Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: A Few Moments with Gallagher and Shean

Gallagher & Shean were a highly successful musical comedy double act in vaudeville and on Broadway in the 1920s, consisting of Edward Gallagher (1873 – March 28, 1929) & Al Shean (May 12, 1868 – August 12, 1949). 

Shean was the maternal uncle of the Marx Brothers, sister of Minnie Marx. Gallagher & Shean remain best known for their theme song “Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean”, which was a hit in the 1922 Ziegfeld Follies. The song endured in popularity and was regularly updated with additional verses; consequently, it exists in several different versions. 

The song was recorded by Gallagher and Shean as two sides of a ten inch 78rpm record in the Summer of 1922 for Victor Records. It would be recorded by others on other record labels. The song was extremely popular & well remembered. 

Capitalizing on the post-King Tut craze for everything Egyptian, Gallagher & Shean appeared in Egyptian dress (Gallagher in the pith helmet & white suit of the tourist, Shean in the fez & oddly skirted jacket of a “native” Egyptian colonial). 

Our thanks to Patrix Springer who posted this great throwback video clip on YouTube. 

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.



#Throwback Thursday     #TBT

The Great Jewish Comedians: Al Shean (Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean)

Al Shean (born Abraham Elieser Adolph Schonberg) was half of the vaudeville comedy team Gallagher and Shean with Edward Gallagher. Both comedians were relatively obscure vaudeville performers before they teamed up. 

Gallagher and Shean first joined forces during the tour of The Rose Maid in 1912, but they quarreled and split up two years later. They next appeared together in 1920, through the efforts of Shean's sister, Minnie Marx (mother of the Marx Brothers). This pairing lasted until 1925 and led to their fame.

Gallagher and Shean remain best known for their theme song Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean, which was a hit in the 1922 Ziegfeld Follies. In 1941 the song was featured in the movie Ziegfeld Girl starring James Stewart, Judy Garland, and Hedy Lamarr. Since Gallagher died in 1929, his role was played by Charles Winninger.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)