Jan Murray

First and foremost a stand-up comedian, this top banana of the "Borscht Belt" circuit relied on amiable Jewish ethnic humor for longtime career sustenance. He also relied on his multi-talented gifts as an actor, master of ceremonies, game show host and raconteur. Gravel-toned Jan Murray was born in 1917 as Murray Janofsky in New York City and got his very first booking in 1933 at the Bronx Opera House. He developed a name for himself in the Catskills while entertaining WWII USO troops. In post-war years it was more vaudeville houses and top niteries until he became a standard Vegas marquee headliner. He broke into TV in the early 1950s via the game show hosting circuit (the first comedian to do so) and became a much-sought-after emcee throughout that decade. Fronting such programs as Sing It Again (1950), Dollar a Second (1953), and especially Treasure Hunt (1956), he paved the way for other comedians in finding alternate and successful avenues to find new audiences. He could also be