The Strip (1951)

Born in New York, USA. He began his career as a child magician in tent shows, later appearing in vaudeville. In 1923 he teamed with composer Harry Ruby in a creative partnership that produced words and music for nine Broadway musicals and several films, including five Marx Brothers vehicles (ANIMAL CRACKERS, 1930; HORSE FEATHERS, 1932; DUCK SOUP, 1933; A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA, 1946; and COPACABANA, 1947). They also collaborated on many of the scripts. Kalmar also wrote the theme song for Groucho Marx's TV show, "You Bet Your Life." Kalmars's songs were also used in EVERYBODY SING (1938), THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE (1939) and SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959). Some of Kalmar & Ruby's notable unnominated pop songs include "Baby Face," "Hooray for Captain Spaulding," "I Wanna Be Loved by You," "Nevertheless I'm in Love with You," "Oh What a Pal Was Mary," "This Heart of Mine," "Three Little Words" and "Who's Sorry Now." In the romanticized film biography of the duo, THREE LITTLE WORDS (1950), Kalmar was portrayed by Fred Astaire.  Nominated for Music Best Song 1951: THE STRIP "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" - Music & Lyric (w. Harry Ruby & Oscar Hammerstein II) 1 nomination