Hillcrest Round Table

The Hillcrest Round Table, or "Comedian's Round Table", was a group of Jewish comedians who met daily at a particular round table at the Men's Grill of the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. The group included (from oldest to youngest):

* Al Jolson 1886-1950
* Chico Marx 1887-1961
* Harpo Marx 1888-1964
* Groucho Marx 1890-1977
* Eddie Cantor 1892-1964
* Gummo Marx 1892-1977
* Lou Holtz 1893-1980
* Jack Benny 1894-1974
* George Burns 1896-1996
* George Jessel 1898-1981
* Zeppo Marx 1901-1979
* Al Ritz 1901-1965
* Jimmy Ritz 1904-1985
* Harry Ritz 1907-1986
* Milton Berle 1908-2002
* Danny Kaye 1913-1987
* Danny Thomas 1914-1991

Arthur Marx wrote,

In the heyday of the Round Table, in the '40s, '50s and '60s, it was probably the most amusing place to lunch in all the world. Imagine sitting at a table with that group, each one trying to out-funny the other, and all but Harpo, Chico and Danny Kaye puffing on long, fragrant Havanas. If you didn't die laughing, you could have choked on the smoke." [Arthur Marx, "Ninety-eight-year-old George Burns Shares Memories of His Life" ("Cigar Aficionado", December 1, 1994)]

Each comedian had to have an actual membership in the country club. George Burns, the penultimate surviving member, was also one of the first in the group to join. His original membership fee was $300. [George Burns, with David Fisher, "All My Best Friends" (New York, 1989), p. 208]

With Milton Berle's death in 2002, all members had died.

References