Bert Gordon (comedian)

Barney Gorodetsky was born in Manhattan. In the early part of his career he performed in School Days sketches with Gus Edwards' troupe, and in a comedy group called Nine Crazy Kids. His big break came in 1930, when performing in the George and Ira Gershwin musical Girl Crazy in New York. When actor Gregory Ratoff bought the rights to the show and gave up performing, Gordon took his role as the "Mad Russian".^[1]

From 1935 he was a regular on The Eddie Cantor Program, and later Camel Caravan, maintaining his "Mad Russian" character. He also appeared on The Jack Benny Program, and The Abbott and Costello Program. In 1945 he starred in his own film vehicle, How Doooo You Do!!!, directed by Ralph Murphy; the film takes its title from Gordon's distinctive way of introducing himself, which became a catch phrase in the early 1940s. Gordon also appeared in films including New Faces of 1937, Outside of Paradise (1941) and Sing for Your Supper (1941).^[1]

After the end of the Second World War, and start of the Cold War, western audiences did not appreciate fake Russian characters, and Gordon's popularity diminished.^[1] Finally, Gordon played himself in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1964 along with several other radio-era performers.^[2]

He died in California in 1974 at the age of 79.^[1]

• Madison Square Garden (1932)
• She Gets Her Man (1935)
• The Affair of Susan (1935)
• New Faces of 1937 (1937)
• Outside of Paradise (1938)
• Sing for Your Supper (1941)
• Laugh Your Blues Away (1942; second billing)
• Let's Have Fun (1943; top billing)
• How Doooo You Do!!! (1945; top billing)