208:, Vernon bounced around the country working whatever stand-up comedy jobs he could find, mostly in strip joints and hotel lounges. Even then he had a unique style, often cracking up members of the audience with his inside humor. He decided to give New York City a try, and he was often seen hanging around Hanson's Drug Store, a place where small-time comedians and acts in the theater section of New York would meet after making the rounds of agents who had their offices in the area. He was picked up by the manager of comedian Willie Weber. In 1963, Vernon was noticed while performing stand-up at a local nightclub in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where
340:, although he never got a reply or any acknowledgement of his letter-writing. After Vernon became famous and was making TV appearances, he eventually stopped writing to Chaplin. During an appearance in Las Vegas, the hotel management told him that Charlie Chaplin would be in the audience that night; Jackie asked if he could meet Chaplin. He was told that Chaplin was eating dinner right then in the restaurant. Vernon walked up to Chaplin's table, and as he started to introduce himself, Chaplin interrupted him, saying, "Of course, Jackie Vernon. Tell me: why did you stop writing?"
189:. After attending and graduating from high school, he attended City College before enlisting and serving in the U.S. Air Force. He began his career in 1955 with performing stand-up comedy in various small nightclubs and hotel lounges around the country, from New York, to Chicago, to Miami and Los Angeles.
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before and after the televised versions. Vernon's signature deadpan expression and delivery often had the roast audiences laughing hysterically, long before the punch line of the jokes. On
December 6, 1972, one of Vernon's recorded concerts was released, which was titled
319:, a record-album recording of his first stand-up routine of sex jokes. Vernon's X-rated story-style jokes about people engaging in extreme sexual depravity became legend, often with the added tag line, "and I thought to myself... what a neat guy!"
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One of his early bits was the "Vacation Slide Show." There were no slides visible; they were presumably off-screen as he described them, using a hand-clicker to advance to each "slide":
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A typical joke of Vernon's: "We lived in a small town built on a one-way street. If you miss it, you have to drive all the way around the world to get back."
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161:; March 29, 1924 – November 10, 1987) was an American stand-up comedian and actor who was best known for his role as the voice of Frosty the Snowman in the
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into a house pet. Plagued by strange occurrences and misfortune, Jackie would tell of traveling all the way to see the
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Vernon said that for the first few years after starting standup in the 1950s, he would write letters to his hero,
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Vernon was known for his gentle, low-key delivery and self-deprecating humor. He has been hailed as "The King of
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and other variety shows, where he often ended his act by blowing a cornet and saying, "I think I hurt myself!"
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Vernon was also known to perform unique and darker sketches, such as his ultimately tragic attempt to turn a
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and his violin, it was seldom actually played. When he guested on a summer variety program hosted by
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that were a staple of 1970s television, as well as being a fixture on the dais at the original live
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in 1965, he came on with his cornet and said, "I play like I'm Hirt." He was a popular figure on
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Vernon was married to Hazel Sawyer. They had three children: David, Lisa, and Tracey.
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was in attendance, and he invited Vernon to appear on his late-night television show,
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Vernon also supplied the voice of the title character of the popular family friendly
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since its debut. He later reprised the voice in two more Rankin-Bass specials:
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During the 1960s, Vernon occasionally worked as the opening act for both
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563:(1986) - Phlegmatic Jack (episode: "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed")
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Vernon's wife, Hazel, died on March 21, 2006, at the age of 77.
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Vernon also memorably starred in Wayne
Berwick's 1979 cult film
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594:"Jackie Vernon, 62; Comic in Television, Film and Nightclubs"
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Jackie Vernon was born Ralph
Verrone on March 29, 1924, in
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with him as a prop during his stand-up routines. As with
260:(click) Here I am, under the car, looking for the coins.
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in a monologue and begin with, "Hello, prison fans."
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257:(click) Here I am, tossing coins at the toll booth.
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602:. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013
361:(1969), which has been broadcast annually on
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685:"Vernon, Stage and TV Comedian, Dies at 63"
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94:Years active
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450:That's Life
443:Filmography
412:Discography
405:at age 63.
371:(1976) and
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223:Dean Martin
210:Steve Allen
206:Dick Brooks
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181:Early life
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43:1924-03-29
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377:(1979).
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