Born Irving Berlin Kalmar, he was the son of the legendary composer, lyricist, and writer, Bert Kalmar, and the vaudeville entertainer, Jessie Brown Kalmar. The namesake of his father's close friend, Irving Berlin, he later used the name Bert Kalmar, Jr., and was nicknamed "Bigs".
He was a part-time motion picture actor. His death certificate showed his occupation as "song writer" in show business. He never married.
Family History:
His father was born as Albert Kalvarinsky, son of Charles Kalvarinsky (1842-1906) and Julia (Eichberg) Kalvarinsky (1846-1901); Albert was found on the 1900 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his parents and his older sister, Pearl. Effective on January 20, 1906, Albert Kalvarinsky's name was legally changed to Bert Kalmar [New York Times; Wednesday, December 27, 1905, Page 11, Legal Notices]. Kalmar worked in vaudeville where he appeared on stage as a magician, comedian, and dancer before switching to songwriting after a knee injury ended his performing career. During those early years, he and entertainer Jessie Brown formed the vaudeville song-and-dance team of Kalmar & Brown. Bert married Jessie, daughter of James Smith Brown and Agnes Aitken, on September 20, 1910 [likely in San Francisco]. The pair caused a stir in California's vaudeville community when they disappeared from Oakland, where they were performing on the Orpheum circuit; they had eloped, married, and traveled to Los Angeles to honeymoon, much to the consternation of the bride's mother who wanted her daughter to pursue her career exclusively [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 30, 1910; Page 19]. Bert and Jessie were married until his death on September 17, 1947. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Bert and Jessie's son, later known as Bert ("Bigs") Kalmar, Jr. (1913-1997), was born as Irving Berlin Kalmar, the namesake of his father's close friend, Irving Berlin. Irving B. Kalmar, age 6, was found on the 1920 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his father. Bert and Jessie's daughter, Margaret ("Peggy") Inez Kalmar, was found on the 1930 Census in Pelham, Westchester County, New York, with both parents and her considerably older brother, then called Bert, Jr. Peggy died as Margaret Kalmar Allison (1928-1964) in New Jersey. Both children became actors.
Bert and Jessie were never divorced. On Bert's death certificate, he was shown as married to Jessie Kalmar; both husband and wife lived at the same address; and his wife, Jessie Kalmar, was the informant. Jessie Brown Kalmar was listed as Bert's widow in his obituary [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 19, 1947; Page 12]. Jessie's given name was never Jessica; she was born as Jessie Brown. [The reports of a divorce and of Jessie's incorrect given name appeared in several publications.]
LOS ANGELES TIMES; Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California; Friday, September 22, 1933; Page 13; Hobnobbing in Hollywood with GRACE KINGSLEY:
"Heard on the Boulevard
The Hollywood man who said, "I've been married twenty-three years---but not to the same woman," isn't a bit like Bert Kalmar. . . .Bert and his pretty wife, the former Brown of Brown and Kalmar [sic-Kalmar & Brown], vaudeville headliners, have been married twenty-three years, and celebrated the event joyfully at the Vendome Wednesday night [September 20th], with dozens of their vaudeville and picture pals attending. . . . And did they introduce their handsome son, Bert, Jr., and Mrs. Kalmar's mother, Mrs. A. Klose, 82 [sic-84]! And she danced a hornpipe with her son-in-law and daughter!
And that anniversary cake---"Booked solid," its candy frosting read, "From 1910 to 1933." . . . That was a real marriage, sure enough. They were playing the Orpheum here[sic-in Oakland], and eloped to San Francisco to be married, against mother's wishes. "And," Bert chuckled, "she still says her daughter would have been the greatest living dancer if she hadn't given up career for home." . . . Guests included Harry Ruby and Mrs. Ruby, Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason, Bert Wheeler and Patty Parker, Robert Woolsey, Mr. and Mrs. Skeets Gallagher, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Selwyn, Lillian Sloane, Mr. and Mrs. Groucho Marx, Mr. and Mrs. Chico Marx, Jose Crespo, Wesley Ruggles and Arline Judge, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Millhauser; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Mack, Maurice Ravenes, Eddie Buzzell and Marian Marsh, Helen Twelvetrees and Frank Woody, Mrs. Frank Tinney, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Butterworth and many others. . . ." [This article was transcribed as it appeared; the dots represent style, not omissions.]
Family history and personal information contributed by R.Jeanne Moran, #48324361.
He was a part-time motion picture actor. His death certificate showed his occupation as "song writer" in show business. He never married.
Family History:
His father was born as Albert Kalvarinsky, son of Charles Kalvarinsky (1842-1906) and Julia (Eichberg) Kalvarinsky (1846-1901); Albert was found on the 1900 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his parents and his older sister, Pearl. Effective on January 20, 1906, Albert Kalvarinsky's name was legally changed to Bert Kalmar [New York Times; Wednesday, December 27, 1905, Page 11, Legal Notices]. Kalmar worked in vaudeville where he appeared on stage as a magician, comedian, and dancer before switching to songwriting after a knee injury ended his performing career. During those early years, he and entertainer Jessie Brown formed the vaudeville song-and-dance team of Kalmar & Brown. Bert married Jessie, daughter of James Smith Brown and Agnes Aitken, on September 20, 1910 [likely in San Francisco]. The pair caused a stir in California's vaudeville community when they disappeared from Oakland, where they were performing on the Orpheum circuit; they had eloped, married, and traveled to Los Angeles to honeymoon, much to the consternation of the bride's mother who wanted her daughter to pursue her career exclusively [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 30, 1910; Page 19]. Bert and Jessie were married until his death on September 17, 1947. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Bert and Jessie's son, later known as Bert ("Bigs") Kalmar, Jr. (1913-1997), was born as Irving Berlin Kalmar, the namesake of his father's close friend, Irving Berlin. Irving B. Kalmar, age 6, was found on the 1920 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his father. Bert and Jessie's daughter, Margaret ("Peggy") Inez Kalmar, was found on the 1930 Census in Pelham, Westchester County, New York, with both parents and her considerably older brother, then called Bert, Jr. Peggy died as Margaret Kalmar Allison (1928-1964) in New Jersey. Both children became actors.
Bert and Jessie were never divorced. On Bert's death certificate, he was shown as married to Jessie Kalmar; both husband and wife lived at the same address; and his wife, Jessie Kalmar, was the informant. Jessie Brown Kalmar was listed as Bert's widow in his obituary [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 19, 1947; Page 12]. Jessie's given name was never Jessica; she was born as Jessie Brown. [The reports of a divorce and of Jessie's incorrect given name appeared in several publications.]
LOS ANGELES TIMES; Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California; Friday, September 22, 1933; Page 13; Hobnobbing in Hollywood with GRACE KINGSLEY:
"Heard on the Boulevard
The Hollywood man who said, "I've been married twenty-three years---but not to the same woman," isn't a bit like Bert Kalmar. . . .Bert and his pretty wife, the former Brown of Brown and Kalmar [sic-Kalmar & Brown], vaudeville headliners, have been married twenty-three years, and celebrated the event joyfully at the Vendome Wednesday night [September 20th], with dozens of their vaudeville and picture pals attending. . . . And did they introduce their handsome son, Bert, Jr., and Mrs. Kalmar's mother, Mrs. A. Klose, 82 [sic-84]! And she danced a hornpipe with her son-in-law and daughter!
And that anniversary cake---"Booked solid," its candy frosting read, "From 1910 to 1933." . . . That was a real marriage, sure enough. They were playing the Orpheum here[sic-in Oakland], and eloped to San Francisco to be married, against mother's wishes. "And," Bert chuckled, "she still says her daughter would have been the greatest living dancer if she hadn't given up career for home." . . . Guests included Harry Ruby and Mrs. Ruby, Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason, Bert Wheeler and Patty Parker, Robert Woolsey, Mr. and Mrs. Skeets Gallagher, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Selwyn, Lillian Sloane, Mr. and Mrs. Groucho Marx, Mr. and Mrs. Chico Marx, Jose Crespo, Wesley Ruggles and Arline Judge, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Millhauser; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Mack, Maurice Ravenes, Eddie Buzzell and Marian Marsh, Helen Twelvetrees and Frank Woody, Mrs. Frank Tinney, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Butterworth and many others. . . ." [This article was transcribed as it appeared; the dots represent style, not omissions.]
Family history and personal information contributed by R.Jeanne Moran, #48324361.
Born Irving Berlin Kalmar, he was the son of the legendary composer, lyricist, and writer, Bert Kalmar, and the vaudeville entertainer, Jessie Brown Kalmar. The namesake of his father's close friend, Irving Berlin, he later used the name Bert Kalmar, Jr., and was nicknamed "Bigs".
He was a part-time motion picture actor. His death certificate showed his occupation as "song writer" in show business. He never married.
Family History:
His father was born as Albert Kalvarinsky, son of Charles Kalvarinsky (1842-1906) and Julia (Eichberg) Kalvarinsky (1846-1901); Albert was found on the 1900 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his parents and his older sister, Pearl. Effective on January 20, 1906, Albert Kalvarinsky's name was legally changed to Bert Kalmar [New York Times; Wednesday, December 27, 1905, Page 11, Legal Notices]. Kalmar worked in vaudeville where he appeared on stage as a magician, comedian, and dancer before switching to songwriting after a knee injury ended his performing career. During those early years, he and entertainer Jessie Brown formed the vaudeville song-and-dance team of Kalmar & Brown. Bert married Jessie, daughter of James Smith Brown and Agnes Aitken, on September 20, 1910 [likely in San Francisco]. The pair caused a stir in California's vaudeville community when they disappeared from Oakland, where they were performing on the Orpheum circuit; they had eloped, married, and traveled to Los Angeles to honeymoon, much to the consternation of the bride's mother who wanted her daughter to pursue her career exclusively [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 30, 1910; Page 19]. Bert and Jessie were married until his death on September 17, 1947. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Bert and Jessie's son, later known as Bert ("Bigs") Kalmar, Jr. (1913-1997), was born as Irving Berlin Kalmar, the namesake of his father's close friend, Irving Berlin. Irving B. Kalmar, age 6, was found on the 1920 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his father. Bert and Jessie's daughter, Margaret ("Peggy") Inez Kalmar, was found on the 1930 Census in Pelham, Westchester County, New York, with both parents and her considerably older brother, then called Bert, Jr. Peggy died as Margaret Kalmar Allison (1928-1964) in New Jersey. Both children became actors.
Bert and Jessie were never divorced. On Bert's death certificate, he was shown as married to Jessie Kalmar; both husband and wife lived at the same address; and his wife, Jessie Kalmar, was the informant. Jessie Brown Kalmar was listed as Bert's widow in his obituary [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 19, 1947; Page 12]. Jessie's given name was never Jessica; she was born as Jessie Brown. [The reports of a divorce and of Jessie's incorrect given name appeared in several publications.]
LOS ANGELES TIMES; Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California; Friday, September 22, 1933; Page 13; Hobnobbing in Hollywood with GRACE KINGSLEY:
"Heard on the Boulevard
The Hollywood man who said, "I've been married twenty-three years---but not to the same woman," isn't a bit like Bert Kalmar. . . .Bert and his pretty wife, the former Brown of Brown and Kalmar [sic-Kalmar & Brown], vaudeville headliners, have been married twenty-three years, and celebrated the event joyfully at the Vendome Wednesday night [September 20th], with dozens of their vaudeville and picture pals attending. . . . And did they introduce their handsome son, Bert, Jr., and Mrs. Kalmar's mother, Mrs. A. Klose, 82 [sic-84]! And she danced a hornpipe with her son-in-law and daughter!
And that anniversary cake---"Booked solid," its candy frosting read, "From 1910 to 1933." . . . That was a real marriage, sure enough. They were playing the Orpheum here[sic-in Oakland], and eloped to San Francisco to be married, against mother's wishes. "And," Bert chuckled, "she still says her daughter would have been the greatest living dancer if she hadn't given up career for home." . . . Guests included Harry Ruby and Mrs. Ruby, Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason, Bert Wheeler and Patty Parker, Robert Woolsey, Mr. and Mrs. Skeets Gallagher, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Selwyn, Lillian Sloane, Mr. and Mrs. Groucho Marx, Mr. and Mrs. Chico Marx, Jose Crespo, Wesley Ruggles and Arline Judge, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Millhauser; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Mack, Maurice Ravenes, Eddie Buzzell and Marian Marsh, Helen Twelvetrees and Frank Woody, Mrs. Frank Tinney, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Butterworth and many others. . . ." [This article was transcribed as it appeared; the dots represent style, not omissions.]
Family history and personal information contributed by R.Jeanne Moran, #48324361.
He was a part-time motion picture actor. His death certificate showed his occupation as "song writer" in show business. He never married.
Family History:
His father was born as Albert Kalvarinsky, son of Charles Kalvarinsky (1842-1906) and Julia (Eichberg) Kalvarinsky (1846-1901); Albert was found on the 1900 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his parents and his older sister, Pearl. Effective on January 20, 1906, Albert Kalvarinsky's name was legally changed to Bert Kalmar [New York Times; Wednesday, December 27, 1905, Page 11, Legal Notices]. Kalmar worked in vaudeville where he appeared on stage as a magician, comedian, and dancer before switching to songwriting after a knee injury ended his performing career. During those early years, he and entertainer Jessie Brown formed the vaudeville song-and-dance team of Kalmar & Brown. Bert married Jessie, daughter of James Smith Brown and Agnes Aitken, on September 20, 1910 [likely in San Francisco]. The pair caused a stir in California's vaudeville community when they disappeared from Oakland, where they were performing on the Orpheum circuit; they had eloped, married, and traveled to Los Angeles to honeymoon, much to the consternation of the bride's mother who wanted her daughter to pursue her career exclusively [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 30, 1910; Page 19]. Bert and Jessie were married until his death on September 17, 1947. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. Bert and Jessie's son, later known as Bert ("Bigs") Kalmar, Jr. (1913-1997), was born as Irving Berlin Kalmar, the namesake of his father's close friend, Irving Berlin. Irving B. Kalmar, age 6, was found on the 1920 Census in Manhattan, New York, New York, with his father. Bert and Jessie's daughter, Margaret ("Peggy") Inez Kalmar, was found on the 1930 Census in Pelham, Westchester County, New York, with both parents and her considerably older brother, then called Bert, Jr. Peggy died as Margaret Kalmar Allison (1928-1964) in New Jersey. Both children became actors.
Bert and Jessie were never divorced. On Bert's death certificate, he was shown as married to Jessie Kalmar; both husband and wife lived at the same address; and his wife, Jessie Kalmar, was the informant. Jessie Brown Kalmar was listed as Bert's widow in his obituary [Los Angeles Times; Friday, September 19, 1947; Page 12]. Jessie's given name was never Jessica; she was born as Jessie Brown. [The reports of a divorce and of Jessie's incorrect given name appeared in several publications.]
LOS ANGELES TIMES; Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California; Friday, September 22, 1933; Page 13; Hobnobbing in Hollywood with GRACE KINGSLEY:
"Heard on the Boulevard
The Hollywood man who said, "I've been married twenty-three years---but not to the same woman," isn't a bit like Bert Kalmar. . . .Bert and his pretty wife, the former Brown of Brown and Kalmar [sic-Kalmar & Brown], vaudeville headliners, have been married twenty-three years, and celebrated the event joyfully at the Vendome Wednesday night [September 20th], with dozens of their vaudeville and picture pals attending. . . . And did they introduce their handsome son, Bert, Jr., and Mrs. Kalmar's mother, Mrs. A. Klose, 82 [sic-84]! And she danced a hornpipe with her son-in-law and daughter!
And that anniversary cake---"Booked solid," its candy frosting read, "From 1910 to 1933." . . . That was a real marriage, sure enough. They were playing the Orpheum here[sic-in Oakland], and eloped to San Francisco to be married, against mother's wishes. "And," Bert chuckled, "she still says her daughter would have been the greatest living dancer if she hadn't given up career for home." . . . Guests included Harry Ruby and Mrs. Ruby, Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason, Bert Wheeler and Patty Parker, Robert Woolsey, Mr. and Mrs. Skeets Gallagher, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Selwyn, Lillian Sloane, Mr. and Mrs. Groucho Marx, Mr. and Mrs. Chico Marx, Jose Crespo, Wesley Ruggles and Arline Judge, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Millhauser; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Mack, Maurice Ravenes, Eddie Buzzell and Marian Marsh, Helen Twelvetrees and Frank Woody, Mrs. Frank Tinney, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Butterworth and many others. . . ." [This article was transcribed as it appeared; the dots represent style, not omissions.]
Family history and personal information contributed by R.Jeanne Moran, #48324361.
Bio by: AJ
