Cue the rim-shot, because Jack Carter is in the house. Best known as the purveyor of rapid fire jokes in the best Vegas tradition, Jack was also a fine singer, dancer, and actor with numerous stage and screen credits to his name. Early on he claimed a bit of television history as an early host of both the Texaco Star Theater and the Cavalcade of Stars. Those gigs earned him his own show on NBC which was the lead in to Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca's Your Show of Shows. A tireless performer, Jack was a mainstay at the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and on game shows (Password, The Match Game), as well as continuing with stand up appearances well in to his 80s. A comedy historian once referred to Jack's style as 'slick, fast, and furious" -- an apt description and one worthy of a 21 rim shot salute! As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.
Want more Carter?
This is a treat -- Jack's full routine on the Ed Sullivan Show from back in the days when television was in glorious black and white. This is a good intro to Jack's style. https://dai.ly/x2w04mb
With a rapid fire style, it's no wonder that Jack was a favorite at the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts -- here he ostensibly roasts Monty Hall, but it's the other panelists who take most of the fire, https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1kx411e7aK/
Jack was a television pioneer and for a while his own variety show was the lead in to Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca's legendary "Your Show of Shows". At a school reunion Jack was called on for some memories those times and he sure delivered. https://youtu.be/DqIbXfTF708?si=Oprzg0A0MBN-D6ke