The Bronx-born host started in television at its dawn in 1950. 'The Joe Franklin Show' welcomed a string of little-known actors, singers and comedians — from Barbra Streisand to Woody Allen — who went on to become megastars. Franklin died Saturday, reportedly of prostate cancer.
BY David Hinckley, NY Daily News
Like the demolition of Ebbets Field or Penn Station, Joe Franklin’s death Saturday took a little piece of New York with it.
Franklin, who was 88 and reportedly died of prostate cancer, wasn’t just a link to New York’s entertainment history. He was the spirit of the New York streets, the hard-working hustler who made it to the big time because it never occurred to him that he wouldn’t or couldn’t.
His late-night television show, from 1950 to 1962 on WJZ and then until 1993 on WOR, formed the core of the Joe Franklin legend.
It’s still in the “Guinness World Records” as the longest continuously running talk show in TV history.
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