189:, Lee began his career as Pincus Leff in vaudeville in the 1920s. In January 1925, he was hired by Betty Felsen to be a dancer in the acclaimed Boderick & Felsen vaudeville dancing act. Pincus Leff soon became a featured tap dancer in the act and was often mentioned in advertisements, notices, and reviews. He was part of the act throughout 1925 during its headline tour on the B.F. Keith vaudeville circuit throughout the Mid-West and East. In early 1926, he left the act to pursue his career as Pinky Lee on stage and in film and television. He worked as a comic of the "baggy pants" variety on stage, becoming an expert at
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part of his performance. The "Peanut
Gallery", an audience usually composed almost entirely of pre-adolescent children who were coached by a staff member, continued their enthusiastic cheering and applause from the on-stage bleachers. After as much as ten seconds of writhing by the stricken Lee,
364:
in Los
Angeles. This series was nationally syndicated for the 1964â65 TV seasons, but the program fell prey to creative interference from the show's producers and station management. Lee fought the interference, but his efforts were for naught.
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the camera abruptly panned to the still-cheering audience. The following afternoons Pinky Lee was not present. This effectively ended his leading role on the show, which continued without him until June 9, 1956.
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On
September 20, 1955, Lee collapsed on camera during a live show due to illness. His normal antics were so energetic that apparently the cameraman and the show's director assumed the fall an
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Lee was married to Bebe (nÊe
Beatrice Dancis), with whom he had two children, Patricia Bonnie Lee and Morgan David Lee. Lee's brother-in-law was well-known
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331:, prompted by the incident, persisted for decades. Occasionally, newspaper items mentioned the "late" Lee â even though he was performing at a
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went off the air after one season. One episode was released on DVD/VHS by Shokus Video, and a DVD with two episodes was released by
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pants and an undersized hat. During his routines, whenever anybody irritated him (which happened frequently) he would unleash his
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In later years, Lee worked as a teacher and appeared in regional musical theater productions. He died in 1993 in
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in the same city as one of the reporting newspapers. The incident also spawned rumors that Lee had been
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character. In 1963, Lee attempted a return to kids' TV, hosting a local children's comedy program on
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Children's
Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946â1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series
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Easily recognized by his trademark lisp and high-energy antics, his signature costume was a loud
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In 1950, he had his own 30-minute primetime variety television series on NBC,
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American burlesque comic and host of a children's television program
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1080:"Whatever Became of Pinky Lee? Well, Kids, He's Hunting a Job"
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Lee also appeared in regional theatres throughout the U.S. in
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that honored the best children's TV programming of the year.
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467:, with whom he also worked from time to time in the 1950s.
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comic, actor and host of the children's television program
1001:"Comedian Pinky Lee recalls 'heart attack' and early days"
834:"Pinky Lee to Return to Southland Video Screens Tomorrow"
1321:"Vaudeville veteran Pinky Lee returns in 'Sugar Babies'"
948:"Pinky Lee Collapsed Trying To Overcome His Competition"
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Lee returned to television in 1983, appearing on NBC's
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Others in the cast: Betty Jane
Howarth, Jimmy Brown,
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1106:"Rutland Fair Attraction: Molly Bee, Recording Star"
890:"Pinky Lee, 85, Host of Children's TV Shows, Dies"
422:; and Lee appeared on television shows, including
918:. Watson-Guptill Publications. pp. 343â344.
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1241:"Pinky Lee returns to TV for limited engagement"
165:(May 2, 1907 â April 3, 1993), better known as
1086:. North American Newspaper Alliance. p. 10
1514:Burials at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
861:"Show Called Those Two Is Tragedy in Pairing"
807:"Pinky Lee Advertisement for Rice Shoe Store"
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1158:Nelson, Nels; Racher, Dave (May 26, 1970).
980:. Associated Press. May 19, 1954. p. 5
1325:The Morning Times (Scranton, Pennsylvania)
257:, it was followed each day by the popular
29:
1392:"Pee-wee's Precursor Had a Similar Style"
1218:Valley News (North Hollywood, California)
1030:. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 394â397.
1007:. United Press International. p. C-5
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1294:"Pinky Lee To Bring 'Sugar Babies' Here"
1247:. United Press International. p. F4
1160:"Court Shows Dirty Linen on Washout Day"
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1319:Solomon, Michelle (January 18, 1989).
1268:"Pinky Lee aiming his humor at adults"
1131:Laurent, Lawrence (October 15, 1967).
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1509:People from Mission Viejo, California
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859:Panitt, Merrill (November 28, 1951).
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243:He returned on January 4, 1954, with
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1185:Kleiner, Dick (September 17, 1957).
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392:Lee can be seen in films, including
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785:He was also an inspiration for the
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481:Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
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1266:Horning, Jay (October 27, 1985).
1212:Rich, Allen (September 5, 1963).
974:"Pinky Lee New Hit Of Daytime TV"
832:Ames, Walter (December 9, 1951).
455:. Lee was also the uncle of the
247:, a children's show sponsored by
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999:Reed, Steven R. (May 28, 1980).
946:Thomas, Bob (October 17, 1955).
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272:I skip and run bring lots of fun
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1300:. January 6, 1989. p. D-1
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813:. October 17, 1955. p. 16
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1214:"Pinky Returns to Television"
1187:"Pinky Lee's Heart Is Crying"
954:. Associated Press. p. 6
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380:a mock awards show hosted by
327:Rumors that he had died of a
284:The funny giggle in my throat
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1112:. August 5, 1965. p. 28
978:The Bee (Danville, Virginia)
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1504:Jewish American male actors
1335:– via Newspapers.com.
1308:– via Newspapers.com.
1282:– via Newspapers.com.
1255:– via Newspapers.com.
1228:– via Newspapers.com.
1201:– via Newspapers.com.
1174:– via Newspapers.com.
1147:– via Newspapers.com.
1120:– via Newspapers.com.
1094:– via Newspapers.com.
1067:– via Newspapers.com.
1026:Woolery, George W. (1985).
1015:– via Newspapers.com.
988:– via Newspapers.com.
962:– via Newspapers.com.
952:The Odessa (Texas) American
875:– via Newspapers.com.
848:– via Newspapers.com.
821:– via Newspapers.com.
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1539:20th-century American Jews
1051:Peach, Ina (May 5, 1992).
367:The Pinky Lee Kids TV Show
217:: "Oooooh! You make me so
199:and other radio programs.
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278:That you can tell it's me
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1057:Wisconsin State Journal
626:Pals of the Golden West
598:Pals of the Golden West
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479:. His interment was at
407:Pals of the Golden West
236:in a 15-minute sitcom,
912:Hyatt, Wesley (1997).
767:Here It Is, Burlesque!
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282:And my checkered coat,
1499:Jewish male comedians
865:Philadelphia Inquirer
550:Earl Carroll Vanities
471:Later years and death
401:Earl Carroll Vanities
292:Put 'em all together,
290:Put 'em all together,
280:With my checkered hat
270:My name is Pinky Lee.
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187:Saint Paul, Minnesota
65:Saint Paul, Minnesota
1371:"Pinky Lee Obituary"
1272:St. Petersburg Times
750:The Ed Sullivan Show
350:In 1957, Lee hosted
274:To every he and she.
177:in the early 1950s.
1376:The Washington Post
1137:Des Moines Register
1005:El Paso Herald-Post
254:Pee-Wee's Playhouse
1396:The New York Times
895:The New York Times
732:The Pinky Lee Show
648:Pinky - the Valet
388:Movies and theatre
288:Like a billy goat.
286:And my silly dance
245:The Pinky Lee Show
230:The Pinky Lee Show
175:The Pinky Lee Show
171:American burlesque
1347:"Beatrice Dancis"
838:Los Angeles Times
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665:Riviera Employee
612:South of Caliente
581:One Exciting Week
533:Lady of Burlesque
428:Toast of the Town
413:South of Caliente
395:Lady of Burlesque
337:institutionalized
294:And it's whooooo?
276:It's plain to see
268:Yoo hoo, it's me,
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38:Lady of Burlesque
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898:. 7 April 1993.
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1400:. Retrieved
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624:
610:
596:
579:
562:
555:Pinky Price
548:
531:
516:
474:
446:
436:Sugar Babies
434:
432:
427:
417:
411:
405:
399:
393:
391:
377:
375:
366:
351:
349:
339:after going
329:heart attack
326:
320:
318:
303:
296:
267:
258:
252:
249:Tootsie Roll
244:
242:
237:
229:
227:
218:
201:
194:
184:
174:
166:
162:
161:
78:(1993-04-03)
36:
1479:1993 deaths
1474:1907 births
1166:. p. 5
789:character.
740:5 episodes
668:Uncredited
487:Filmography
451:songwriter
424:Ed Sullivan
371:Alpha Video
299:PINKY!!!!!
297:(Audience):
215:catchphrase
209:with baggy
163:Pincus Leff
102:Occupations
61:May 2, 1907
51:Pincus Leff
1468:Categories
1356:2022-04-13
793:References
758:1 episode
675:Television
660:Ocean's 11
569:Pinky Lee
453:Al Sherman
224:Television
196:Drene Time
57:1907-05-02
1455:Pinky Lee
1446:Pinky Lee
1402:August 6,
774:TV Movie
755:Comedian
701:Those Two
306:Molly Bee
238:Those Two
211:checkered
191:slapstick
181:Biography
169:, was an
167:Pinky Lee
125:1937â1979
23:Pinky Lee
1441:TV Party
931:22 March
706:Regular
521:Dentist
185:Born in
153:Children
1331:May 14,
1304:May 14,
1278:May 14,
1251:May 14,
1224:May 13,
1197:May 13,
1170:May 13,
1143:May 13,
1116:May 13,
1090:May 13,
1063:May 14,
1011:May 13,
984:May 13,
958:May 13,
871:May 13,
844:May 14,
817:May 13,
465:Richard
362:KABC-TV
147:
139:
35:Lee in
1034:
922:
781:Legacy
771:Skits
691:Notes
685:Title
631:Pinky
617:Pinky
586:Itchy
538:Mandy
508:Notes
502:Title
461:Robert
416:, and
341:insane
321:ad lib
130:Spouse
86:, U.S.
67:, U.S.
41:, 1943
763:1979
745:1960
723:Host
713:1957
696:1951
688:Role
682:Year
655:1960
638:1954
593:1951
576:1946
545:1945
528:1943
513:1937
505:Role
499:Year
219:mad!"
204:plaid
141:(
137:
111:actor
1450:IMDb
1404:2023
1333:2022
1306:2022
1280:2022
1253:2022
1226:2022
1199:2022
1172:2022
1145:2022
1118:2022
1092:2022
1065:2022
1032:ISBN
1013:2022
986:2022
960:2022
933:2020
920:ISBN
873:2022
846:2022
819:2022
492:Film
463:and
207:suit
114:host
73:Died
47:Born
1457:at
1448:at
1439:at
426:'s
343:on
1470::
1394:.
1373:.
1349:.
1323:.
1296:.
1270:.
1243:.
1216:.
1189:.
1162:.
1135:.
1108:.
1082:.
1055:.
1003:.
976:.
950:.
904:^
892:.
881:^
863:.
836:.
809:.
483:.
459:,
430:.
410:,
404:,
398:,
373:.
347:.
240:.
143:m.
1406:.
1359:.
1040:.
935:.
156:2
59:)
55:(
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