Frank Fontaine (April 19, 1920 – August 4, 1978) was an American stage, radio, film and television comedian, singer, and actor.
His father, Ray Fontaine, of French-Canadian descent, was a popular vocalist whose career in Canada resulted in his being compared to Bing Crosby.
Fontaine's goofball laugh and other vocal mannerisms made a hit with the audience, and Benny brought him back for several more radio shows between 1950 and 1952.
[9] The program featured four other members of Fontaine's family in addition to singer Helen O'Connell and announcer Harry von Zell.
Frye owned the Snader Telescriptions library of three-minute musicals filmed for television, and wanted to edit them into half-hour programs.
Fontaine's role was to stand in front of a theater curtain, offer a comic monologue, and then introduce each filmed performance as though the artists were taking the stage in person.
"[8] Fontaine used the same comic character familiar from the Jack Benny radio show, complete with bug-eyed grin, goofy voice, and silly laugh.
[citation needed] Frank Fontaine's character voice was easily recognizable and inspired a host of imitations.
[17] Actor Lennie Weinrib imitated the "Crazy Guggenheim" character on The Dick Van Dyke Show episode "The Sam Pomerantz Scandals" (1963).
Fontaine received mention in satirist Tom Lehrer's 1965 song "National Brotherhood Week", from the album That Was the Year That Was.
[citation needed] In the live show, Lehrer mentioned National Make-Fun-of-the-Handicapped Week, "Which Frank Fontaine and Jerry Lewis are in charge of, as you know".
[citation needed] Fontaine continued to reside in his home state of Massachusetts, and appeared in nightclubs and on television.
[18] In early August 1978, Fontaine was in Spokane, Washington, to perform at the Eagles International convention,[19] headlining its Vaudeville Night with Arthur Godfrey and Corbett Monica at the Opera House on Friday, August 4, and was scheduled to lead the parade through the city the following afternoon as grand marshal.