Lew Fields | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fields in 1912 | |
| Born | Moses Schoenfeld January 1867 |
| Died | July 20, 1941(1941-07-20) (aged 74) |
| Occupations | Actor,comedian |
| Years active | 1913–1940 |
| Spouse | Rose Harris (1893–1941, his death)[1] |
| Children | Dorothy Fields Herbert Fields Joseph Fields |
Lew Fields (bornMoses Schoenfeld, January 1867 – July 20, 1941) was an Americanactor,comedian,vaudeville star,theatremanager, andproducer. Partnering withJoe Weber, they formed thecomedydouble-act ofWeber and Fields. He also produced shows on his own and starred in comedy films.
Lew Fields was born Moses Schoenfeld to Polish-Jewish parents.[2] was half of the great comic duo Weber and Fields with Joe Weber. They performed in museums, circuses, andvariety houses in New York City. The young men had a "Dutch act" in which both portrayedGermanimmigrants. Several recordings of their act were made and released as on records.
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 theWeber and Fields' Broadway Music Hall, where they produced very successfulburlesques of popularBroadway shows. In the music hall's casts were some of the greatest performers and comics on the American stage at that time, includingLillian Russell,Ross and Fenton,Fay Templeton, andDeWolf Hopper. Some of their routines werePousse Cafe,Hurly Burly,Whirl-I-Gig,Fiddle-Dee-Dee,Hoity-Toity,Twirly Whirly, andWhoop-de-Doo.[3]
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The duo separated in 1904, and Weber took over operations at the music hall. Fields went on to produce manymusicals. When Fields starred in the 1911 stage comedy,The Hen-Pecks, one of the supporting comedians in the cast wasVernon Castle, who went on to become a famousballroom dancer. Fields then producedHanky Panky which ran from August 5, 1912 through November 2, 1912 featuring songs byIrving Berlin andBallard MacDonald. In 1913 Fields produced and starred in the Broadway musicalAll Aboard. In 1921,Fred Allen andNora Bayes toured with Fields. During the tour the orchestra was conducted by 19-year-oldRichard Rodgers,[4] who, in 1920, contributed songs with lyrics byLorenz Hart to the Lew Field's production ofPoor Little Ritz Girl.
In 1923, Weber and Fields partnered yet again for aLee DeForestPhonofilmsound-on-film short, where the team recreated their famouspool hall routine. This film premiered at the Rivoli Theater in New York City on 15 April 1923. Three years later, the duo were among those supportingWill Rogers andMary Garden on the NBC Radio Network's November 15, 1926 debut broadcast.[5] Their own NBC series followed in 1931.[6]
Weber and Fields also reunited for the 27 December 1932 inaugural show atRadio City Music Hall, which proved to be the last stage appearance of the two performers as a team. In theRKO Radio Pictures film,The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939), Fields appeared as himself, re-enacting a slapstick comedy scene fromThe Hen-Pecks. They gave a cameo performance performing their "casino" routine in the 1940 movieLillian Russell.
Lew Fields died inBeverly Hills, California on July 20, 1941.
Fields was the father ofDorothy,Herbert andJoseph, all of whom enjoyed theatrical careers of their own. Fields wasJewish.[7][8]
The backstage hostility inNeil Simon's play and filmThe Sunshine Boys is reportedly based on the team ofSmith and Dale, not Weber and Fields.[citation needed]
