Robert North
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Born Name:
Robert North
Born Date: 2 February 1884
Born Place: New York City
Died Date: 13 August 1976
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Comedian, film producer
Brief Biography: Robert North (often known as Bobby North) was a prominent American vaudeville performer, stand-up comedian, and early Hollywood film producer. North initially built a highly successful career on the theater stage as a popular comedian before transitioning behind the camera to become a prolific motion picture producer.
Comedy and Vaudeville Career:
North rose to prominence in the early 20th century, specializing in popular stage revues and the era's character-based comedy:
The "Hebrew Impersonator" Act: In line with the vaudeville traditions of his era, North became a headliner at top venues like Broadway's Palace Theatre using a popular character dialect routine.
Broadway and Lew Fields Revues: He starred as a comedian in several major New York productions. In 1912, he found success in the Lew Fields musical comedy Hanky Panky, which ran for 104 performances at the Broadway Theatre before touring nationally. He followed this with a role in the 1913 Winter Garden Theatre revue The Pleasure Seekers.
The "Hands Up" Incident: In 1915, North was cast alongside legendary comedian Fanny Brice and her brother Lew Brice in the musical revue Hands Up. However, because North and the Brices utilized nearly identical stage accents making it difficult for audiences to distinguish between them, North and the Brices left the production before its official New York premiere.
Hollywood Producing Career:
As vaudeville's popularity began to shift toward cinema, North transitioned into film production during the late 1920s and 1930s, working as an executive producer and production manager:
Early Sound Films: He earned early production credits on notable titles such as Broadway Babies (1929), A Notorious Affair (1930), and Showgirl in Hollywood (1930).
Studio Work: Throughout the 1930s, he remained highly active in Hollywood, producing films like The Black Room (1935), Dangerous Intrigue (1936), and Main Street Lawyer (1939).
Born Date: 2 February 1884
Born Place: New York City
Died Date: 13 August 1976
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Comedian, film producer
Brief Biography: Robert North (often known as Bobby North) was a prominent American vaudeville performer, stand-up comedian, and early Hollywood film producer. North initially built a highly successful career on the theater stage as a popular comedian before transitioning behind the camera to become a prolific motion picture producer.
Comedy and Vaudeville Career:
North rose to prominence in the early 20th century, specializing in popular stage revues and the era's character-based comedy:
The "Hebrew Impersonator" Act: In line with the vaudeville traditions of his era, North became a headliner at top venues like Broadway's Palace Theatre using a popular character dialect routine.
Broadway and Lew Fields Revues: He starred as a comedian in several major New York productions. In 1912, he found success in the Lew Fields musical comedy Hanky Panky, which ran for 104 performances at the Broadway Theatre before touring nationally. He followed this with a role in the 1913 Winter Garden Theatre revue The Pleasure Seekers.
The "Hands Up" Incident: In 1915, North was cast alongside legendary comedian Fanny Brice and her brother Lew Brice in the musical revue Hands Up. However, because North and the Brices utilized nearly identical stage accents making it difficult for audiences to distinguish between them, North and the Brices left the production before its official New York premiere.
Hollywood Producing Career:
As vaudeville's popularity began to shift toward cinema, North transitioned into film production during the late 1920s and 1930s, working as an executive producer and production manager:
Early Sound Films: He earned early production credits on notable titles such as Broadway Babies (1929), A Notorious Affair (1930), and Showgirl in Hollywood (1930).
Studio Work: Throughout the 1930s, he remained highly active in Hollywood, producing films like The Black Room (1935), Dangerous Intrigue (1936), and Main Street Lawyer (1939).