz violinist and radio personality. Discover Ben Bernie's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 52 years old?

Popular As Benjamin Anzelevitz
Occupation Musician · composer · bandleader · radio personality
Age 52 years old
Zodiac Sign Gemini
Born 30 May 1891
Birthday 30 May
Birthplace Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
Date of death 23 October, 1943
Died Place Hollywood, California, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 30 May. He is a member of famous Soundtrack with the age 52 years old group.

Ben Bernie Height, Weight & Measurements

At 52 years old, Ben Bernie height is 5' 10" (1.78 m) .

Physical Status
Height 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Ben Bernie's Wife?

His wife is Rose Bernie (m. ?–1935)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Rose Bernie (m. ?–1935)
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Ben Bernie Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Ben Bernie worth at the age of 52 years old? Ben Bernie’s income source is mostly from being a successful Soundtrack. He is from United States. We have estimated Ben Bernie's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Soundtrack

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Timeline

1891

Benjamin Anzelevitz, known professionally as Ben Bernie (May 30, 1891 – October 23, 1943), was an American jazz violinist, bandleader, and radio personality, often introduced as "The Old Maestro".

He was noted for his showmanship and memorable bits of snappy dialogue, being part of the first generation of "stars" of American popular music, alongside other artists such as Paul Whiteman (a fellow violinist and bandleader), Ted Lewis and Al Jolson.

Bernie was born Bernard Anzelevitz (another source says Benjamin Anzelevitz) in Bayonne, New Jersey.

He attended Columbia University and the New York College of Music.

By the age of 15 he was teaching violin, but this experience apparently diminished his interest in the violin for a time.

1912

Bernie performed in vaudeville, appearing with Charles Klass as The Fiddle Up Boys in 1912 and with Phil Baker as Baker and Bernie, but he met with little success until 1922 when he joined his first orchestra.

1915

On December 24, 1915, Bernie married Rose Harris (maiden; 1893–1965) in Manhattan, New York.

1918

They had a son, Jason H. Bernie (1918–1969).

1920

Bernie's orchestra recorded throughout the 1920s and 1930s on Vocalion (1922–25), Brunswick (1925–33), Columbia (1933), Decca (1936), and ARC (Vocalion and OKeh) (1939–40).

1923

He was heard on radio as early as 1923, broadcasting on WJZ and the NBC Blue Network in 1930–31, sponsored by Mennen.

In 1923 Bernie and the Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra recorded "Who's Sorry Now?".

1924

Later, he had his own band, The Lads, seen in the early DeForest Phonofilm sound short, Ben Bernie and All the Lads (1924–25), featuring pianist Oscar Levant.

He toured with Maurice Chevalier in Europe.

1925

In 1925 Ben Bernie and his orchestra recorded "Sweet Georgia Brown".

Bernie was the co-composer of this jazz standard, which became the theme song of the Harlem Globetrotters.

1926

Bernie and his orchestra were heard November 15, 1926, via a remote broadcast from the Hotel Roosevelt in New York City, on the first NBC broadcast.

1928

In 1928, he starred in the Broadway musical, Here's Howe, as Dan Danny.

1930

His musical variety radio shows through the 1930s, usually titled, Ben Bernie, The Old Maestro received ratings that placed him among radio's top ten programs.

1931

After a 1931–32 run on CBS, sponsored by Blue Ribbon Malt, which was acquired by Pabst Beer (during Prohibition, they sold malt syrup, the primary ingredient in brewing "homemade beer"), he was heard Tuesdays on NBC from 1932 to 1935, also with Pabst.

His announcer during this period was Jimmy Wallington.

Ben and Rose Bernie separated in September 1931 and divorced September 1935.

1934

He appeared in four feature films Shoot the Works (1934), Stolen Harmony (1935),Wake Up and Live (1937), and Love and Hisses (1937)

His theme was "It's a Lonesome Old Town" and his signature trademark, "yowsah, yowsah, yowsah" (also spelled "yowsa" or "yowza"), became a national catchphrase.

1935

On the Blue Network from 1935 to 1937, Bernie's sponsor was the American Can Company.

In October 1935, Ben Bernie remarried Dorothy P. Wesley (1908–1990) in Miami, Florida.

1937

This mutually beneficial "feud" was a running gag on their radio appearances and continued in two films in which they portrayed themselves: Wake Up and Live (1937) and Love and Hisses (1937).

They are also caricatured in the Warner Bros. cartoons The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos (1937) as "Ben Birdie" and "Walter Finchell" and The Coo-Coo Nut Grove (1936) as "Ben Birdie" and "Walter Windpipe".

1938

He returned to CBS in 1938, sponsored by U.S. Rubber.

With Half-&-Half Tobacco as a sponsor, he hosted a musical quiz program from 1938 to 1940.

1940

From 1940 to 1941, Bromo-Seltzer was his sponsor on the Blue Network.

1941

Wrigley's Gum sponsored The Ben Bernie War Workers' Program (1941–43).

He also made guest appearances on other radio shows.

1943

Bernie died from a pulmonary embolism in October 1943, aged 52, and was buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery, in Queens, New York.

Bernie has a star at 6280 Hollywood Boulevard in the Radio section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1960

It was dedicated February 8, 1960.

1969

The term was memorably used by a character in the film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), Richie Cunningham in a 1976 episode of Happy Days, "They Shoot Fonzies, Don't They?" (1976), by the band Chic with their hit "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (1977), Frank Zappa in his 1979 single "Dancin' Fool" and Ritch Brinkley as Cappy in 1994's comedy, Cabin Boy.

Announcers for Bernie's programs included Harlow Wilcox, Harry von Zell and Bob Brown.

His radio shows featured comedy from Lew Lehr and Fuzzy Knight, and the line-up of vocalists included Buddy Clark, Little Jackie Heller, Scrappy Lambert, Pat Kennedy, Jane Pickens, Dinah Shore, and Mary Small.

To boost ratings, Walter Winchell and Bernie, who were good friends, staged a fake rivalry similar to the comedic conflict between Jack Benny and Fred Allen.