AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Ed Wynn

Artist:Ed Wynn f/Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke

Song:I Love To Laugh

Album:Mary Poppins: 2-Disc Special Edition Soundtrack

Ed Wynn started out in vaudeville. He was a radio pioneer with his Perfect Fool character in the 30s. He got into films in the 40s. He worked quite a bit for Walt Disney. He is probably best remembered for playing Uncle Albert in the 1964 film Mary Poppins. He was born Isiah Edwin Leopold Nov. 9, 1886 in Philadelphia. His parents were Jewish immigrants. His father was from Romania. His mother was from Turkey. Wynn ran away from home at age 15 and eventually landed in vaudeville. He adapted his middle name to Ed Wynn so his parents wouldn't be embarrassed that their son was a lowly comedian. Wynn was a star in the Ziegfeld Follies beginning in 1914. He created a lot of his own characters which was not unusual in vaudeville. He created The Perfect Fool for a 1921 revue. While still writing and performing on the stage, he created the radio show The Fire Chief. This very popular show led to Wynn's attempt to start his own radio network. This failed miserably and left Wynn deep in debt. He turned down the role of The Wizard in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. So did W.C. Fields. Frank Morgan played the role. Wynn was simply more comfortable performing on stage in front of a live audience. That's how he liked doing radio and TV too. His son actor Keenan Wynn introduced him to Walt Disney. And that's how he got to do the voice of The Mad Hatter in the 1951 film Alice in Wonderland. He did several more Disney films including Mary Poppins. His son convinced him to try dramatic acting in the 1956 live Playhouse 90 broadcast of Requiem for a Heavyweight. Wynn was terrified and he kept flubbing his lines in rehearsal. So the producers had Ned Glass shadow him in case Wynn needed help. But he did great and it got him other dramatic roles. I highly recommend you watch this show on YouTube. Wynn was also nominated for a Golden Globe for the 1958 film The Great Man. I Love to Laugh is Wynn's big song in Mary Poppins. The soundtrack is available in a 2CD special edition at a budget price. Wynn continued to appear in films and TV until his death on June 19, 1966 at age 79. Here's Ed Wynn featuring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke performing I Love to Laugh in the 1964 film Mary Poppins.