April 30, 1941
Hollywood Citizen News
Frolicsome Guests Enjoy Poolside
Custard pies, Keystone Kops, and a carefree spirit reigned Sunday when Milton Berle played host to 400 picture friends at his Mack Sennett bathing party at the Beverly Hills Hotel Sand and Pool Club.
Dressing in a bathing suit of the 1900s, Mr. Berle saw to it that his guests had the time of his life.
Custard pies throwing was judged by the guest of honor, Mack Sennett. On the throwing end were Misses Judy Garland, Joan Davis, Ann Miller, Bonita Granville, Patti McCarty, Carole Landis, and Linda Darnell. At the receiving end of their deadly aim were the host and Buster Keaton, Errol Flynn, Billy Gilbert, Parkyarkarkus, and Laird Cregar.
When the Keystone Kops, Dave Rose, Eddie Cronjagger, and Charles Hall, tried to “break up” the battle, they met with furious bombardment themselves.
Ping pong, tennis, badminton, and a variety show with clowns, dancing and comedy diving kept the party at top speed.
…
The famous Beverly Hills Hotel pool was very briefly known as the “Sand and Pool Club”.
— Tim
Gentleman Tim
May 24, 2021 at 11:32 pm
Regarding the once very popular radio comedian Harry Einstein, aka Parkyakarkus, he died under the most tragically unusual circumstances – circumstances involving Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and Milton Berle.
“He suffered a fatal heart attack in 1958, at the age of 54, during a roast in honor of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. After Einstein delivered his monologue, emcee Art Linkletter remarked, “Every time he finishes, I ask myself, why isn’t he on the air in a prime time?” Einstein turned to Milton Berle, who was seated next to him on the dais, and said, “Yeah, how come?”—then slumped into his lap. Berle’s shout of “Is there a doctor in the house?” was initially thought to be a humorous ad lib (the event was a charity benefit for local hospitals and several physicians were in attendance), but the gravity of the situation quickly became clear.
Einstein was carried backstage, where five physicians worked to revive him. One surgeon used his pen knife to make an incision for open heart massage; another used the ends of an electric cord as a makeshift defibrillator. With the remaining comedians on the bill reluctant to continue under the circumstances, Linkletter asked Tony Martin to sing a song; Martin’s unfortunate choice was “There’s No Tomorrow”.Ball then came to the microphone and managed only, “I can say nothing,” through tears. Arnaz, the closing speaker, said, “This is one of those moments that Lucy and I have waited a lifetime for, but it’s meaningless now. They say the show must go on, but why must it? Let’s close the show now by praying for this wonderful man backstage who has made a world laugh.”