Lew Fields
Lew Fields | |
---|---|
Born | Moses Schoenfeld January 1867 |
Died | July 20, 1941 | (aged 74)
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
Years active | 1913-1940 |
Spouse | Rose Harris (1893-1941) (his death)[1] |
Children | Dorothy Fields Herbert Fields Joseph Fields |
Lew Fields (born Moses Schoenfeld, January 1867 – July 20, 1941) was an American actor, comedian, vaudeville star, theatre manager, and producer. He was part of a comedy duo with Joe Weber. He also produced shows on his own and starred in comedy films.
Biography
Lew Fields was born Moses Schoenfeld to Polish-Jewish parents.
In the case of Weber and Fields (or "Mike and Meyer" as their characters were known) and many of the other acts of this genre, this often involved stereotyping by dress and behavior, as well as comedic and often sympathetic portrayals of the characters' attempts to fit into American society. "Crafty schemes" of "making it big" in America, as well as the attempts of mere survival of immigrant poverty in America, were written into the script of these acts. A typical "Mike and Meyer" routine involved Mike, the short and clever one, unsuccessfully trying to coach Meyer, the tall and simple one, in a scheme to get them a free lunch at a working-class saloon.[3]
The two toured successfully for many years, becoming one of the most popular and profitable acts in vaudeville. In 1896, the partners opened the
The duo separated in 1904, and Weber took over operations at the music hall. Fields went on to produce many
In 1923, Weber and Fields partnered yet again for a
Weber and Fields also reunited for the 27 December 1932 inaugural show at
Lew Fields died in Beverly Hills, California on July 20, 1941.
Personal life
Fields was the father of Dorothy, Herbert and Joseph, all of whom enjoyed theatrical careers of their own. Fields was Jewish.[7][8]
Legacy
The backstage hostility in Neil Simon's play and film The Sunshine Boys is reportedly based on the team of Smith and Dale, not Weber and Fields.[citation needed]
Filmography
- Old Dutch (1915)
- The Man Who Stood Still (1916)
- The Barker (1917)
- The Corner Grocer (1917)
- Friendly Enemies (1925)
- Two Flaming Youths (1927)
- Blossoms on Broadway (1937)
- The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)
References
- ISBN 978-0195111101.
- ISBN 978-0-313-34265-3.
- ^ a b Eaton, Walter Prichard (1910). The American Stage of Today. New York, NY: P.F. Collier & Son.
- ^ Rodgers & Hammerstein as mystery guests on What's My Line?, Feb 19, 1956, video on YouTube
- ^ Anonymous (November 17, 1926). "Radio's Effect On The Theatre". Variety. pp. 1, 44.
- ^ Anonymous (February 1931). "Bits of Script". What's on the Air: 47.
- ISBN 9781628941166.
- ^ Klawans, Stuart (April 9, 2004). "Finding an Audience: Years of Invisibility". The Forward.