Joey Adams

Joseph Abramowitz or Joey Adams (January 6, 1911-Dcember 2, 1999) was an American comedian, vaudevillian, radio host, nightclub performer and author, who was inducted into the New York Friars' Club in 1977 and wrote the book Borscht Belt in 1973.

Life and Career
Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York as Joseph Abramowitz. For many years, he wrote the Strictly Laughs column in the New York Post. His wife, Cindy Adams (to whom he was married from 1952 until his death) remains a society/gossip columnist for the same paper.

Adams' career spanned more than 70 years and included appearances in nightclubs and vaudeville shows. He also hosted for a while his own radio show and wrote 23 books, including From Gags to Riches, Joey Adams Joke Book, Laugh Your Calories Away, On the Road with Uncle Sam and Encyclopedia of Humor. The Yale Book of Quotations cites him as being the first to say, "With friends like that, who needs enemies?". He also hosted the unsold pilot Rate Your Mate based on the 1950s radio show of the same name (also hosted by Adams) in 1951.

He made numerous television appearances over the years, including The Ed Sullivan Show, Howard Stern's 1990s TV shows and What's My Line? and in the films Singing in Dark (1956, of which he was also executive producer) Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966) and Silent Pray (1997). For many years, he hosted a radio talk show on WEVD in New York.

Honors
In 1963 Adams, then serving as AGVA president, helped to finance and organize a variety show in Birmingham, Alabama to raise funds for the March on Washington for Jobs an Freedom. Sharing the stage with Martin Luther King Jr. were Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Joe Louis, Johnny Mathis, James Baldwin and The Shirelles.

For the civic work, Adams was honored by presidents and statesmen and he held honorary doctorates in comedy from his alma mater City College and from Columbia University, Long Island University and New York University.

He was active in the New York Friars Club and was president of the American Guild of Variety Artists AGVA. He was appointed as Commissioner of Youth for the City of New York by Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr. emulating Fiorello LaGuardia's civic-mindness in recognition for his efforts in battling juvenile delinquency on behalf of the AVGA Youth Fund. Governor Nelson Rockefeller also encouraged him to spread his program throughout the entire state and eventually it moved westward to California.

Death
On December 2, 1999; Adams died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, New York from heart failure at the age of 88. Eulogies were delivered by Adams' widow (Cindy Adams) and mayor Rudy Giuliani. Services were held at Riverside Memorial Chapel. His widow (Cindy Adams) had his remains cremated.

Gooson-Todman Show Hosted
Rate Your Mate (1951 pilot)

Goodson-Todman Show Appeared
What's My Line? (1950 & 1969)