Allan Sherman (born Allan Copelon; November 30, 1924 â€" November 20,
1973) was an American comedy writer, television producer, singer and
actor who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His
first album, My Son, the Folk Singer (1962), became the
fastest-selling record album up to that time. His biggest hit single
was "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh", a comic novelty in which a boy
describes his summer camp experiences to the tune of Ponchielli's
Dance of the Hours.Sherman was born in Chicago, to Percy Copelon and
Rose Sherman. Percy was an auto mechanic and race car driver who
suffered from obesity (he weighed over 350 pounds) and died while
attempting a 100-day diet. His family was Jewish. Sherman's parents
divorced when he was in grade school, and he adopted his mother's
maiden name. Because his parents frequently moved to new residences,
Sherman attended 21 public schools in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles,
and Miami. He later attended the University of Illinois, where he
earned mostly "C" grades and contributed a humor column to The Daily
Illini, the college newspaper. Sherman was expelled for breaking into
the Sigma Delta Tau sorority house with his girlfriend and future wife
Dolores "Dee" Chackes.Sherman devised a game show he intended to call
I Know a Secret. Television producer Mark Goodson adapted Sherman's
idea into I've Got a Secret, which ran on CBS from 1952 to 1967.
Rather than paying him for the concept, Mark Goodson-Bill Todman
Productions made Sherman the show's producer. Sherman was reported to
be warm and kindhearted to all who worked for him. However,
differences occurred between Sherman and anyone who was in a position
to try to restrain his creativity. As producer of I've Got a Secret,
which was broadcast live, he showed a fondness for large-scale stunts
that had the potential to teeter on the brink of disaster. He once
released 100 rabbits onstage as an Easter surprise for the Madison
Square Boys Club, whose members were seated in the studio. The boys
were invited to come up onstage to collect their prize. Although the
resultant melee made a good story, it did not necessarily make for
good TV.
1973) was an American comedy writer, television producer, singer and
actor who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His
first album, My Son, the Folk Singer (1962), became the
fastest-selling record album up to that time. His biggest hit single
was "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh", a comic novelty in which a boy
describes his summer camp experiences to the tune of Ponchielli's
Dance of the Hours.Sherman was born in Chicago, to Percy Copelon and
Rose Sherman. Percy was an auto mechanic and race car driver who
suffered from obesity (he weighed over 350 pounds) and died while
attempting a 100-day diet. His family was Jewish. Sherman's parents
divorced when he was in grade school, and he adopted his mother's
maiden name. Because his parents frequently moved to new residences,
Sherman attended 21 public schools in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles,
and Miami. He later attended the University of Illinois, where he
earned mostly "C" grades and contributed a humor column to The Daily
Illini, the college newspaper. Sherman was expelled for breaking into
the Sigma Delta Tau sorority house with his girlfriend and future wife
Dolores "Dee" Chackes.Sherman devised a game show he intended to call
I Know a Secret. Television producer Mark Goodson adapted Sherman's
idea into I've Got a Secret, which ran on CBS from 1952 to 1967.
Rather than paying him for the concept, Mark Goodson-Bill Todman
Productions made Sherman the show's producer. Sherman was reported to
be warm and kindhearted to all who worked for him. However,
differences occurred between Sherman and anyone who was in a position
to try to restrain his creativity. As producer of I've Got a Secret,
which was broadcast live, he showed a fondness for large-scale stunts
that had the potential to teeter on the brink of disaster. He once
released 100 rabbits onstage as an Easter surprise for the Madison
Square Boys Club, whose members were seated in the studio. The boys
were invited to come up onstage to collect their prize. Although the
resultant melee made a good story, it did not necessarily make for
good TV.
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