A Catskills Oldie But Goodie: Jay Jason, the Comedian's Comedian

If you were a guest (or waiter or busboy) at the Concord, Grossinger's, Nevele, Kutsher's, Raleigh, Pines, the Laurels, the Granit, or Tamarack Lodge during the 1950's to 1990's, you probably saw Jay Jayson entertaining on the big stage in the hotel nightclubs.

Jason, who changed his name from Jonas Levy after spending two years at the University of Rochester, became a regular comedian at all the big Catskills hotels. Jason's humor had self-deprecating aspects, and all subjects were grist for his comedy routines. 

He also impersonated celebrities such as Alfred Hitchcock, Jackie Mason, Jack Benny, Maurice Chevalier, Rudolph Valentino, Jimmy Stewart, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Arthur Godfrey, and Franklin Roosevelt, and he also did voice-overs for cartoon characters.

In this 12 minute segment from his 90 minute routine, we see Jason in folksy conversation with the band leader, showing his talent as a ventriloquist, delivering some classic jokes and one-liners, and doing some of his impersonations, including Jackie Mason and Jack Benny.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)