Al Ritz

{{Infobox comedian

| name = Al Ritz

| image = Al Ritz in The Gorilla 1939.jpg

| caption = Ritz in The Gorilla (1939)

| birth_name = Albert Joachim

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1901|08|27|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1965|12|22|1901|08|27|mf=y}}

| death_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| resting_place = Hollywood Forever Cemetery

| medium = {{hlist|Film|stage}}

| years_active = 1925–1965

| genre = Slapstick

}}

Al Ritz (born Albert "Al" Joachim; August 27, 1901 – December 22, 1965), was an American comedian, actor and entertainer. Ritz was the oldest of the Ritz Brothers.

Early life

Ritz was born Albert Joachim on August 27, 1901, in Newark, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0728867/?ref_=m_nmfm_nm|title=IMDb Entry|publisher=Internet Movie Database|accessdate=February 21, 2015}} Ritz had three brothers, George, Samuel (later "Jimmy Ritz"), and Harry, and a sister, Gertrude Soll.{{Citation |title=Vaudeville, Old & New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America |first1=Frank |last1=Cullen |first2=Florence |last2=Hackman |name-list-style=amp |first3=Donald |last3=McNeilly |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-93853-2 |page=935 }}.

Career

=Early career=

Ritz began his solo career shortly after he finished high school to join vaudeville.

=''The Ritz Brothers''=

After the three Joachim brothers graduated from high school, they decided to team up as a song-and-comedy act. The brothers began using the name "Ritz" for their nightclub act reportedly after seeing the name on the side of a laundry truck. With fourth brother George acting as their agent, the Ritz Brothers worked nightclubs and vaudeville. The act consisted of the trio indulging in precision dancing, tongue-twisting lampoons of popular stories and songs, and slapstick.

In 1934, the Ritz boys made their screen debut in the two-reel comedy Hotel Anchovy, which led to their being signed by 20th Century Fox as a specialty act. Sing, Baby, Sing (1936) was the first feature film to costar the Ritzes, and their first starring role followed a year later in Life Begins in College.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Ritz Brothers continued a wildly popular supper club and resort circuit and made their first appearances as TV guest stars.

Personal life

Ritz was married once, to Antoinette 'Annette' Calamari Ritz. They were married until his death. Ritz did not have any children.

Death

The Ritz Brothers were appearing at New Orleans' Roosevelt Hotel in December 1965 when Al died of a heart attack on December 22.{{Cite news|date=1965-12-23|title=Obituary for Al Ritz (Aged 64)|pages=3|work=Kenosha News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52261782/obituary-for-al-ritz-aged-64/|access-date=2021-04-13|via=Newspapers.com}}