Lew Lehr
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Born Name:
Lewis C. Lehr
Born Date: May 14, 1895
Born Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died Date: March 6, 1950
Died Place: Brookline, Massachusetts
Occupations: Comedian, writer, editor
Brief Biography: Lew Lehr was best known for his humorous commentary in 300+ Fox Movietone News short films and newsreels. With his signature Pennsylvania Dutch dialect and sardonic tone, he is best remembered for his iconic catchphrase, "Monkeys is the cwaziest peoples!"
Early Life and Vaudeville:
Born Lewis C. Lehr on May 14, 1895, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lehr was a graduate of Bucknell College. He initially pursued business and architecture before his flair for comedy drew him to the stage. He spent roughly 20 years in vaudeville and musical theater, sometimes performing alongside his wife, Nancy Belle, in an act known as "Lehr and Belle". After stepping away from the stage, he worked as a gag writer, supplying material for prominent comedians like Bert Lahr and Bea Lillie.
Fox Movietone News and "Dribble Puss Parade":
In the early 1930s, Lehr transitioned to film and established his legacy. Starting in 1932, he worked with Fox Movietone News as an editor, writer, and commentator. He created and starred in comedic segments known as "The Dribble Puss Parade," "Lew Lehr's Unnatural History," and the "Magic Carpet" series. In these shorts, Lehr provided satirical, slightly jaded, and highly comedic voiceovers for strange news stories, stock footage of animals, and silent-era films.
Catchphrase and Legacy:
Lehr's most famous contributions are forever tied to chimpanzees and eccentric animal antics, which prompted his classic catchphrase, "Monkeys is the cwaziest peoples!". His distinct cadence, expressive crossed eyes, and trademark pinpoint mustache became highly recognizable. Lehr's work was so deeply embedded in American popular culture that he was widely caricatured in several classic Warner Bros. cartoons in the 1930s and 1940s, with various animal characters adopting his famous catchphrase.
Later Years:
In addition to his prolific work in newsreels, Lehr was a regular panelist on the popular late-1940s radio show Stop Me if You've Heard This One.
Born Date: May 14, 1895
Born Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died Date: March 6, 1950
Died Place: Brookline, Massachusetts
Occupations: Comedian, writer, editor
Brief Biography: Lew Lehr was best known for his humorous commentary in 300+ Fox Movietone News short films and newsreels. With his signature Pennsylvania Dutch dialect and sardonic tone, he is best remembered for his iconic catchphrase, "Monkeys is the cwaziest peoples!"
Early Life and Vaudeville:
Born Lewis C. Lehr on May 14, 1895, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lehr was a graduate of Bucknell College. He initially pursued business and architecture before his flair for comedy drew him to the stage. He spent roughly 20 years in vaudeville and musical theater, sometimes performing alongside his wife, Nancy Belle, in an act known as "Lehr and Belle". After stepping away from the stage, he worked as a gag writer, supplying material for prominent comedians like Bert Lahr and Bea Lillie.
Fox Movietone News and "Dribble Puss Parade":
In the early 1930s, Lehr transitioned to film and established his legacy. Starting in 1932, he worked with Fox Movietone News as an editor, writer, and commentator. He created and starred in comedic segments known as "The Dribble Puss Parade," "Lew Lehr's Unnatural History," and the "Magic Carpet" series. In these shorts, Lehr provided satirical, slightly jaded, and highly comedic voiceovers for strange news stories, stock footage of animals, and silent-era films.
Catchphrase and Legacy:
Lehr's most famous contributions are forever tied to chimpanzees and eccentric animal antics, which prompted his classic catchphrase, "Monkeys is the cwaziest peoples!". His distinct cadence, expressive crossed eyes, and trademark pinpoint mustache became highly recognizable. Lehr's work was so deeply embedded in American popular culture that he was widely caricatured in several classic Warner Bros. cartoons in the 1930s and 1940s, with various animal characters adopting his famous catchphrase.
Later Years:
In addition to his prolific work in newsreels, Lehr was a regular panelist on the popular late-1940s radio show Stop Me if You've Heard This One.