Harold "Hal" Block was the middle child and only son of Max N. Block and Sarah Osherman. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, he attended Western Military Academy, before matriculating into University High School. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the University of Chicago, earning a Ph.B. in 1935. While in school, he was a decent sprinter and was the captain and co-captain of the varsity track team in high school and university, respectively. He served on the editorial staff of several student publications. At UChicago, he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, the Blackfriars, and the Dramatical Association. He studied law for two years before moving to New York City to pursue comedy writing full time.
Beginning in 1937 (or, as some source say, 1935), Hal's facile typewriter produced the jokes and skits which helped build the reputations of such funny men as Phil Baker, Abbott and Costello, Ken Murray, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Eddie Cantor, Red Skelton, Olsen and Johnson, Burns and Allen, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Ed Wynn, and others. By 1942, he was one of the highest paid gag writers and radio producers working in Hollywood, where he also served as a "script doctor" for radio and film. He added humor to the script for the Constance Moore film "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now" (1940) and collaborated with Olsen and Johnson to open "Sons O' Fun" on Broadway in 1942.
During WWII, he worked for the USO and the United States Office of War Information (OWI), penning material to entertain the troops as well as sell war bonds or raise money for the American Red Cross. In 1943, he was hand-picked by Col. Ed Kirby and dispatched to London to write material for the BBC and assist visiting comedians in bridging the British-American humor (or humour) divide. He spent several weeks touring with Bob Hope's troupe in the UK, Mediterranean, and North African theaters, and, through sheer force of personality, became the only gag writer to shake hands and get an autograph from General Eisenhower.
After the war, Hal resumed writing and producing radio shows, working primarily with Milton Berle on the quiz show Take it or Leave It and The Milton Berle Show, Ed Wynn, Vaughn Monroe, and various variety shows, including The Texaco Star Theater. He was a contributing columnist to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Chicago Daily News; hosted his own radio program on WJZ; and moderated the short-lived panel show "Tag the Gag" in 1951.
Although he was openly critical of game shows, Hal became a panelist on "What's My Line" in 1950. Hired to inject humor and levity into an otherwise dry format, he did the job a little too well and proved to be controversial. He was dismissed from the program in 1953, but has since been credited with playing a pivotal role in keeping the show afloat in its early years. Although "What's My Line" is often considered Hal's first gig as a performer, he actually made his debut in 1940 when he filled in as George Burns's "Brother Willie" in an episode of the Burns and Allen radio show.
By 1954, Hal had returned to his hometown of Chicago, where he would remain for the rest of his life. After a couple of failed attempts at working in front of the camera, most notably on WGN, he stepped back behind the scenes and returned to writing and producing. He worked on the Original Amateur Hour program with Ted Mack in the 1950s, emceed at various fundraising events, and worked in advertising. He kept his name in the society pages into the 1970s and proved he was still handy with a quip during his late-night appearances at the establishments along Rush Street.
** While his grave marker gives his birth year as 1914, Hal's birth certificate recorded in Cook County, Illinois, confirms he was born on August 3, 1913. **
Beginning in 1937 (or, as some source say, 1935), Hal's facile typewriter produced the jokes and skits which helped build the reputations of such funny men as Phil Baker, Abbott and Costello, Ken Murray, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Eddie Cantor, Red Skelton, Olsen and Johnson, Burns and Allen, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Ed Wynn, and others. By 1942, he was one of the highest paid gag writers and radio producers working in Hollywood, where he also served as a "script doctor" for radio and film. He added humor to the script for the Constance Moore film "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now" (1940) and collaborated with Olsen and Johnson to open "Sons O' Fun" on Broadway in 1942.
During WWII, he worked for the USO and the United States Office of War Information (OWI), penning material to entertain the troops as well as sell war bonds or raise money for the American Red Cross. In 1943, he was hand-picked by Col. Ed Kirby and dispatched to London to write material for the BBC and assist visiting comedians in bridging the British-American humor (or humour) divide. He spent several weeks touring with Bob Hope's troupe in the UK, Mediterranean, and North African theaters, and, through sheer force of personality, became the only gag writer to shake hands and get an autograph from General Eisenhower.
After the war, Hal resumed writing and producing radio shows, working primarily with Milton Berle on the quiz show Take it or Leave It and The Milton Berle Show, Ed Wynn, Vaughn Monroe, and various variety shows, including The Texaco Star Theater. He was a contributing columnist to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Chicago Daily News; hosted his own radio program on WJZ; and moderated the short-lived panel show "Tag the Gag" in 1951.
Although he was openly critical of game shows, Hal became a panelist on "What's My Line" in 1950. Hired to inject humor and levity into an otherwise dry format, he did the job a little too well and proved to be controversial. He was dismissed from the program in 1953, but has since been credited with playing a pivotal role in keeping the show afloat in its early years. Although "What's My Line" is often considered Hal's first gig as a performer, he actually made his debut in 1940 when he filled in as George Burns's "Brother Willie" in an episode of the Burns and Allen radio show.
By 1954, Hal had returned to his hometown of Chicago, where he would remain for the rest of his life. After a couple of failed attempts at working in front of the camera, most notably on WGN, he stepped back behind the scenes and returned to writing and producing. He worked on the Original Amateur Hour program with Ted Mack in the 1950s, emceed at various fundraising events, and worked in advertising. He kept his name in the society pages into the 1970s and proved he was still handy with a quip during his late-night appearances at the establishments along Rush Street.
** While his grave marker gives his birth year as 1914, Hal's birth certificate recorded in Cook County, Illinois, confirms he was born on August 3, 1913. **
Harold "Hal" Block was the middle child and only son of Max N. Block and Sarah Osherman. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, he attended Western Military Academy, before matriculating into University High School. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the University of Chicago, earning a Ph.B. in 1935. While in school, he was a decent sprinter and was the captain and co-captain of the varsity track team in high school and university, respectively. He served on the editorial staff of several student publications. At UChicago, he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, the Blackfriars, and the Dramatical Association. He studied law for two years before moving to New York City to pursue comedy writing full time.
Beginning in 1937 (or, as some source say, 1935), Hal's facile typewriter produced the jokes and skits which helped build the reputations of such funny men as Phil Baker, Abbott and Costello, Ken Murray, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Eddie Cantor, Red Skelton, Olsen and Johnson, Burns and Allen, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Ed Wynn, and others. By 1942, he was one of the highest paid gag writers and radio producers working in Hollywood, where he also served as a "script doctor" for radio and film. He added humor to the script for the Constance Moore film "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now" (1940) and collaborated with Olsen and Johnson to open "Sons O' Fun" on Broadway in 1942.
During WWII, he worked for the USO and the United States Office of War Information (OWI), penning material to entertain the troops as well as sell war bonds or raise money for the American Red Cross. In 1943, he was hand-picked by Col. Ed Kirby and dispatched to London to write material for the BBC and assist visiting comedians in bridging the British-American humor (or humour) divide. He spent several weeks touring with Bob Hope's troupe in the UK, Mediterranean, and North African theaters, and, through sheer force of personality, became the only gag writer to shake hands and get an autograph from General Eisenhower.
After the war, Hal resumed writing and producing radio shows, working primarily with Milton Berle on the quiz show Take it or Leave It and The Milton Berle Show, Ed Wynn, Vaughn Monroe, and various variety shows, including The Texaco Star Theater. He was a contributing columnist to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Chicago Daily News; hosted his own radio program on WJZ; and moderated the short-lived panel show "Tag the Gag" in 1951.
Although he was openly critical of game shows, Hal became a panelist on "What's My Line" in 1950. Hired to inject humor and levity into an otherwise dry format, he did the job a little too well and proved to be controversial. He was dismissed from the program in 1953, but has since been credited with playing a pivotal role in keeping the show afloat in its early years. Although "What's My Line" is often considered Hal's first gig as a performer, he actually made his debut in 1940 when he filled in as George Burns's "Brother Willie" in an episode of the Burns and Allen radio show.
By 1954, Hal had returned to his hometown of Chicago, where he would remain for the rest of his life. After a couple of failed attempts at working in front of the camera, most notably on WGN, he stepped back behind the scenes and returned to writing and producing. He worked on the Original Amateur Hour program with Ted Mack in the 1950s, emceed at various fundraising events, and worked in advertising. He kept his name in the society pages into the 1970s and proved he was still handy with a quip during his late-night appearances at the establishments along Rush Street.
** While his grave marker gives his birth year as 1914, Hal's birth certificate recorded in Cook County, Illinois, confirms he was born on August 3, 1913. **
Beginning in 1937 (or, as some source say, 1935), Hal's facile typewriter produced the jokes and skits which helped build the reputations of such funny men as Phil Baker, Abbott and Costello, Ken Murray, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Eddie Cantor, Red Skelton, Olsen and Johnson, Burns and Allen, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Ed Wynn, and others. By 1942, he was one of the highest paid gag writers and radio producers working in Hollywood, where he also served as a "script doctor" for radio and film. He added humor to the script for the Constance Moore film "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now" (1940) and collaborated with Olsen and Johnson to open "Sons O' Fun" on Broadway in 1942.
During WWII, he worked for the USO and the United States Office of War Information (OWI), penning material to entertain the troops as well as sell war bonds or raise money for the American Red Cross. In 1943, he was hand-picked by Col. Ed Kirby and dispatched to London to write material for the BBC and assist visiting comedians in bridging the British-American humor (or humour) divide. He spent several weeks touring with Bob Hope's troupe in the UK, Mediterranean, and North African theaters, and, through sheer force of personality, became the only gag writer to shake hands and get an autograph from General Eisenhower.
After the war, Hal resumed writing and producing radio shows, working primarily with Milton Berle on the quiz show Take it or Leave It and The Milton Berle Show, Ed Wynn, Vaughn Monroe, and various variety shows, including The Texaco Star Theater. He was a contributing columnist to Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Chicago Daily News; hosted his own radio program on WJZ; and moderated the short-lived panel show "Tag the Gag" in 1951.
Although he was openly critical of game shows, Hal became a panelist on "What's My Line" in 1950. Hired to inject humor and levity into an otherwise dry format, he did the job a little too well and proved to be controversial. He was dismissed from the program in 1953, but has since been credited with playing a pivotal role in keeping the show afloat in its early years. Although "What's My Line" is often considered Hal's first gig as a performer, he actually made his debut in 1940 when he filled in as George Burns's "Brother Willie" in an episode of the Burns and Allen radio show.
By 1954, Hal had returned to his hometown of Chicago, where he would remain for the rest of his life. After a couple of failed attempts at working in front of the camera, most notably on WGN, he stepped back behind the scenes and returned to writing and producing. He worked on the Original Amateur Hour program with Ted Mack in the 1950s, emceed at various fundraising events, and worked in advertising. He kept his name in the society pages into the 1970s and proved he was still handy with a quip during his late-night appearances at the establishments along Rush Street.
** While his grave marker gives his birth year as 1914, Hal's birth certificate recorded in Cook County, Illinois, confirms he was born on August 3, 1913. **
Gravesite Details
Hal is buried in the family plot with his parents and oldest sister.
