Hal Block

Harold Block (August 2, 1913 – June 16, 1981) was an American comedy writer, comedian, producer, songwriter and television personality. Although Block was a highly successful comedy writer for over 15 years, today he is most often remembered as an original panelist of the television game show ''What's My Line?'' who was fired from the show in its third season, reportedly for inappropriate on-air behavior. Block is a controversial figure in the history of television, denounced by some, while praised by others as a writer and for contributing to the original success of ''What's My Line?''

During the 1940s, Block was considered one of America's best comedy writers, having worked for many of the top comedians of the era, such as Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Milton Berle and Burns and Allen and in all major media, including radio, Hollywood movies, Broadway and print. Block also made major contributions to the USO during World War II.

In March 1950, producers of the new game show ''What's My Line?'' hired Block for its fourth episode to add humor to the show's format. With a panel previously consisting of journalists, a politician and a poet, reviewers had criticized the show as bland. After a rocky start, ''What's My Line?'' became one of the top-rated shows on television. Critics praised his work; the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' called Block the "freshest new personality in TV."

However, his humor could be risqué, which antagonized some conservative 1950s viewers. He once risked the sponsor's wrath, referring to their deodorant with the line "Make your armpit a charmpit." In early 1953, Block was suspended and then fired. He left show business for the investment business a few years later, while ''What's My Line?'' continued on as a staple of Sunday night television for another 14 years.

Background

Block was born on August 3, 1913 in Chicago and raised in the Hyde Park area.

According to Gil Fates, executive producer of the ''What's My Line?'' television game show, there were rumors Block had come from a wealthy family.

Three comedy writing contemporaries of Block, Melvin Frank, Norman Panama, and Bob Weiskopf, also came from Hyde Park. Block attended the University of Chicago High School, graduating in 1930, and then the University of Chicago where he majored in law, graduating in 1935. At the University of Chicago he was co-captain of the university track team, running the 100 and 220 yard sprints, member of Zeta Beta Tau (Alpha Beta, Chicago) fraternity, and editor of the university humor magazine.

Phil Baker

Block had paid his way through college selling material to comedian and radio emcee Phil Baker at $20 a joke ($300 in 2010 dollars).

While still in college, he was Baker's head writer. However, getting into Baker's employ had required persistence and some chicanery. Block originally met Baker when he and his then writing partner, Phil Cole, introduced themselves while Baker was performing in Chicago. Based upon Baker's dismissive "Sure, sure, next
time you're in New York look me up" the two promptly followed him to New York. Informed by his agent that he didn't know where Baker was, they went to every likely restaurant leaving the message "When Mr. Baker comes in, tell him that Block and Cole are here."

Eventually discovering the suburb where Baker resided, but not the address, they devised the ruse of pretending to send him a wire from the local telegraph office. The attendant noticed the recipient and said "Why, Mr. Baker lives just a few blocks from here!" At Baker's home they told the maid, "Tell Mr. Baker that Block and Cole are here." Angered by all the restaurant messages, Baker charged to the door demanding "Who are Block and Cole, anyway?"

Amused by the response that they were "his new writers", Baker met them at his offices the next day. Reading the script, they suggested a joke for his show, but once again he sent them on their way. Despondent and halfway back to Chicago they listened to Baker's radio show which included their joke. They turned the car around and armed with a new comedy routine were subsequently hired. After two years of studying law, Block quit for the profession of comedy writing.

Writing career

Block was considered one of the best writers of comedic radio scripts of the 1940s. During his days as a comedy writer, Time magazine described Block as a "serious, curly-haired, stocky ... gag-factory" who "resembles actor Edward G. Robinson".

Radio, Broadway, Hollywood

The 1930s and 1940s were the Golden Age of radio and there were significant financial rewards to be made for those writing for radio comedy programs. Phil Baker, for whom Block was the head writer, reportedly spent $1,500 per week on his three writers, equivalent to $24,000 in 2010 dollars. However, the failure rate of those attempting to make it a career was high. Despite the risk, and against his father's expressed wishes, in 1935 Block abandoned the study of law and moved to New York City.Hay p.149 He was able to achieve immediate success, being hired by the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. He also continued to write for Phil Baker, for whom he would write even into the 1940s, including Baker's hit game show, '' Take It or Leave It''. By 1937, he was so busy as a writer that in September he had only three hours to stop off in Chicago for his parents' anniversary party before continuing by train to Hollywood, writing for Baker's radio show.

In the years that followed, Block would establish his reputation by writing for many of the top comedians in radio, including Bob Hope, Burns and Allen, Eddie Cantor, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Milton Berle.

In the early 1940s, with the world at war and the Depression still a recent memory, light-hearted musical comedies were popular and Block found his humor skills in demand for Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies. As early as 1939, he contributed dialog and music to the film ''Charlie McCarthy, Detective''. In 1940, he wrote the low-budget Universal film musical ''I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now'' and contributed to the script for 1943's ''Stage Door Canteen''. He also made contributions to successful Broadway shows, such as ''By Jupiter'', '' Let's Face It!,'' and ''Follow the Girls''. In 1941, he was hired to write dialogue for the Broadway revue ''Sons O'Fun'', Olsen and Johnson's sequel to their hit show ''Hellzapoppin''. ''Sons O'Fun'' ran for 742 performances.

Block also showed an instinct for financial opportunities. During the test run in Boston of ''Follow the Girls'', Fred Thompson, the show's principal writer, lost faith in the show and sold his shares to Block for $3,000. Starring a young comedian, Jackie Gleason, the show became a wartime hit and a huge financial success.

Block was also a columnist and wrote articles for various publications, including ''Variety'', '' Collier's'' and the ''Chicago Daily News''.

USO

Late in 1942 and through most of 1943, Block's career was interrupted by his participation with the USO. Just prior to U.S. involvement in World War Two, President Roosevelt spearheaded the formation of the United Service Organizations to provide entertainment for American servicemen both at home and in war zones. In November 1942, Block wrote an all-star revue for the USO to be performed for the growing American Expeditionary Forces in England. Hollywood stars who volunteered to stay in England for two months to perform in the revue included Carole Landis, Kay Francis, Mitzi Mayfair, and Martha Raye. In December, the Office of War Information sent Block to London to prepare radio broadcasts and write jokes for touring American stars who performed for the troops stationed in England.Faith p. 148 note: Block is referred to as "Stage Door Canteen script writer". IMDb only sources Delmer Daves as writer. He soon discovered that writing for soldiers, British and American, required a specialized technique and he studied British humor to understand how it differed from American humor both in language and taste. Also, a military audience required unique sensitivities as soldiers did not laugh at subjects such as strikes in wartime industries, shortages endured by civilians, or especially, cheating wives. He also wrote some American-slanted material for British comedian Tommy Trinder.

With the BBC

Block was then assigned to the staff at the BBC
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