Oh no! Jackie Mason, gone at 93

This from the NY Post and then a small bit of Jackie below.

Famed Borscht Belt comedian Jackie Mason, who rose from a modest childhood on the Lower East Side to become one of the most famous funnymen of all time, has died. He was 93.

“We shall never see his like again. This was a mold that was broken,” an emotional Felder said. “We’re going to miss him.”

Mason was born in Sheboygan, Wis., to immigrant parents from Belarus. The family moved to Manhattan when little Yacov Moshe Maza, as he was then known, was just 5-years old, according to The New York Times, which first reported his death.

An ordained rabbi, Mason was frequently stopped on the street wherever he went, and always took the time to listen, Felder said.

“He spoke to everybody and listened to their troubles,” recalled Felder, who wrote a series of books with Mason. “He used to listen to all the waiters’ complaints.”

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Known for his “Borscht Belt” style of comedy, often seen in the era of Catskill summer resort entertainment, Mason’s trademark was continuing that kind of performance style long after the resorts were mere memories.

The doctors and nurses attending to Mason, who had been hospitalized for two weeks and three days, wept when he died, Felder said.

“They were all fans of his. They were all crying,” he said. “He was like a shooting star that comes every 100 years.”

“I think the world has lost a very unique individual.”

Jewish guy at a restaurant -

Comments

[Regina Montana]

Such sad news. A great comedian who made so many laugh. He’ll be very missed! Hope to meet you in heaven Jackie!!