Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 14: Milton Berle!

Today's Suspense episode is "Rave Notice" (October 12, 1950) starring Milton Berle! Berle had been a radio star in his own show from 1947-1948, then became television's first break-out hit comedy star in 1948.

1951 was a great year for Berle, as NBC signed him to a 30-year contract, believing that his tremendous TV success meant he'd be good for decades, just as the likes of Jack Benny, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope had; it turned out TV audiences were more fickle and he was basically washed-up just 2 years later but Berle spent the rest of his life mugging for cameras whenever possible; he was mostly hated by his peers because he would steal material and upstage co-stars.

Given all that, how did Berle pan out as a dramatic actor? Pretty good; Berle portrays an actor who murders his director. To keep himself out of the gas chamber, he tries to use his talents as a method actor to convince the police he's insane.

"Rave Notice" was presented again on Suspense on October 21, 1954 and June 1, 1958 but without Berle (the latter performance has Vincent Price).

Tomorrow: Jackie Kelk!