Joe Penner
| Joe Penner | |
|---|---|
| Born |
József Pintér November 11, 1904 Nagybecskerek, (Zrenjanin), Austria-Hungary (now Serbia) |
| Died | January 10, 1941 (aged 36) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Great Mausoleum, Fuchsia Terrace, crypt C, on stairwell landing |
| Occupation | radio & movie comedian |
| Years active | 1931-1940 |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor May Vogt (1928-1941) (his death) |
| Children | none |
| Parent(s) | John Pinter (1881-1955) Sofia Keraly Pinter (1884-1943) |
Joe Penner (November 11, 1904 – January 10, 1941) was an American 1930s-era vaudeville, radio and film comedian. He was an ethnic Hungarian born as József Pintér in Nagybecskerek, Austria-Hungary (in what is present-day Zrenjanin, Serbia). He passed through Ellis Island as a child when his family emigrated to New York City.
Penner developed his catch phrases in burlesque. In 1932 he toured in a vaudeville revue with Eddie Tamblyn, father of Russ. He was launched on his successful radio career by Rudy Vallée, appearances which led to his own Sunday evening half-hour, The Baker's Broadcast, which began on the Blue Network October 8, 1933. Penner was a zany comic, noted for his famed catchphrase, "Wanna buy a duck?", and his low hyuck-hyuck laugh. Penner's other memorable catchphrase, often triggered by someone else's double entendre remark, was, "You naaaasss-ty man!"
He was voted radio's top comedian in 1934, but a 1935 dispute with the ad agency over the show's format resulted in Penner quitting The Baker's Broadcast on June 30, 1935. Vox Pop began as a summer replacement series for Penner in 1935. A year later, he returned with The Joe Penner Show, which began airing October 4, 1936 on CBS, sponsored by Cocomalt, with Harry Conn as his new head writer.
His films include College Rhythm (1934), New Faces of 1937 (1937), "Mr Doodle Kicks Off" (1938),The Day the Bookies Wept (1939) and Millionaire Playboy (1940). He was caricatured by Tex Avery and Friz Freleng in the musical cartoon, "My Green Fedora", "Can You Take It?" a "Popeye the Sailor" cartoon (Max Fleischer for Paramount), and several pictures starring the bumbling stooge Egghead. He also made a cameo in the Disney cartoon "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood" in which he says, "Wanna buy a duck?", and then shows Donald Duck on a plate.
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