Career
Kalmar, a native of New York City, left school at an early age and began working in vaudeville. He appeared on stage as a magician, comedian and dancer before switching to songwriting after a knee injury ended his performing career. By this time he had earned enough to start a music publishing company, Kalmar and Puck, where he collaborated with a number of songwriters, including Harry Ruby.
By 1918 Kalmar and Ruby had formed a permanent songwriting team
Together, they wrote the musical score for the Marx Brothers" stage production of Animal Crackers (1928) and subsequent film version. Their songs were also featured in the Marx Brothers" films Horse Feathers (1932) and Duck Soup (1933).
Kalmar did, however, occasionally work with Oscar Hammerstein II, Ted Snyder and other songwriters. Bert Kalmar was married to Jessie Brown, with whom he had two children.
The couple were later divorced.
He died in Los Angeles, California and was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. Broadway
Ziegfeld Follies of 1920 (1920) - revue - featured co-songwriter for "I"m a Vamp from East Broadway"
Helen of Troy, New York (1923) - co-composer and co-lyricist with Harry Ruby
Ziegfeld Follies of 1923 (1923) - revue - featured lyricist for "Society Bud"
Number Other Girl (1924) - co-composer and co-lyricist with Harry Ruby
Holka Polka (1925) - book-editor
The Ramblers (1926) - co-composer, co-lyricist, and co-bookwriter with Harry Ruby
Lucky (1927) - co-writer with Otto Harbach, Harry Ruby and Jerome Kern
The Five O"Clock Girl (1927) and (1981 revival) - lyricist with composer Harry Ruby
She"s My Baby (1928) - co-bookwriter with Harry Ruby
Top Speed (1929) - co-writer and co-producer with Harry Ruby and Guy Bolton
High Kickers (1941) - co-composer, co-lyricist with Harry Ruby and co-bookwriter with Ruby and George Jessel
The Corn is Green (1943) - actor in the role of "Will Hughes"
Fosse (1999) - revue - featured lyricist for "Who"s Sorry Now?"
Notable songs
Who"s Sorry Now? 1923: Kalmar and Ruby"s first big hit. I Wanna Be Loved by You 1928: a hit for Helen Kane, known as the "Boop-boop-a-doop girl", and sung by Marilyn Monroe in the film "Some Like lieutenant Hot".
I Love You So Much 1928
Three Little Words 1930: their biggest hit.
Nevertheless 1931: a hit for both Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee, later done by The Mills Brothers and Frank Sinatra. I"m Against lieutenant, I Always Get My Manitoba and Everyone Says I Love You from "Horsefeathers" 1932.
Hail, Hail Fredonia from Duck Soup, 1933. What A Perfect Combination 1932: lyrics by Kalmar and Irving Caesar, music by Ruby and Harry Akst, written for the Broadway show "The Kid" starring Eddie Cantor.
A Kiss to Build a Dream On 1935: their last hit.