"Favorite Caesar (Round 1B)" Topic

Julian the Pious for me!

Good novel by Gore Vidal, although he calls cataphracts "Cuirassiers"! Massive Harrumph here.

Irving Caesar (1895–1996) was a prolific American lyricist and composer who wrote or co-wrote over 700 songs, including some of the most enduring standards of the Tin Pan Alley era.

Famous Songs

He is best known for providing the lyrics to iconic hits such as:

"Tea for Two" – Written with Vincent Youmans for the musical No, No, Nanette (1925), it became one of the most frequently recorded tunes in history.

"Swanee" – A massive hit for Al Jolson, written in 1919 with George Gershwin (reportedly composed during a 15-minute bus ride).

"Animal Crackers in My Soup" – Popularized by Shirley Temple in the 1935 film Curly Top.

"Just a Gigolo" – His English adaptation of an Austrian song, which later became a hit for Louis Prima and David Lee Roth.

"I Want to Be Happy" – Another standout from No, No, Nanette.

Legacy and Advocacy

Musical Pledge of Allegiance: He composed the official musical setting for the Pledge of Allegiance and donated the rights to the U.S. government so it could be performed royalty-free.

Children's Songs: In the late 1930s, he shifted focus to education, creating collections like Sing a Song of Safety and Sing a Song of Friendship to teach children about health, safety, and racial tolerance.

Industry Leadership: He was a founder of the Songwriters Guild of America and served on the board of ASCAP for decades.

He lived to be 101 years old and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Isaac Sidney Caesar (September 8, 1922 – February 12, 2014), known professionally as Sid Caesar, was a transformative figure in American comedy and a pioneer of the "Golden Age" of live television.

While he is most famous for his sketch comedy, his background is deeply rooted in music, which often informed the rhythmic and physical nature of his performances.

Musical Beginnings

Before he was a comedian, Caesar was a talented musician:

Saxophonist: He studied saxophone at the Juilliard School and played professionally in several prominent big bands, including those led by Shep Fields, Claude Thornhill, and **Benny Goodman.

Military Service: During World War II, he served in the United States Coast Guard, where he played in the military band and began performing in revues, which eventually transitioned him from music to comedy.

Television Legacy

He is best known for his legendary 1950s variety shows:

Your Show of Shows (1950–1954): A 90-minute live weekly broadcast that is considered one of the greatest programs in TV history.

Caesar's Hour (1954–1957): A follow-up variety series that continued his dominant run in the medium.

The "Writer's Room" and Influence

One of Caesar's greatest legacies is the legendary writing staff he assembled, which became a "who's who" of American comedy legends, including:

Mel Brooks
Carl Reiner (who also performed as Caesar's straight man)
Neil Simon
Larry Gelbart (*M*A*S*H*)
Woody Allen

Famous Roles

Beyond television, he had notable roles in film and theater:

Coach Calhoun in Grease (1978) and Grease 2.

Melville Crump in the epic comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).

Little Me: He played seven different roles in the original 1962 Broadway production of the Neil Simon musical.