George Gobel
George Leslie Gobel (
May 20,
1919 -
February 24,
1991) was an American
comedian, born in
Chicago, Illinois, and known as
Lonesome George. He appeared on the
American Barn Dance on
WLS radio, and also in several
movies. He hosted his own weekly television show in
1954, and in later years appeared regularly on
Hollywood Squares. For decades he was a frequent guest star on many TV shows as well as on
The Tonight Show during the years
Johnny Carson was its host.
His comedy routines were mainly humorous stories about things that had supposedly happened to him (and his wife "Alice"), and they often involved word play, such as spoonerisms ("in one swell foop"). He also played harmonica.
George Gobel is interred in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California.
The giant turtle Lonesome George was named after him.