Al Shean

Abraham Elieser Adolph Schönberg[1][2][3][4][5] (12 May 1868 – 12 August 1949), known as Al Shean, was a comedian and vaudeville performer. Other sources give his birth name variously as Adolf Schönberg, Albert Schönberg, or Alfred Schönberg.[6] He is most remembered for being half of the vaudeville team Gallagher and Shean, and as the uncle of the Marx Brothers.[7]

Al Shean
Shean in The Blue Bird (1940 film)
Born
Abraham Elieser Adolph Schönberg

(1868-05-12)12 May 1868
Dornum, Province of Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia,
North German Confederation
Died12 August 1949(1949-08-12) (aged 81)
Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Other namesAdolf Schönberg
Alfred Schönberg
Albert Schönberg
OccupationComedian
Vaudevillian
Years active1912–1944
Spouse(s)Johanna Davidson
Children1
RelativesMinnie Schönberg (sister)
The Marx Brothers (nephews)

Biography
Al Shean, Sam J. Curtis, Arthur F. Williams, Ed C. Mack - The Original Manhattan Comedy Four in "It's Nudding" 1898-99

Shean was born in Dornum, Germany, on 12 May 1868, the son of Fanny and Levi or Louis Schoenberg. His father was a magician. His sister, Minnie, married Sam "Frenchie" Marx; their sons would become known as the Marx Brothers.

After making a name for himself in vaudeville, Shean teamed up with Edward Gallagher to create the act Gallagher and Shean. While the act was successful, the men apparently did not like each other much. After their act's final Ziegfeld Follies pairing, Shean went on to perform solo in eight Broadway shows, even playing the title character in Father Malachy's Miracle.

Shean had some solo film roles: as the piano player, known as "The Professor" in San Francisco (1936), as a priest in Hitler's Madman (1943), as grandfather in The Blue Bird (1940), and in some three dozen other films. He and Gallagher also made an early sound film at the Theodore Case studio in Auburn, New York, in 1925.[8]

He died on 12 August 1949.[9]

Legacy

Shean's son, also named Al Shean, worked on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

Shean is reputed to have written the Marx Brothers' first (moderately) successful vaudeville sketch on butcher paper at Minnie & Frenchie's kitchen table one night while he was visiting.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1934 Music in the Air Dr. Walter Lessing Film debut
1935 Traveling Saleslady Schmidt
Page Miss Glory Mr. Hamburgher
1936 The King Steps Out Ballet Master Uncredited
San Francisco The Professor
1937 The Road Back Markheim
The Prisoner of Zenda Orchestra Leader Uncredited
Rosalie Herman Schmidt Uncredited
1938 Too Hot to Handle Gumpert Uncredited
The Great Waltz Cellist Uncredited
1939 Broadway Serenade Herman
1940 The Blue Bird Grandpa Tyl
1941 Ziegfeld Girl Al
1943 Hitler's Madman Father Cemlanek
Crime Doctor Dave - Convict Uncredited
1944 Atlantic City Himself Final film

See also

References
  1. Mitchell, Glenn (2003). The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia. Reynolds & Hearn. p. 258. ISBN 1-905287-11-9.
  2. "The Marx Brothers Family". Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  3. "Abraham Elieser Adolf SCHONBERG". FamilySearch International Genealogical. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  4. Vaudeville, old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performers. Frank Cullen,Florence Hackman,Donald McNeilly. 2007. ISBN 9780415938532. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  5. Louvish, Simon (2000). Monkey Business.The Lives and Legends of the Marx Brothers. St. Martin's Press. p. 471. ISBN 0-312-25292-7.
  6. Mitchell, Glenn (2003). The Marx Brothers Encyclopedia. London: Reynolds & Hearn. p. 258. ISBN 1-905287-11-9.
  7. "Al Shean, Old Vaudeville Star, Is 80. 'Absolutely, Mr. Gallagher,' He's Doing Fine". The New York Times. May 12, 1948. Retrieved 2014-11-29. Al Shean of Gallagher Shean fame, will celebrate his eightieth birthday today, but -- "absolutely, Mr. Gallagher" -- he does not consider it a noteworthy event.
  8. "Gallagher and Shean". CBX Media. 2003-11-19. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
  9. "Al Shean Rites Held, 150 in Theatrical Field Attend Service for Veteran Trouper". The New York Times. August 16, 1949. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
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