Pinky Lee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pinky Lee
Lee in Lady of Burlesque, 1943
Born	Pincus Leff (1907-05-02)May 2, 1907 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	April 3, 1993(1993-04-03) (aged 85) Mission Viejo, California, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupation	Burlesque comic actor host
Years active	1937–1979
Spouse(s)	Bebe Dancis Lee ​ (m. 1932)​
Children	2

Pincus Leff (born May 2, 1907 – died April 3, 1993) was an American entertainer. He was better known as Pinky Lee. He was a funny performer in burlesque shows and an actor. Many people remember him as the host of The Pinky Lee Show, a children's TV program in the 1950s.

Pinky Lee's Early Life and Career

Pinky Lee was born as Pincus Leff in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He started his career in the 1920s in a type of live show called vaudeville. In 1925, he joined a dancing act called Boderick & Felsen. He quickly became a featured tap dancer. People often saw his name in ads and reviews for the show.

He toured with this act throughout 1925. In early 1926, he left to become "Pinky Lee." He became a "baggy pants" comic on stage. This meant he wore funny, loose clothes. He was very good at slapstick, which is a type of comedy with silly physical actions. He also did funny dances and told quick jokes in the burlesque style. In the 1940s, you could hear him on radio shows like Drene Time.

Pinky Lee was easy to spot because of his special lisp when he talked. He also had a lot of energy! His famous costume was a bright plaid suit with baggy checkered pants and a small hat. When someone bothered him during his acts, he would often say his famous line: "Oooooh! You make me so mad!"

Pinky Lee on Television

In 1950, Pinky Lee had his own 30-minute TV show on NBC. It was called The Pinky Lee Show. This show featured other performers from vaudeville and burlesque. From 1951 to 1952, he also starred with Vivian Blaine in a short TV comedy called Those Two.

He returned to TV on January 4, 1954, with a new The Pinky Lee Show. This was a children's show sponsored by Tootsie Roll. It was a very popular afternoon show for kids. It even inspired later shows like Pee-Wee's Playhouse. His show was on right before the famous Howdy Doody Show.

Pinky Lee started each show with his well-known theme song, "Yoo Hoo, It's Me!":

Yoo hoo, it's me,
My name is Pinky Lee.
I skip and run bring lots of fun
To every he and she.
It's plain to see
That you can tell it's me
With my checkered hat
And my checkered coat,
The funny giggle in my throat
And my silly dance
Like a billy goat.
Put 'em all together,
Put 'em all together,
And it's whooooo?
(Audience): PINKY!!!!!

Many other people were part of the show's cast. These included Betty Jane Howarth, Jimmy Brown, Molly Bee, and Sidney Fields. The show's music was led by Gaylord Carter, who played the organ. He made sure every moment had the right music.

On September 20, 1955, Pinky Lee became sick during a live show and fell down. Because he was always so energetic, the camera person and director thought it was part of his act. The audience, mostly children, kept cheering. After about ten seconds, the camera moved to show the cheering audience. Pinky Lee was not on the show for the next few days. This event led to him leaving his main role on the show. The show continued without him until June 9, 1956.

For many years, there were false rumors that he had died or had serious health problems because of this incident. But Pinky Lee continued to perform and live for many more years.

In 1957, Lee hosted The Gumby Show. This was the first time the famous clay animation character, Gumby, appeared on TV. In 1963, Pinky Lee tried to return to kids' TV. He hosted a local children's comedy show in Los Angeles. This show was shown across the country in 1964–65. However, there were disagreements about how the show should be made. The Pinky Lee Kids TV Show ended after one season.

Lee appeared on TV again in 1983. He was on NBC's Yummy Awards, a fun show that celebrated the best children's TV programs.

Pinky Lee in Movies and Theatre

You can see Pinky Lee in several movies. These include Lady of Burlesque, Earl Carroll Vanities, and Pals of the Golden West. He also appeared on other TV shows, like Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town.

In the late 1980s, Lee performed in live theatre shows across the U.S. He was in plays like Sugar Babies.

Pinky Lee's Family Life

Pinky Lee was married to Bebe Dancis. They had two children together, Patricia Bonnie Lee and Morgan David Lee. Pinky Lee's brother-in-law was Al Sherman, a well-known songwriter. Pinky Lee was also the uncle of the famous songwriting team, the Sherman Brothers, Robert and Richard. He sometimes worked with them in the 1950s.

Later Years and Passing

In his later years, Pinky Lee worked as a teacher. He also continued to perform in musical theatre plays. He passed away in 1993 in Mission Viejo, California. He was buried at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pinky Lee's Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Pinky Lee's Legacy

Pinky Lee's style and performances helped inspire the character of Pee-wee Herman.