Episode #153: Janine Taninbaum & Michael Ritz (Harry Ritz) (Part One)

Rarified Heir Podcast

Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we bring you part one of our interview w/ the children of zany comedian Harry Ritz, Janna Taninbaum & Michael Ritz. The reason this became a two part episode was because of some terrible technical issues which forced us to abort our initial conversation and pick it up two days later. What’s that old showbiz adage, “Never give a sucker an even break?” No, that’s not it, it’s “The show must go on” and true to their showbiz roots, Janna and Michael did just that. And we thank them for it.

For many of you, the Ritz Brothers were a comedy/dance team that has been spoken about in hushed tones for years but unless you were born before the Johnson Administration, you likely haven’t had the chance to see the Ritz Brothers perform. Due to many strange and offbeat scenarios, we get into why that’s the case on this episode. But in their day, the Ritz Brothers were not only wildly popular but were some of the highest paid performers in the world. Different than the Marx Brothers, The Ritz Brothers were essentially Harry Ritz who was THE comedian other comedians influenced. From Jerry Lewis to Don Rickles to Mel Brooks, everyone said Harry Ritz was the funniest, wackiest comedian they ever saw. So let’s right some wrongs here and talk about the best and funniest comedy team you perhaps have never seen, The Ritz Brothers. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story. Sometimes two!