The Ritz Brothers

Profession

Actor, Soundtrack

First teamed up as an official dance act in 1925, performing a show on local stages that mocked a then-popular comic strip called "Harold Teen․"
Started out as dancers, with Al winning a series of ballroom dancing prizes in Brooklyn
Best known as a comedy team who appeared in films and live performances for more than 30 years
By 1929 they were in the big leagues of vaudeville and had adopted a theme song called "Collegiate․"
Signed a contract with Darryl F․ Zanuck after Zanuck saw them perform at the Clover Club on Hollywood's Sunset Strip
After being told that their family name, Joachim, couldn't be used on billboards, they picked the name Ritz off a passing laundry truck
One of their favorite acts involved Harry standing in the middle of Al and Jimmy singing "The Man in the Middle Is the Funny One․"

Fast Facts