Milton Berlinger (July 12, 1908 - March 27, 2002) was an Emmy-winning American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater from (1948-1955), he was the first major star of television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie or Mr. Television to millions during TV's golden age.
Texaco Star Theater, a comedy-variety show (radio, 1940-48; television, 1948-56), was one of the first hugely successful examples of U.S. television broadcasting. Remembered best as the show that made a household name and "Mr. Television" out of Milton Berle, the show's root was radio first, in the classic late-1930s version starring Ed Wynn; then, the classic 1940-44 version, hosted by radio titan Fred Allen; and, later, in a new version brought to ABC (the former NBC Blue) in the spring of 1948, before Texaco (now Chevron Corporation) first took it to television on NBC that June 8. And it would be on television that the show made its greatest pop culture impact, if not necessarily its best artistic impact.
Amidst a huge publicity blitz by ABC-TV (including an iron-clad, long term contract) and considerable speculation as to whether he could win over the Baby Boomers as he had their parents, entertainment legend Milton Berle attempted a prime-time TV comeback with this comedy-variety series taped at the Hollywood Palace theater. Unfortunately, high budgets and big-name guest stars couldn't lure viewers away from competing shows, primarily the hugely successful "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." The program was cancelled after one season, and Berle, despite numerous guest appearences on other shows over the ensuing three decades, never had a regular series again. Written by Bob Sorrentino
The Texaco Star Theatre was one of the most popular shows in the history of television. In the first year, Milton Berle was not the permanent emcee, but once he replaced the rotation, the show soared to ratings dominance (Number One in 1950-51), NBC dominated Tuesday night, and Berle became the first great star of the new medium, "Mr. Television". The basic format was modeled after a vaudeville variety hour, spotlighting Berle's jokes, sight gags, and costumes. Written by G. Alan
Milton was educated at New York Professional Children's School, and began performing at age 5. His first stage appearance was in "Florodora"in Atlantic City. He appeared at the Palace Theatre in New York in 1931, then in night clubs and theatres. He appeared in the Broadway musicals "Saluta", "See My Lawyer", and "Ziegfeld Follies of 1943". His television debut was on experimental scanning-wheel television in Chicago in 1929. By 1934 he was on radio.
