Riff Markowitz
Encyclopedia
Rafael Markowitz (born 1938) is the managing director, MC and co-founder (along with Mary Jardin) of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
, which performs at the historic Plaza Theatre
in downtown Palm Springs
, California, United States. He is also a writer, television producer and director.
for a year, then secured a job as a radio announcer in the north of Canada before moving into television. He created and produced a number of television shows in Canada, including The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
, Party Game
and Bluff
. He was also a producer on The Wolfman Jack Show
, and creator and executive producer of the HBO TV series The Hitchhiker.
He moved to Palm Springs in his 50s intending to retire, but his continuing interest in theatre led to the offer to restore a vaudeville theatre, which became home to The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
.
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was the subject of a short documentary titled "Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies" which was nominated for an Academy Award...
, which performs at the historic Plaza Theatre
Plaza Theatre (Palm Springs)
The Plaza Theatre is a historic theater located at 128 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, California. Today, the theatre remains operational as the home of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies who have been featured on ABC’s 20/20, The Today Show, the New York Times, and other national and...
in downtown Palm Springs
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is a desert city in CaliforniaPalm Springs may also refer to:* Palm Springs, Florida* Palm Springs, Hong Kong, a residential development in Yuen Long, Hong Kong* Coachella Valley, also known as the Palm Springs area...
, California, United States. He is also a writer, television producer and director.
Biography
Markowitz was born in New York but grew up in Toronto. He ran away from home at the age of 15, worked as a clownClown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
for a year, then secured a job as a radio announcer in the north of Canada before moving into television. He created and produced a number of television shows in Canada, including The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
The Hilarious House of Frightenstein was a Canadian children's television series produced by Hamilton, Ontario's independent station CHCH-TV in 1971. It was syndicated to television stations across Canada and the United States and occasionally still appears today in some television markets...
, Party Game
Party Game (game show)
Party Game was a Canadian television game show in the 1970s, produced by Hamilton independent station CHCH-TV from 1970 to 1981. It aired throughout Canada in syndication, broadcast on 32 stations at its peak....
and Bluff
Bluff (TV series)
Bluff was a Canadian television game show hosted by Mike Darrow which aired on CBC Television on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 between October 6, 1976 and April 27, 1977. Produced by Riff Markowitz and co-ordinating producer was Jack Budgell....
. He was also a producer on The Wolfman Jack Show
The Wolfman Jack Show
The Wolfman Jack Show was a Canadian variety television series which aired on CBC Television from 1976 to 1977, and syndicated to stations in the US.-Premise:...
, and creator and executive producer of the HBO TV series The Hitchhiker.
He moved to Palm Springs in his 50s intending to retire, but his continuing interest in theatre led to the offer to restore a vaudeville theatre, which became home to The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was the subject of a short documentary titled "Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies" which was nominated for an Academy Award...
.