You Don't Have To Be In Who's Who To Know What's What
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Samuel Levenson was an American humorist, writer, teacher and journalist. He was a panelist on the CBS series This Is Show Business from 1949 to 1954 and a host of The Sam Levenson Show from 1959 to 1964.
Background
Samuel Levenson was born in New York City, United States, the son of Hyman Levenson, a tailor, and Rebecca Fishelman. The family moved from East Harlem to the Lower East Side and then, in 1924, to the borough of Brooklyn. His mother's death when he was thirteen strengthened Levenson's ties to the rest of his family.
Education
Levenson attended Franklin K. Lane High School. His earliest interest was music and he studied the violin, practicing six or seven hours daily rather than playing with his friends. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1934 with a B. A. in Romance languages. Later he attended Columbia University, from which he received a master's degree in Romance languages in 1938. He received an honorary doctorate from Brooklyn College in 1976.
Career
Upon graduation Levenson began to teach. He taught successively at Erasmus Hall, Abraham Lincoln, and Samuel J. Tilden high schools, all in Brooklyn. He loved working with students and teachers. In light of his talents, he was appointed to a counseling position, in which he helped students (and parents) with their problems. Many were counseled at his apartment, the numbers increasing to such a degree that the Levensons moved to a house, where there would be more room and privacy.
In 1940 friends recommended Levenson for the job of master of ceremonies at a nearby resort, where he perfected his humorous routines. The favorable response led to work at more prestigious resorts. From being paid with free room and board, Levenson went on to earning $25 for an evening's performance at the Nevele Hotel. Other leading hotels vied for the services of "Sam Levenson, Folk Humorist, " as he billed himself. His success meant hard work for Levenson, who could not perform extemporaneously. His seemingly effortless performances required extensive preparation. Levenson was also making public appearances in New York City, after school and on weekends, at fund-raisers, social gatherings, and organizational functions. At first his pay was in the $5 range, but soon it rose to $15 and more. A good number of performances, however, were done at no charge. Realizing that he could no longer combine teaching and counseling with his increasingly numerous performances, Levenson took a leave of absence in 1945.
He performed at more and more functions and in nightclubs and was frequently a guest on the television shows of Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Ed Sullivan, and Rudy Vallee. When Arthur Godfrey took a leave from his show in 1959, for medical reasons, Levenson took over. He was such a hit that CBS signed him to a five-year contract.
Although no longer a teacher in the formal sense, Levenson remained one in a broader perspective. His humor emphasized values, and he was tireless in the pursuit of social justice. His humor was intertwined with instructive, philosophical, and thought-provoking concepts. These traits were displayed in Levenson's books. The first portion of his Everything but Money (1966) is in good measure autobiographical, covering his early years. Among his other books are Meet the Folks (1948), Sex and the Single Child (1969), In One Era and out the Other (1973), and You Can Say That Again, Sam! (1975).
Levenson was unpretentious, warm, and gentle. The illustrations that he used in his routines were drawn from his own and his family's experiences. "Family" can be interpreted broadly here, since his stories of Jewish family life evoked a positive response from other ethnic groups as well. Upon Levenson's death of a heart attack, Bishop Francis Mugavero of the Roman Catholic diocese of Brooklyn said, "Sam Levenson was a saint. "
Quotations:
"I have never uttered a word of humor at the expense of any human being, at the expense of any group. I have tried to use the words of kindness and generosity, trying to build peace and affection between people. "
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
"You know, Sam, when you talked about the tribulations of the Levensons, I thought you were talking about the Eisenhowers. " - President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Connections
On December 27, 1937, Levenson married Esther Levine, whom he had known since high school. They had two children. The Levensons spent summers in the Catskill Mountains, where Esther's aunt had a farm.
Recipient citation of honor New York University Jewish Culture Foundation, 1952. Citation Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, 1956. Meritorious Service award National Press Club, 1957.
Medal of honor National Academy television Arts and Sciences, 1961. Distinguished Service award City of New York, 1973. Cultural award State of Israel, 1975.
Award of merit Lotus Club, 1975. Man of Distinction award S. Shore Child Guidance Association, Long Island, New York, 1977, others.
Recipient citation of honor New York University Jewish Culture Foundation, 1952. Citation Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, 1956. Meritorious Service award National Press Club, 1957.
Medal of honor National Academy television Arts and Sciences, 1961. Distinguished Service award City of New York, 1973. Cultural award State of Israel, 1975.
Award of merit Lotus Club, 1975. Man of Distinction award S. Shore Child Guidance Association, Long Island, New York, 1977, others.