Harold Leonard[1] Block (August 3, 1913 – June 16, 1981) was an American comedy writer, comedian, producer, songwriter and television personality. Although Block was a highly successful comedy writer for over 15 years, today he is most often remembered as an original panelist of the television game show What's My Line? who was fired from the show in its third season, reportedly for inappropriate on-air behavior. Block is a controversial figure in the history of television, denounced by some, while praised by others as a writer and for contributing to the original success of What's My Line?
During the 1940s, Block was considered one of America's best comedy writers, having worked for many of the top comedians of the era, such as Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Milton Berle and Burns and Allen and in all major media, including radio, Hollywood movies, Broadway and print. Block also made major contributions to the USO during World War II.
In March 1950, producers of the new game show What's My Line? hired Block for its fourth episode to add humor to the show's format. With a panel previously consisting of a journalist, a psychiatrist, a politician and a poet, reviewers had criticized the show as bland. After a rocky start, What's My Line? became one of the top-rated shows on television. Critics praised his work; the Chicago Sun-Times called Block the "freshest new personality in TV."
However, his humor could be risqué, which antagonized some conservative 1950s viewers. He once risked the sponsor's wrath, referring to their deodorant with the line "Make your armpit a charmpit." In early 1953, Block was suspended and then fired. He left show business for the investment business a few years later, while What's My Line? continued on as a staple of Sunday night television for another 14 years.
Nov 27, 1943. p. 9. "Obituaries: HalBlock". Variety. June 24, 1981. p. 93. Wilson, Earl (June 11, 1951). "HalBlock Finds Fame Is Costly". Miami Daily...
1940 to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 529. ISBN 0-634-09978-7. Goldstein, Meredith; Rodman, Sarah (April 5, 2008). "Around the block again for New...
The HAL Tejas (lit. 'Radiance') is an Indian single-engine, 4.5 generation delta wing multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development...
Writer HalBlock (far left), Hope (second from left), writer/actor Barney Dean, General George Patton, singer Frances Langford, and musician Tony Romano...
Second Act Trouble: Behind the Scenes at Broadway's Big Musical Bombs. Hal Leonard. p. 243. ISBN 1-55783-631-0. Kelley, Kitty (1986). His Way: Frank...
blank.[citation needed] Amsterdam's reputation for humor preceded him. HalBlock tells of Amsterdam walking up Sixth Avenue in New York City and meeting...
of Order" by Stan Freberg and Daws Butler, "Senator McCarthy Blues" by HalBlock, and unionist folk singer Joe Glazer's "Joe McCarthy's Band", sung to...
My Line? from January 1953, substituting for the suspended HalBlock, and replacing Block by March. He continued on the show until 1954, and returned...
the RAF by Night" is a World War II era song written and composed by HalBlock and Bob Musel. The song was published by Paramount Music Corp. in 1944...
William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an American film director and editor. His work exemplified the countercultural attitude...
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director and screenwriter, who was the...
defining the genesis block of bitcoin (block number 0), which had a reward of 50 bitcoins. Embedded in the coinbase transaction of this block is the text: "The...
the newcomers to the show included Milt Josefsberg, Larry Gelbart and HalBlock. The program saw its highest ratings during World War II. According to...
Conductor (New York Philharmonic) Alpha Zeta 1939 Harvard University HalBlock Comedian; Comedy Writer; Producer Alpha Beta 1936 University of Chicago...
Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013) was an American stuntman, film director, actor, writer, and NASCAR team owner. He is best known for...
the Gag proved unsuccessful with viewers and critics. It was hosted by HalBlock, best known as a regular panelist on the popular and well-received series...
records (blocks) that are securely linked together via cryptographic hashes. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp...
instance, despite emotionally manipulating a grieving Hal to buy him a car in the episode "Hal Grieves," when the time comes to make the purchase he finds...
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