Joe Franklin (1926-2015): A Tribute from a Friend

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Joe Franklin
(1926-2015)
A Tribute from a Friend

By Richard Holbrook for Cabaret Scenes

Joe-Franklin-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine

Joe Franklin not only was a radio and television legend, but I also knew him to be a very nice, kind, generous man, and a very good friend. Show business was his life, but he also loved people and always was sincerely interested in what each and every person was doing, a too-rare quality among people today. Joe seemed to be always on the go – darting from one place to another from one event to another. Ubiquitous!! That’s what Joe was!! Whenever he was at an event in New York City, it seemed so right for him to be there. He was synonymous with New York and the entertainment world. When you saw him at those events, it seemed all was right with the world and it would continue to spin on its axis.

Joe's office
Joe’s office

Growing up in the Bronx, Joe began his career early as a radio writer for such entertainers as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, and Kate Smith. He was given credit for creating the talk show format. For almost a half-century, from 1950 until 1993, he hosted The Joe Franklin Show on New York’s WOR-TV, the longest continuous on-the-air talk show – longer than Johnny Carson. Throughout those 43 years on television, he interviewed such show-biz celebrities as Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Andy Warhol, Bruce Springsteen and Robin Williams.

Debbie Reynolds (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Debbie Reynolds
(Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Joe and Conan O'Brien (NBC)
Joe and Conan O’Brien
(NBC)

I grew up watching Joe on his talk show in the late sixties and quickly became a fan. For me, he was a true and enthusiastic supporter of talent and loved going to see live performances. When I performed, he would quite regularly be there, and was very complimentary about my shows. Each time we saw each other, it was as if no time had passed and we’d pick up from where we left off.
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Appearing on his radio program, as I did a few times, was a ball. Last spring, when my friend, Frank Torren was performing at Don’t Tell Mama, Joe and I were sitting next to each other. I had just come back to New York after being ill and Joe, true to his nature, was very solicitous of me and concerned about my health. I assured him that I was doing great and felt terrific. In addition to his soft drink, he ordered a container of mixed nuts to nibble and would push them over to share them with me. That was Joe!! When the show ended, Joe and I embraced and we promised to keep in touch and get together soon. That was to be the last time I saw him.

Richard-Holbrook-Joe-Franklin-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine
Richard Holbrook and Joe (Roberta Zlokower/RobertaOnThe Arts.com)

On this past New Year’s Night, Joe was Grand Marshal of the Guinness World Record’s “Longest Variety Show Ever,” playing uninterruptedly at The Metropolitan Room over four days. A few weeks later, when a friend called his office, Joe answered the phone himself. Only those closest to him knew the gravity of his condition. On Saturday, January 24, my friend, Joe Franklin, died at the age of 88, leaving a legacy of memories and memorabilia, and a legion of adoring colleagues, fans and friends.
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What a blessing he was, to me and to all those who knew and loved him!!
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We will never see the likes of him again.