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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.

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Al Ritz
Ritz in The Gorilla (1939)
Birth name	Albert Joachim
Born	(1901-08-27)August 27, 1901 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	December 22, 1965(1965-12-22) (aged 64) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Medium	Film stage
Years active	1925–1965
Genres	Slapstick

Early life

Ritz was born Albert Joachim on August 27, 1901, in Newark, New Jersey.[1] His father, Max Joachim (December 1871–January 4, 1939) owned a haberdashery while his mother, Pauline Joachim (May 1874–November 26, 1935) was a housewife. Ritz's father was a native of Austria-Hungary and his mother was born in Russia.[2] Ritz had three brothers, George, Samuel (later "Jimmy Ritz"), and Harry, and a sister, Gertrude Soll.[3]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[4] He is buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. His wife, Antoinette 'Annette' Calamari Joachim was interred besides him upon her death on January 30, 1992. [5]

Filmography

Year	Movie
1934	Hotel Anchovy
1936	Sing, Baby, Sing
1937	Cinema Circus
1937	One in a Million
1937	On the Avenue
1937	You Can't Have Everything
1937	Life Begins in College
1937	Ali Baba Goes to Town
1938	The Goldwyn Follies
1938	Kentucky Moonshine
1938	Straight Place and Show
1939	The Three Musketeers
1939	The Gorilla
1939	Pack Up Your Troubles
1940	Argentine Nights
1942	Behind the Eight Ball
1943	Hi'ya, Chum
1943	Show-Business at War
1943	Never a Dull Moment
1956	Brooklyn Goes to Las Vegas

References

External links

• Al Ritz at IMDb
• Al Ritz at Find a Grave

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