- [on Joe E. Ross] Joe E. Ross was a former burlesque comic. Joe E. Ross, if you put him in a brand-new tuxedo, shirt, shoes, tie, haircut--would still look sloppy. Joe E. Ross had a wonderful sense of humor and a wonderful voice to match. The burlesque background, of course, gave him a certain timing that other comics didn't have.
- [on Jack E. Leonard] He had a high ego and that affected his career to the negative. He thought he deserved more than he received, but he didn't work on his act that much. There were many times on [The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)] that Johnny felt he came unprepared and Johnny later stopped us [the Sahara Hotel] from booking Jack E.
- [on Jack Carter] Carter was more concerned about other people than his own great ability. He affected his career with conflicts with [club] owners. He didn't acquire as large of a following [as some of his contemporaries] and he was his own worst enemy.
- [on Bud Abbott and Lou Costello] I brought them into The Sahara. And they were NOT friends. In the earlier days Costello was the drinker and the gambler. Later on Abbott became the drinker and the gambler and couldn't remember his lines. It was a conflict within their own performance and presentation. They didn't mix and mingle other than when they were together on stage and Abbott's timing was off.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content