Milton Berle's memorial service
Story and photos
by
Mark Masek
Hillside Memorial Park - April 1, 2002
While the assembled press gathered behind a roped-off area
Maybe in honor of "Mr. Television," all his fans stayed
home to watch the reports of the memorial service on TV.
When the service started, the cemetery security
people invited the few fans and the assembled press to sit in an
area behind the chapel, where we could get a better look at the
service.
The eulogies were delivered by Norm Crosby, Jan Murray (left),
Red Buttons, Don Rickles, Larry Gelbart and Richard Moll (best known
as "Bull" from "Night Court," and Berle's son-in-law). Now, be
honest. When you read those names, how many times did you think,
"Him? I thought he was already dead."
Rickles, Murray and Buttons (right) were pretty funny in their comments.
Most made fun of Berle's reputation for stealing jokes, and his
fear of being caught in a draft and catching a cold. In fact,
his coffin was draped with the overcoat he always wore. There
were, however, no comments about Berle's legendary appendage.
Rickles also joked about the "cheap yarmulkes" that
were given to friends and family at the service. They had
little white stickers inside that said, "In Memoriam, Milton Berle,
July 12, 1908 - March 27, 2002" (photo below).
Other mourners included - and please hold the
shouts of "I thought they were already dead" until the end - Sid
Caesar (left), Rose Marie, Jayne Meadows, Ruta Lee, Buddy Hackett
(below right), Martin Landau, Fyvush Finkel, Army Archard,
Tom Poston, Connie Stevens, Tom Dressen, Ed Begley Jr., Larry Miller
and Jackie Cooper.
I guess they were following the old show-biz adage - "If you don't show up for someone's funeral, don't expect them to show up for yours."
A few highlights:
The "cheap yarmulke," with the little
white sticker inside that said, "In Memoriam, Milton Berle,
July 12, 1908 - March 27, 2002."
"What did you pay for all of these? About a buck
and a half?" Rickles asked the widow during his eulogy.
Back to main page