Amsterdam Family History & Genealogy

Morey Amsterdam Born December 14, 1908 in Chicago, Illinois, USA Died October 27, 1996 in Los Angeles, California, USA (heart attack) Birth Name Moritz Amsterdam Nickname The Human Joke Machine Height 5' 8" (1.73 m) Born in Chicago, Morey Amsterdam started in vaudeville at the age of 14, as a straight man for his piano-playing brother. His father, a concert violinist who worked with the Chicago Opera and the San Francisco Symphony, wanted Morey to pursue a career in classical music but Morey had other plans. By the time he was 16, he was working at a Chicago speakeasy owned by Al Brown - better known as Al Capone. When he was caught in the middle of a shootout in the club one night, Amsterdam decided to seek safer bookings. He moved to California, where he became a writer and gag man for such stars as Fanny Brice, Jimmy Durante and Will Rogers. Morey would become known as the "Human Joke Machine" because he could tell a joke about any subject on request. In the 1930s and 1940s, he was on the radio, where his humor brought him fame and notoriety. He was also a songwriter, and some of his best known songs were "Why Oh Why Did I Ever Leave Wyoming?" and "Rum and Coca-Cola". By 1947, he had three different daily radio shows and comedian Fred Allen said, "The only thing I can turn on without getting Amsterdam is the faucet". His first TV show began as a radio program and carried over onto TV, "Stop Me If You've Heard This One" (1948). That same year, he hosted his own variety show, The Morey Amsterdam Show (1948), which ran until 1950. Amsterdam was the host of the talk show Broadway Open House (1950), the precursor to NBC's "The Tonight Show" in its various forms. His real fame, though, would come after he had spent almost four decades in the business, playing the part of wisecracking comedy writer "Buddy Sorrell" in the classic The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) along with Rose Marie and Van Dyke as writers for the fictional TV variety show "The Alan Brady Show". For Morey, who was reportedly able to recall up to 100,000 jokes, it was the role of a lifetime. After the show ended in 1966, he continued to play nightclub dates and make TV guest-star appearances on shows from The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965) to Caroline in the City (1995). His film career consisted mainly of of small roles in such films as Beach Party (1963) and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), although he did produce and star in Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966) and received good notices for his standout performance as a weaselly, double-crossing gangster who gets his just desserts in the Charles Bronson gangster film Machine-Gun Kelly (1958). - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tony Fontana

Max H Amsterdam of Fresh Meadows, Queens County, NY was born on August 12, 1915, and died at age 80 years old on March 30, 1996.

Bernard A Amsterdam of Miami, Miami-Dade County, FL was born on January 14, 1917, and died at age 78 years old on March 10, 1995.

Leo Amsterdam of Glen Oaks, Queens County, NY was born on April 21, 1914, and died at age 68 years old in June 1982.

Charles T Amsterdam of Manchester Township, Ocean County, NJ was born on August 2, 1915, and died at age 67 years old in September 1982.

Harvey C Amsterdam of Northbrook, Cook County, Illinois was born on March 13, 1919, and died at age 56 years old in April 1975.

Joan Amsterdam of Las Vegas, Clark County, NV was born on November 22, 1924, and died at age 78 years old on February 2, 2003. Joan Amsterdam was buried at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery Section K Site 777 1900 Buchanan Blvd., in Boulder City.

Alex Amsterdam of Las Vegas, Clark County, NV was born on October 12, 1925, and died at age 82 years old on March 24, 2008. Alex Amsterdam was buried at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery Section K Site 777 1900 Buchanan Blvd., in Boulder City.

Michael I Amsterdam of Tarrant County, TX was born circa 1951. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Michael I. Amsterdam.

Tracy Amsterdam of TX was born circa 1963. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Tracy (Jones) Amsterdam.

Chester G Amsterdam of Bronx County, New York United States was born circa 1926. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Chester G Amsterdam.

Michael F Amsterdam of United States was born circa 1921. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Michael F Amsterdam.

Riving B Amsterdam of Bronx County, New York United States was born circa 1915. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Riving B Amsterdam.

Albert J Amsterdam of Essex County, New Jersey United States was born circa 1922. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Albert J Amsterdam.

Samson Amsterdam of Ector County, Texas United States was born circa 1898. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Samson Amsterdam.

Clara Amsterdam of Takoma Park, Montgomery County, MD was born on April 28, 1905, and died at age 88 years old on June 22, 1993.

Arnold A Amsterdam was born on June 27, 1935, and died at age 57 years old on December 30, 1992. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Arnold A Amsterdam.

Maurice Amsterdam of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California was born on January 1, 1888, and died at age 93 years old in April 1981.

Edward Amsterdam of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California was born on March 6, 1903, and died at age 72 years old in November 1975.

Max M Amsterdam was born on October 25, 1949, and died at age 50 years old on December 11, 1999. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Max M Amsterdam.