Eddie Cantor
A tireless showman who used his fame to champion social causes and helped shape the early American entertainment industry.
1892–1964 (age 72)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: January 31·The Lost Generation
Biography
Born Isidore Itzkowitz on the Lower East Side, Eddie Cantor's rise from the streets to the stage was fueled by an irrepressible energy. Orphaned young and raised by his grandmother, he honed his craft in vaudeville, developing a signature style of rapid-fire jokes, wide eyes, and a buoyant singing voice. His Broadway triumphs in shows like 'Kid Boots' and 'Whoopee!' catapulted him to national fame, which he parlayed into radio stardom, becoming a comforting voice in Depression-era homes. Cantor understood the power of his platform, tirelessly selling war bonds and advocating for the March of Dimes, while also breaking ground as a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. His career, which spanned live performance, film, radio, and television, mapped the evolution of American popular culture in the first half of the twentieth century.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Eddie was born in 1892, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1892
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1892Born
President: Benjamin Harrison
1897Started school
President: William McKinley
1905Became a teenager
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Could drive
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Could vote
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Turned 21
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 30
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1932Turned 40
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1942Turned 50
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 60
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 70
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1964Died at 72
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
Key Achievements
- Starred in the groundbreaking Broadway musical 'Whoopee!' in 1928, which was later adapted into a successful film.
- Hosted 'The Chase and Sanborn Hour,' a top-rated radio program that dominated ratings in the 1930s.
- Was a founding member and first vice-president of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933.
- Received a special Academy Award in 1956 for his distinguished service to the film industry.
- Authored several best-selling books, including 'My Life Is in Your Hands' and 'Take My Life.'
Did You Know?
His trademark rolling eyes were a comedic device he developed after being told his own eyes were expressionless.
He popularized the songs "Makin' Whoopee" and "If You Knew Susie."
He was a major force in making "The March of Dimes" a national campaign to fight polio.
Cantor was the first host to be dubbed 'The King of Radio' by the press.
He was banned from NBC radio for several weeks in 1939 after joking about a fictional sponsor, 'Nertz' toilet paper.
“It takes twenty years to make an overnight success.”
