Woody Woodbury
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Born Name:
Robert Dennis Woodbury
Born Date: February 9, 1924
Born Place: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Comedian, actor, television personality, talk show host
Brief Biography: Robert Dennis "Woody" Woodbury is known for his smash-hit "party records" during the mid-century lounge comedy boom, Woodbury is among the first standup comedians to ever earn a gold record. Remarkably, he is a centenarian and remains sharp and active.
Early Life and Military Heroism:
World War II: Served as a U.S. Marine Corps flight instructor.
Korean War: Flew nearly 100 combat missions as a Captain and jet fighter pilot alongside legendary figures like baseball star Ted Williams and future Senator John Glenn.
Post-War Activity: Remained in Korea and Japan after his combat tour to perform comedy and music for wounded Allied troops in military hospitals.
The South Florida Comedy Boom:
Club Circuit: In the late 1940s, he began playing piano bars and nightclubs in Florida, notably becoming a fixture at Miami's Clover Club.
Lounge Legend: Alongside stars like Don Rickles and Jackie Gleason, Woodbury transformed South Florida into a national capital of mid-century "Lounge Culture".
The "Bahama Hotel" Era: His primary home base for years was the piano bar at the Bahama Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Hit Albums and "BITOA":
Gold Records: Between 1959 and 1964, Woodbury released eight highly successful comedy LPs capturing his live, alcohol-fueled routines.
"Bawdy" Material: His comedy specialized in racy, risqué "adult stories" that were considered highly provocative at the time.
The BITOA Club: He popularized the motto "BITOA" (Booze Is The Only Answer), distributing official novelty club membership cards and handbooks to fans.
Television and Film Career:
Game Show Success: In 1962, he competed for and won the highly coveted job of replacing Johnny Carson as the host of the national game show Who Do You Trust? when Carson left for The Tonight Show.
The Woody Woodbury Show: From 1967 to 1969, he hosted his own widely syndicated, 90-minute weekday afternoon television talk and variety program.
Movie Roles: His most prominent acting role was playing "Uncle Woody" in the 1964 beach party film For Those Who Think Young. He also made appearances in films like Safe at Home! (1962), Odds and Evens (1978), and Hardly Working (1980).
Born Date: February 9, 1924
Born Place: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Comedian, actor, television personality, talk show host
Brief Biography: Robert Dennis "Woody" Woodbury is known for his smash-hit "party records" during the mid-century lounge comedy boom, Woodbury is among the first standup comedians to ever earn a gold record. Remarkably, he is a centenarian and remains sharp and active.
Early Life and Military Heroism:
World War II: Served as a U.S. Marine Corps flight instructor.
Korean War: Flew nearly 100 combat missions as a Captain and jet fighter pilot alongside legendary figures like baseball star Ted Williams and future Senator John Glenn.
Post-War Activity: Remained in Korea and Japan after his combat tour to perform comedy and music for wounded Allied troops in military hospitals.
The South Florida Comedy Boom:
Club Circuit: In the late 1940s, he began playing piano bars and nightclubs in Florida, notably becoming a fixture at Miami's Clover Club.
Lounge Legend: Alongside stars like Don Rickles and Jackie Gleason, Woodbury transformed South Florida into a national capital of mid-century "Lounge Culture".
The "Bahama Hotel" Era: His primary home base for years was the piano bar at the Bahama Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Hit Albums and "BITOA":
Gold Records: Between 1959 and 1964, Woodbury released eight highly successful comedy LPs capturing his live, alcohol-fueled routines.
"Bawdy" Material: His comedy specialized in racy, risqué "adult stories" that were considered highly provocative at the time.
The BITOA Club: He popularized the motto "BITOA" (Booze Is The Only Answer), distributing official novelty club membership cards and handbooks to fans.
Television and Film Career:
Game Show Success: In 1962, he competed for and won the highly coveted job of replacing Johnny Carson as the host of the national game show Who Do You Trust? when Carson left for The Tonight Show.
The Woody Woodbury Show: From 1967 to 1969, he hosted his own widely syndicated, 90-minute weekday afternoon television talk and variety program.
Movie Roles: His most prominent acting role was playing "Uncle Woody" in the 1964 beach party film For Those Who Think Young. He also made appearances in films like Safe at Home! (1962), Odds and Evens (1978), and Hardly Working (1980).