George Gobel; Career Began With Song, Grew With Comedy

LOS ANGELES - Crew cut, down-home comedian George Gobel, who began performing as a child and turned his song-and-dance act into a 60-year career in show business, died yesterday (Feb. 24). He was 71.

He died at Encino Hospital of complications after bypass surgery to the major artery in his left leg, said Sam Honigberg, a longtime friend.

Mr. Gobel had been in the hospital periodically for five weeks since the operation, Honigberg said.

Mr. Gobel made his debut at age 11 singing on the WLS Barn Dance radio revue in his native Chicago. He continued to sing and play the guitar on radio and at county fairs and appeared regularly on ``The Tom Mix Show.''

He joined the Army Air Corps during World War II and served as a B-26 pilot instructor, entertaining his Army buddies with humor he began to introduce into his singing and guitar act, Honigberg said.

After the war, Mr. Gobel began to appear in night clubs and hotels.

His break came after 40 appearances on the ``Garry Moore Show'' and seven on NBC's ``Saturday Night Revue.''

``The George Gobel Show'' premiered on NBC in 1954 and became an instant hit. He won an Emmy in 1954 for Outstanding New Personality.

Mr. Gobel also made numerous Broadway appearances, including ``Three Men on a Horse'' and ``Let It Ride.''

Younger audiences will remember him as a regular on ``Hollywood Squares'' and ``The Tonight Show'' in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Mr. Gobel is survived by his wife of 40 years, to whom he fondly referred as ``spooky old Alice;'' a son, Gregg; two daughters, Georgia Bryan and Leslie McIntosh, and three grandchildren.