Joey Adams
Encyclopedia
Joey Adams born Joseph Abramowitz, was an American comedian
who was inducted into the Friars Club
in 1977 and wrote the book Borscht Belt in 1973.
For many years, he wrote the "Strictly for Laughs" column
in the New York Post
. His wife, Cindy Adams
(to whom he was married from 1952 until his death), remains a society/gossip columnist for the same paper.
Adams' career spanned more than 70 years and included appearances in nightclubs and vaudevilles. He also hosted for a while his own radio show and wrote 23 books, including "From Gags to Riches," "Joey Adams Joke Book," "Laugh Your Calories Away", "On the Road with Uncle Sam" and "Encyclopedia of Humor."
He made numerous television
appearances over the years, including on The Ed Sullivan Show
and Howard Stern
's 1990s TV shows, and was in the film
s Singing in the Dark
(1956, of which he was also executive producer
), Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966), and Silent Prey (1997). For years, he also hosted a radio
talk show
on WEVD
in New York.
in Manhattan
, aged 88, from heart failure. Eulogies were delivered by Adams' widow and Mayor Rudy Giuliani
.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
who was inducted into the Friars Club
Friars Club
Friars Club can refer to:* The New York Friars' Club* The Friars Club of Beverly Hills* The Friar Society, University of Texas at Austin* The Friars , Louisiana State University* "The Friars Club", a Seinfeld episode...
in 1977 and wrote the book Borscht Belt in 1973.
Life and career
Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York as Joseph Abramowitz.For many years, he wrote the "Strictly for Laughs" column
Column (newspaper)
A column is a recurring piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other publication. Columns are written by columnists.What differentiates a column from other forms of journalism is that it meets each of the following criteria:...
in the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
. His wife, Cindy Adams
Cindy Adams
Cindy Adams is an American gossip columnist and writer. She is the widow of comedian and humorist Joey Adams.-Early life and education:Born an only child in New York City, she was one year old when her parents divorced...
(to whom he was married from 1952 until his death), remains a society/gossip columnist for the same paper.
Adams' career spanned more than 70 years and included appearances in nightclubs and vaudevilles. He also hosted for a while his own radio show and wrote 23 books, including "From Gags to Riches," "Joey Adams Joke Book," "Laugh Your Calories Away", "On the Road with Uncle Sam" and "Encyclopedia of Humor."
He made numerous television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
appearances over the years, including on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
and Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
's 1990s TV shows, and was in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s Singing in the Dark
Singing in the Dark
Singing in the Dark is a 1956 black-and-white motion picture about a Holocaust survivor suffering from total amnesia who comes to the United States...
(1956, of which he was also executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
), Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966), and Silent Prey (1997). For years, he also hosted a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
on WEVD
WEPN
WEPN is a 24-hour sports talk formatted radio station in New York City featuring national and local sports talk programs and live broadcasts of sports matches. It is the New York affiliate for ESPN Radio...
in New York.
Honors
For his civic work, he was honored by Presidents and statesmen, and he held honorary doctorates in comedy from Columbia, New York University, Long Island University and City College, his alma mater. He was active in the Friars Club and was president of the American Guild of Variety Artists AGVA. He was appointed as Commissioner of Youth for the City of New York by Mayor Robert F. Wagner emulating LaGuardia's civic-mindness in recognition for his efforts in battling juvenile delinquency on behalf of the AGVA Youth Fund. Governor Rockefeller also encouraged him to spread his program throughout the entire state and eventually it moved westward to California.Death
Adams died at St. Vincent's HospitalSaint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center
Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers ' was a healthcare system, anchored by its flagship hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, locally referred to as "St. Vincent's". St. Vincent's was founded in 1849 and closed in 2010...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, aged 88, from heart failure. Eulogies were delivered by Adams' widow and Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
.