Jerry Lester

Jerry Lester (February 16, 1910 – March 23, 1995) was an American comedian, singer and performer on radio, television and the stage, 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.

Jerry Lester was born in Chicago in 1910. His father was a music critic. As a youth, Lester competed in dance contests and performed in various venues. Following his graduation from Northwestern University, he performed nationally in music halls and nightclubs, going on to appear in vaudeville, several Broadway musicals including Beat the Band and Jackpot, and Hollywood films in the 1940s, as well as being a performer on radio.

In 1950, he became host of Cavalcade of Stars on the DuMont Television Network, replacing Jack Carter. After viewers phoned in their appreciation for Lester's guest appearance on an early television talk show, NBC president Pat Weaver invited Lester to be one of the hosts of Broadway Open House, a planned late-night show whose host, Don Hornsby, died two weeks before the show was scheduled to premiere. Lester quit Cavalcade of Stars and Jackie Gleason was hired as his replacement; the show was soon renamed The Jackie Gleason Show.

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