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 |
Ben Bernie Social Network
Timeline
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.
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.
On December 24, 1915, Bernie married Rose Harris (maiden; 1893–1965) in Manhattan, New York.
They had a son, Jason H. Bernie (1918–1969).
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).
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?".
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.
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.
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.
In 1928, he starred in the Broadway musical, Here's Howe, as Dan Danny.
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.
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.
Ben and Rose Bernie separated in September 1931 and divorced September 1935.
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.
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.
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".
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.
From 1940 to 1941, Bromo-Seltzer was his sponsor on the Blue Network.
Wrigley's Gum sponsored The Ben Bernie War Workers' Program (1941–43).
He also made guest appearances on other radio shows.
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.
It was dedicated February 8, 1960.
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.
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.