Bobby Breen - Songs At Yuletide
"My mother is in pictures, You've seen her on the screen. She gave chicken pox to Alan Ladd And mumps to Bobby Breen." Excerpt from " Ode from a Germ's Eye Viewpoint " by Percy Dovetonsils (aka Ernie Kovacs) I first encountered the genius of Ernie Kovacs on my local PBS station in 1977. In those days, my brothers and I would place a tape recorder next to the speakers of the TV, record the audio, and listen to it repeated in lieu of a VCR. I quoted this poem frequently, placing the same emphasis on "Bobby BREEN" they way Percy Dovetonsils did. That was the first time I became aware of someone named Bobby Breen. Curiosity got the the better of me and I went to my local library to consult its newest collection of World Book Encyclopedias. Breen was born in Canada and made his way to Hollywood as a youngster. His first big break was several appearances singing on Eddie Cantor's radio show in the late 30s. His natural soprano voice s...