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'Meet Me in St. Louis' Writer Brecher Dies

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(Nov. 19) - Irving Brecher, the versatile Hollywood talent who wrote knee-slapping jokes for Milton Berle, classic comedies for the Marx Brothers, and screenplays for movie musicals including "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Bye Bye Birdie," died on Monday in Los Angeles at age 94, family and friends have announced.

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The Bronx native died of unspecified causes, but Nell Scovell, a friend, told the New York Times that the writer had a series of heart attacks as recent as last week.

Brecher was a master of puns and reaction jokes; one example being a line he gave Groucho Marx in 1939's "At the Circus": "If I were any drier, I'd be drowning."

Among his other film writing credits include "Go West," "Shadow of the Thin Man" and "Cry for Happy." The screenplay for "Meet Me in St. Louis" garnered him an Oscar nomination in 1945. He lost to Leo McCarey for "Going My Way."

He also created the popular franchise "The Life of Riley," first as a radio series followed by film and TV versions, with Jackie Gleason briefly in the lead role as a working class numskull. He directed the movie version in 1949.

Watch Clips of His Work >>

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'Meet Me in St. Louis' -- Tootie

'At the Circus' -- Lydia

Brecher launched his showbiz career writing jokes for Berle, known around the comedy circuit for a penchant for lifting jokes from others. According to the Times, he got the job by placing the following ad in Variety: "Positively Berle-proof gags. So bad not even Milton will steal them."

He has slowed down in recent years, but in 2007 emerged to make a video in support of striking writers.

"Since 1938, when I joined what was then the Radio Writers Guild, I have been waiting for the writers to get a fair deal; I'm still waiting," he said in the video. "As Chester A. Riley would have said: 'What a revoltin' development this is.' But he only said it because I wrote it."

He is survived by his wife, Norma, and three stepchildren.

2008-11-19 12:29:42

Dan Steinberg, AP

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Edbaggett

08:33 PMNov 20 2008

Sometimes it's more noble to write from the "heart" & not your D___K !!!!!!

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FelshamLdy

06:38 PMNov 19 2008

A double AMEN to the fact that many of today's "comedies" aren't funny at all. If it doesn't have to do with farting, peeing or any number of body parts, today's "comedies" would last five minutes. It's LAZY writing and a total lack of imagination. Hey, people like Adam Sandler and Will Farrell, wake the hell up, once. I sit through your "comedies" and never smile once. You're just plain not funny.

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NancyPants0186

05:59 PMNov 19 2008

Aw I LOVE Meet Me In St. Louis!

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Johnronnoco

05:13 PMNov 19 2008

It seems that Ms. Ladyrotten1111 lives up to her screen name. My goodness, what a viscious comment, you b...tch. Why don't you go make your family miserable and stay out of the comments. You obviously know nothing about the hillarious and wonderful work this man had done in his life. Take your nasty vitrol and stuff it in the deepest recesses of your nasty soul.

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friendsofpatch

05:10 PMNov 19 2008

NOTE TO READERS: be sure to click "REPORT!" for comments like the one from Ladyrotten1111 ... If enough people do it, that entry will (poof!) disappear. Also, it helps to give it the lowest rating possible.

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Sdave7596

05:05 PMNov 19 2008

"Meet me in St. Louis" remains a classic - a movie the whole family can indeed watch. Rest in peace, sir......

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Ladyrotten1111 Click to read Low-rated and possibly explicit material.

drwoowoocl2001

05:01 PMNov 19 2008

hunter222222: you are soooooooo right! Even the worst Marx Bros. movie is still funnier than the funniest Adam Sandler comedy. And Mr. Brecher didnt have to resort to bodily functions to get humor. What is so funny about someone with diarrhea? Its another sad reminder of how american comedy has fallen in recent years.

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Taffysmom77

04:40 PMNov 19 2008

Rest In Peace, Mr. Brecher. Now it's time for you to entertain God and His angels!

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Hunter222222

04:34 PMNov 19 2008

The REAL sadness is that this man made his reputation through CLEAN COMEDY vs. the crap that is today's "comedy". Today everyone thinks that comedy has to be full of sex and drugs and vulgarity. WRONG!! RIP Sir, you will be missed.

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