Salute to Sig Arno

A salute today to German-Jewish comedic actor Sig Arno (Siegfried Aron, 1895-1975).

Originally from Hamburg, Arno started out as a stage comedian and began appearing in silent films as early as 1920. Of his nearly 100 German films, G.W. Pabst’sPandora’s Box (1929) with Louise Brooks remains the best known to Americans. Though he was was a star in his native country, Arno was forced to flee when Hitler came to power. He appeared in one Portuguese film Gado Bravo (1934) during this transitional period and finally made it to Hollywood by the end of the decade.

Perhaps his best loved role, as Toto in “The Palm Beach Story”

Though he was mostly a bit player in the States, Arno always stood out and had many memorable turns. And coming out of the starting gate, he was cast in films of enduring interest. One of the first was The Star Maker (1939) a bio-pic about Gus Edwards starring Bing Crosby, followed by the 1939 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Mummy’s Hand, also 1939. His many classic comedies and musicals include Chaplin’s The Great Dictator (1940), Olsen and Johnson’s Hellzapoppin’ (1941), Abbott and Costello’s Pardon My Sarong (1942), Over My Dead Body (1942) with Milton Berle, Preston Sturges’ The Palm Beach Story(1942 — as “Toto”!), Taxi, Mister (1943) with Joe Sawyer and William Bendix, DuBarry was a Lady (1943), Thousands Cheer (1943), Danny Kaye’s Up in Arms (1943), Song of the Open Road (1944), Bob Hope’s The Great Lover (1949), and Red Skelton’sThe Great Diamond Robbery (1954), among numerous other films.

In the ’50s he dabbled in television, appearing on The Red Skelton Hour, The Life of Riley, December Bride, and other programs.

On Broadway he was in the original production of Song of Norway (1944-46), Time Remembered (1957-58, for which he was nominated for a Tony), and The Cold Wind and the Warm (1958-59).

A 1961 television adaptation of Time Remembered was his final American professional credit, although he returned to his roots by hosting a variety show that was broadcast in Switzerland and West Germany in 1962.

For more on the history of show business,consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, for more on classic comedy please check out my book: Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube. And stay tuned for my upcomingElectric Vaudeville: A Century of Radio and TV Variety.