Jack Pearl, born Jack Perlman (October 29, 1894 – December 25, 1982), was a vaudeville performer and a star of early radio.Born in New York, Pearl made an easy transition from vaudeville to broadcasting when he introduced his character Baron Munchausen on The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air in 1932. His creation was loosely based on the Baron Münchhausen literary character. As the Baron, Pearl would tell far-fetched stories with a comic German accent. When the straight man (originally Ben Bard, but later Cliff Hall) expressed skepticism, the Baron replied with his familiar tagline and punchline: "Vass you dere, Sharlie?" This catch phrase soon became part of the national lexicon.Typical of the dialogue:Hall: You seem to be effervescent tonight.Munchausen: Haff you effer seen me ven I effer vasn't?Pearl played this character and others in musical revues of the 1920s and 1930s: The Dancing Girl (1923), Topics of 1923 (1923–1924), A Night in Paris (1926), Artists and Models (1927–1928), Pleasure Bound (1929), International Review (1930), Ziegfeld Follies of 1931, Pardon My English (1923) and All for All (1943).
Comedian, popular in vaudeville, burlesque and on radio. One of the highest paid comic performers in America during the 1930's and 40's. Dropped out of school at the age of 12 to run errands for a music publisher. On Broadway from 1919, under contract to the Shuberts. Best known for his Baron Munchhausen routine on radio, which was used for the film 'Meet the Baron' in 1933.
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He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 1680 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
Best known for playing Baron Munchhausen on radio in the 1930s and popularized the expression "Vas you dere, Sharlie?" to the the point where it became a household phrase.
$20 Million
