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Sam Levene

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This actor appeared in the following radio shows



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Born in Russia 8/28/1905; died 12/17/1980 of a heart attack in New York City. Came to America in 1907. Started his career with a plan to work in the garment industry, but began studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Art. On Broadway in 1927. Screen debut in After The Thin Man (1936). Last movie was Last Embrace (1979). Regular on The Fred Allen Show.

John

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The original Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls

Sue

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3 May 1934 The Rudy Vallee Variety Show Excerpt from Yellow Jack Sam Levene recreates original Broadway role as Busch, he also recreated in film of same name 17 February 1939 Orson Welles The Campbell Playhouse CBS Radio Burlesque adapted by Arthur Hopkins & George Manker Watters Sam Levene guest stars as Lefty 24 March 1939 Orson Welles The Campbell Playhouse CBS Radio Twentieth Century (play) adapted by Charles Bruce Millholland Sam Levene guest stars as Owen O’Malley 25 February 1940 The Pursuit Of Happiness (radio series) Columbia Broadcasting Miriam Hopkins, Betty Hutton, Sam Levene guest star 25 May 1940 Lincoln Highway NBC Radio Three Thousand Miles to Glory Sam Levene as Himself 9 April 1941 Texaco Star Theatre with Fred Allen CBS Radio Shortcut to a Nervous Breakdown Sam Levene as Himself 21 July 1943 We Will Never Die NBC Radio Hollywood Bowl Broadcast live Sam Levene with major film and Broadway stars narrates 21 November 1943 CBS Radio Algie and Gus Sam Levene as himself 24 December 1943 Christmas Roundup CBS Radio Romance in the Roaring Forties Sam Levene narrates Damon Runyon story 28 February 1944 The Screen Guild Theatre CBS Radio Three Men on a Horse Sam Levene recreates original Broadway performance as Patsy 6 January 1946 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio Three Men on a Horse Sam Levene recreates original Broadway performance as Patsy 13 January 1946 Eternal Light NBC Radio "The Parable of Reb Yisroel" Sam Levene as Himself 17 November 1946 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio The Man Who Came To Dinner Sam Levene as Banjo 24 November 1946 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio Burlesque adapted by Arthur Hopkins & George Manker Watters Sam Levene as Lefty 6 December 1946 Lest We Forget These Great Americans Hey Cabbie Institute for Democratic Education syndication Sam Levene guest stars as the Cabby 8 December 1946 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio Golden Boy Sam Levene as Moody, Mr. Levene performed the role of Siggie in the film of the same name 1 January 1947 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio Three Men on a Horse Sam Levene recreates original Broadway performance as Patsy 10 August 1947 Reunion Mutual Broadcasting System Tribute American Academy of Dramatic Arts Director Charles Jehlinger Sam Levene as Himself 10 April 1958 Suspense Radio CBS Radio Golden Boy Sam Levene recreates his film role of Samuels 27 March 1949 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio June Moon Sam Levene guest stars as Maxie 25 September 1949 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio The Gentle People Sam Levene as Jonah Goodman 17 December 1950 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio Boomerang Sam Levene recreates his film role as Dave Woods 31 December 1950 The Big Show NBC Radio Variety Show hosted by Tallulah Bankhead Sam Levene and Vivian Blaine guest star 15 April 1951 Theatre Guild on the Air ABC Radio Light Up the Sky Sam Levene recreates his original Broadway performance as Sidney Black 1952 The Human Heart Radio Series Too Careful starring Sam Levene 20 December 1957 The Barry Gray Show Interview Himself 26 August 1960 Studs Terkel WFMT Radio Studs Terkel interviews Sam Levene & Monica May 1973 George Jessel WEVD-AM History of Show Business George Jessel and Sam Levene discuss working together in vaudeville.

Alan

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Alan, appreciate your thorough addition of radio credits for Sam Levene. Unlike the well organized Broadway records documented by Playbill & IBDB; film & TV credits documented by IMDb & film credits documented by AFI, there lacks a centralized source documenting radio credits.

Joseph K Levene

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A Broadway star known for comedic timing and sharply etched characters, Sam Levene had a legendary 55 year Broadway career that started with 5 lines in the 1927 Broadway play, Wall Street at the Hudson Theatre. In a career spanning over 5 decades, Sam Levene appeared in 38 Broadway Shows and credited for originating performances in 33 original Broadway productions, many considered among the most important legendary theatrical productions of the 20th Century. Sam Levene is best known for his portrayal as Nathan Detroit in the original 1950 Broadway production of Guys & Dolls, a role he played for five years on Broadway, the UK and Las Vegas. In 1975, Sam Levene co-starred as Oscar Cavandish in the 1975 Ellis Raab revival of The Royal Family, co-written by George S. Kaufman who directed Guys & Dolls. Sam Levene was the original Horace Vandergelder in the first UK production of The Matchmaker opposite Ruth Gordon. Sam Levene and Orson Welles co-starred together in two radio plays for Orson Welles Campbell's Playhouse, aka the Mercury Theatre; the first, On The Twentieth Century and the second, Burlesque, which aired 2/17/39. Sam Levene's theatrical career is the envy of working actors today who dream of playing roles originated by Sam Levene. Legendary Broadway Performances Created By Sam Levene: Nathan Detroit in Guys & Dolls Patsy in Three Men On A Horse Max Kane in Dinner At Eight Sidney Black in Light Up The Sky Al Lewis in The Sunshine Boys Gordon Miller in Room Service Sam Levene was inducted in the Theatre Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to the American Theatre. Joseph K. Levene posthumously accepted the award in 1984, and said if my Father were here today, he would say why did it take you guys so long to give me this award? Sam Levene was also awarded the Actor's Fund Medal of Honor, and received a Tony Nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play for The Devil's Advocate, written by Levene's long time pal, Dore Schary. Sam Levene created the role of Horace Vandergelder in the first London Production of The Matchmaker, written by Thorton Wilder, opposite Ruth Gordon, an assignment Levene accepted after reprising the role of Nathan Detroit for 555 performances in the first London Production of Guys & Dolls at the London Coliseum, followed by the 1955 Las Vegas Production of Guys & Dolls at the Crown Room, the first time a Broadway Musical was mounted in Las Vegas. Sam Levene appeared in 50 films, making his motion picture debut in the 1936 Melvyn LeRoy Film, Three Men On a Horse, recreating the role of Patsy, a role Sam Levene originated in the 1935 Broadway production of the same name. Sam Levene recreated his original Broadway performances in Yellow Jack and The Royal Family for Film & PBS Television, respectively. A brilliant stage actor, Sam Levene appeared in 50 films, many in supporting roles, remembered by audiences with his unmistakable and recognizable voice. https://plus.google.com/+SamLevene/about

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