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Susan Chatzky

An Original Funny Lady!

April 24, 2023 by Christine Pasqueralle

The Jean Carroll Story as Told by her Granddaughter Susan Chatzky

Susan Chatzky  Photos by Carolyn Simpson

When you think of some of the most famous women in comedy, what names come to mind? Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin, Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, Margaret Cho…the list goes on and on. But what if I told you there’s one woman who helped pave the way for them, and chances are you may not have heard her name before? Jean Carroll was one of the first female comedians who was able to “break through” the male-dominated world of comedy. Her life and story is a fascinating one–and even helped inspire the hit show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

I had the chance to speak about Carroll and her lasting legacy with her granddaughter and Briarcliff Manor resident, Susan Chatzky.

Jean Carroll was born Celine (Sadie) Zeigman in Paris in 1911. Her family soon emigrated to the US, settling in the Bronx. Unfortunately, her home life was far from perfect. Her father suffered from alcoholism and abused her mother. Carroll resolved that she would be the one to save her mother and never be indebted to a man. At the age of 12, she began singing and dancing on the Vaudeville circuit as a way to earn money and support her family. Because she essentially became the “breadwinner” of the family, Carroll was able to force her father to move out of the house, making sure her mother and siblings no longer had to put up with any of his abuse.

Chatzky has fond memories of Carroll, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 98. “When you spoke with her, she would tell you that the minute she was told she couldn’t do something she would say ‘well that’s ridiculous’ and wasn’t going to stand for it. She just found certain things unacceptable and behaved as if everyone else did as well until she got her way.” Her foray into Vaudeville was all to support and protect her family. “She realized they would have to eat and pay rent, so she made sure the bills were paid.”

On the Variety circuit Carroll was a part of various “Man/Woman” acts in which the duo would exchange comedic banter between song and dance numbers. Eventually Carroll met Buddy Howe and the two formed an act before getting married. When Howe was drafted in World War II, Carroll continued performing on her own. Even when Howe came back, he encouraged her to have her own act and became her manager. Howe would go on to form his own talent agency, running what would eventually become ICM. As Chatzky remarks, “It was good for him that she was doing well­–she was one of his first clients. Her talent created the opportunity for him.”

Carroll’s comedy style and delivery was certainly revolutionary for the time. Most female comics would create dowdy characters, making themselves the joke. Chatzky says, “That’s how women were allowed to take up space in a male-dominated world–and Carroll was not having that.” She was the first “beautiful” comedian in the sense that she went for full glam–makeup, ballgowns, shoes and more, rather than feel the need to hide behind a caricature.

Carroll’s style of comedy and her appearance helped inspire the creators of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel! One of the writers was a fan of Carroll’s and was inspired by the way she spoke and the outfits she wore. Chatzky says, “The show created an aesthetic based on those women (Carroll, Rivers, Tomlin)–they are beautiful and that is who they are. They’re not making themselves the joke.”

After many years of performing in nightclubs and theaters around the country, Carroll made her debut on The Ed Sullivan Show (then known as Toast of the Town) in 1948. She would go on to appear on the show more than 20 times. This led to her own TV series that ran for one season in 1953–The Jean Carroll Show also known as Take it from Me.

Chatzky sees Carroll as a trailblazer, but not just in the field of comedy and entertainment. “I think it’s wonderful she opened things up in entertainment for women. The fact she was a woman who early on was pro-Israel, pro-choice, a Democrat–she fought for women to be equal and independent before it was the norm to fight for these things. She had a platform and a voice because of who she was and wasn’t afraid to use it.”

FAMILY PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUSAN CHATZKY

Carroll also made it a point to take care of her extended family. She wanted to make sure her grandchildren, nieces and nephews all had opportunities that she didn’t have such as finishing high school and attending college. She built a home in the Catskills and made sure it was big enough for everyone to visit and have a place to stay. Carroll made sure everyone was well-provided. She also never stopped learning–even taking college courses in Spanish and computer science when she was in her 80’s, just for fun. As Chatzky states, “She said, ‘I need to learn how to use a computer and Spanish is the language of our future.’”

As for Chatzky, she makes her home in Briarcliff Manor and is married to Deputy Mayor Peter Chatzky. She is currently on the Executive Board for the Center for Safety and Change in Rockland County, helping women and children faced with domestic abuse move into new homes She is also a rape crisis counselor and helps foster kittens for the SPCA. Some of Chatzky’s favorite things about Briarcliff Manor is its great location and proximity to the river, its trains, parks and library.

“We have so much to offer here,” she says. Reflecting on Carroll’s legacy, she tells a story of Henny Youngman famously stealing a joke from Carroll. “She went nuts–she talked to the press about it and wouldn’t stand for it. At the time, you don’t see your mother or grandmother as cool when they’re doing something like that, but I’m so glad she didn’t let it go.”

Carroll paved the way for many and stood her ground at a time when that wasn’t always the norm–and we can all be a little bit thankful for that.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Briarcliff Manor, Family Legacy, Jean Carroll, Susan Chatzky, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Woman Comedian

Comic Relief Plus Support for Planned Parenthood of Hudson Peconic

March 5, 2017 by Inside Press

Comedy Night Event Chair Susan Chatzky during her keynote talk which also featured clips from the work of her grandmother, comedian Jean Carroll

Story and Photos by Grace Bennett

An all evening January fundraiser featured a line up of wonderful women comedians and a male emcee who took no prisoners during a time when unique Planned Parenthood faces dire challenges. Headlined “Dirty Mouths Dirty Martinis Comedy Night,” the packed event in Irvington raised much needed funds for Planned Parenthood of Hudson Peconic, and was chaired by Susan Chatzky of Briarcliff Manor. I caught up with Chatzky post-even to ask her about the eve’s purpose and goals:

1. Why a Comedy Night as a theme during a time when Planned Parenthood is under attack?

SUSAN: I love stand-up comedy. It’s probably in my blood. My grandmother was a comedienne and my grandfather was Dean of The Friars Club in NYC. To me, it’s the most honest art form. I wanted to start a tradition of comedy fundraisers for Planned Parenthood. Last year we hosted a reading of The Vagina Monologues and people loved it. This year I waited until the anniversary of my Grandmother’s birth (and death 1/7/1911-1/1/2010) and had a stand up night in her honor. We’re going to make it an annual event…People who support Planned Parenthood already know what we do and the challenges we’re facing. I just want to show them a good time in exchange for their support.

2. Tell us more about why you opened the evening featuring your grandmother. Not hard to see why; I thought she was awesome, but do tell.

SUSAN: Thank you! I think she was awesome too! My grandmother was born in Paris 1/7/1911. Her family emigrated to the US in 1913. She started working in vaudeville when she was 13 as a dancer. When she would mess up or get lost, she would tell a joke. Then it became a thing. She and my grandfather, Buddy Howe, had an act together, when he went into the Army she kept it going on her own. When he got back, they realized she was better as a one-woman show.

Buddy became her manager and agent and went on to become CEO of ICM in the 1970’s. Jean was the first woman to earn $10,000 for an appearance on Sullivan!Jean was a progressive, liberal, Democrat. She spent her time and her money contributing to causes she believed in. She taught me to do the same.

3. Can you clarify what is at stake right now and why fundraisers for Planned Parenthood are critical at this juncture.

SUSAN: With Republicans in all three branches of our Executive Government, there’s little doubt that Medicaid will no longer cover Planned Parenthood health centers. This is what they mean by “defunding” us; we don’t get a blank check; we get paid by Medicaid for the services we provide. Roughly one third of our patients are on Medicaid.

Even with those Medicaid payments, we need to fundraise, because Medicaid payments do not fully cover the cost of the services. We also turn away no one. People should know that Medicaid doesn’t cover abortion services. Every abortion is paid for by the patient, or if she’s unable, Planned Parenthood will use donated funds.

4. What are your goals for the funds raised for the immediate future?

SUSAN: The comedy event was to raise funds for Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, the healthcare provider, and help women and men access high quality healthcare whenever they need it. The 10 Planned Parenthood centers in our affiliate. It is a C3 and has no political ties.

We are also beefing up security in light of the current political climate. Since the 2015 shooting (at a Planned Parenthood Center) in Colorado Springs, we’ve become very sensitive to the need to protect our patients and staff.

President Trump et al have also promised to defund us, meaning we’d no longer have access to title 10 funding or Medicaid reimbursement. Planned Parenthood would then have to fundraise to continue to provide care for people who would otherwise not be able to afford it.

On the political side, but having nothing to do with our C3, we hope to strengthen and update New York State law and bring it in line with Roe V Wade. The Reproductive Health Act affirms that NYS law recognizes a fundamental right of privacy and equality which will protect New Yorkers from hostile laws aimed at severely limiting abortion access providers.

 

 https://www.facebook.com/pg/InsideChappaquaMagazine/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154891703608669

 

 

Filed Under: Armonk Community Tagged With: Comedy, Comedy Night, night, Planned Parenthood of Hudson Peconic, special, Susan Chatzky

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