Al Boasberg

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
name = Al Boasberg
birthdate = birth date|1892|12|5
birthplace = Buffalo, New York
deathdate = death date and age|1937|6|18|1892|12|5
deathplace = Los Angeles, California
othername =
occupation = Screenwriter
Film director
yearsactive = 1926 - 1937
imdb_id = 0090213

Al Boasberg (5 December, 1892 – 18 June, 1937), was an American comedy writer in vaudeville, radio, and film, as well as being a film director. He is credited with helping to create stand-up comedy when he teamed with then-youthful vaudeville performer Jack Benny, helping develop Benny's familiar, reactive skinflint and thus helping make Benny a major star when he transitioned to radio in 1932. In fact, on the last day before his death, Boasberg wrote the lines that introduced the enduring Rochester character on Benny's radio show.

Similarly, Boasberg defined the enduring personalities of Bob Hope, Burns and Allen, Wheeler and Woolsey and Leon Erroll.

Boasberg also wrote for 47 films between 1926 and 1937---especially 1935's "A Night at the Opera", which provided The Marx Brothers with a commercial comeback on the screen. His other film writing credits included "The General" (starring Buster Keaton). He also directed 12 films between 1929 and 1936.

A personality conflict with the producer, led to Boasberg's name being removed from " A Day at the Races" which was his original project.

He was born in Buffalo, New York and died in Los Angeles, California from a heart attack.

elected filmography

* " A Day at the Races"
* "A Night at the Opera" (1935)
* "Freaks" (1932)
* "Cracked Nuts" (1931)
* "Fifty Million Frenchmen" (1931)
* "Chasing Rainbows" (1930)
* "Speedy" (1928)
* "The General" (1927)

External links

*imdb|0090213|Al Boasberg
*amg name|2:158592|Al Boasberg

References

*cite book | author=Rickmann, Gregg | title=The Film Comedy Reader | location=New York | publisher=Limelight Editions | year=2004 | id=ISBN 978-0879102951

Persondata
NAME= Boasberg, Al
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Screenwriter, Film director
DATE OF BIRTH= 1892-12-5
PLACE OF BIRTH= Buffalo, New York
DATE OF DEATH= 1937-6-18
PLACE OF DEATH= Los Angeles, California