Larry Markes
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Wolcott Markes was an American
who provided joke
s, sketches, song
s and screenplay
s during a career that lasted more than 50 years.
Markes was born in Brooklyn
, New York
, and decided at an early age to become a writer. Soon after graduating from the University of Miami
, he started setting lyrics
to the melody
of another young songwriter, Dick Charles. Their first hit was "Mad About Him, Sad About Him, How Can I Be Glad Without Him Blues" (1942), which Dinah Shore
recorded successfully for Columbia Records
.
During World War II
, Markes was in the US Army Air Corps. He left the service in 1945, returning to New York and his songwriting collaboration with Charles. They wrote "Along the Navajo Trail
", with Eddie De Lange, which was recorded by Bing Crosby
and the Andrews Sisters, Dinah Shore
and the Gene Krupa Band
. Other songs included "I Tipped My Hat (and Slowly Rode Away)," "It Takes a Long, Long Train with a Red Caboose to Carry My Blues Away," and "May You Always
."
Markes also began writing continuity for radio programmes.
After moving to Los Angeles
, California
in the 1960s, he turned to screenwriting, including the film
s For Love or Money
(1963), and Wild and Wonderful (1965), which starred Tony Curtis
. He also wrote for television series Bonanza
, Love American Style, McHale's Navy
, The Flintstones
, Room for One More, My Three Sons, The Jonathan Winters Show and I Dream of Jeannie
.
During Ronald Reagan
's two terms as Governor of California
(1966–1974), Markes added humour into his political speeches.
Markes died in Los Angeles in May 1999, at the age of 77.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who provided joke
Joke
A joke is a phrase or a paragraph with a humorous twist. It can be in many different forms, such as a question or short story. To achieve this end, jokes may employ irony, sarcasm, word play and other devices...
s, sketches, song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s and screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
s during a career that lasted more than 50 years.
Markes was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and decided at an early age to become a writer. Soon after graduating from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, he started setting lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
to the melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
of another young songwriter, Dick Charles. Their first hit was "Mad About Him, Sad About Him, How Can I Be Glad Without Him Blues" (1942), which Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
recorded successfully for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Markes was in the US Army Air Corps. He left the service in 1945, returning to New York and his songwriting collaboration with Charles. They wrote "Along the Navajo Trail
Along the Navajo Trail (song)
"Along the Navajo Trail" is a country/pop song, written by Dick Charles , Larry Markes, and Edgar De Lange in 1945.It has been recorded by many artists, including:*Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters*Duane Eddy...
", with Eddie De Lange, which was recorded by Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and the Andrews Sisters, Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
and the Gene Krupa Band
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
. Other songs included "I Tipped My Hat (and Slowly Rode Away)," "It Takes a Long, Long Train with a Red Caboose to Carry My Blues Away," and "May You Always
May You Always
"May You Always" is a popular song by Larry Markes and Dick Charles , published in 1959.The biggest hit version in the United States was by The McGuire Sisters ; in the United Kingdom, by Joan Regan . The song was also subsequently covered by Bobby Vinton and Maureen Evans...
."
Markes also began writing continuity for radio programmes.
After moving to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the 1960s, he turned to screenwriting, including the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s For Love or Money
For Love or Money (1963 film)
For Love or Money is a 1963 romantic comedy film starring Kirk Douglas, Mitzi Gaynor and Thelma Ritter.-Plot summary:Lawyer Donald Kenneth "Deke" Gentry is given the task of playing matchmaker for the three daughters of his wealthy client Chloe Brasher .-Cast:* Kirk Douglas as Donald Kenneth...
(1963), and Wild and Wonderful (1965), which starred Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
. He also wrote for television series Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, Love American Style, McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy is an American television sitcom series which ran for 138 half-hour episodes from October 11,1962, to August 31, 1966, on the ABC network. The series was filmed in black and white and originated in a one-hour drama called Seven Against the Sea, broadcast on April 3, 1962...
, The Flintstones
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
, Room for One More, My Three Sons, The Jonathan Winters Show and I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie is a 1960s American sitcom with a fantasy premise. The show starred Barbara Eden as a 2,000-year-old genie, and Larry Hagman as an astronaut who becomes her master, with whom she falls in love and eventually marries...
.
During Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's two terms as Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
(1966–1974), Markes added humour into his political speeches.
Markes died in Los Angeles in May 1999, at the age of 77.