Edwin Jack Fisher (August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor. He was one of the most popular artists during the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show, The Eddie Fisher Show. Actress Elizabeth Taylor was best friends with Fisher's first wife, actress Debbie Reynolds. The couple divorced in 1959 when it was revealed shortly after Taylor's third husband, Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash, that Fisher had been having an affair with her. The affair was a great public scandal, which led to the cancellation of Eddie Fisher's television show. Fisher and Taylor married that same year. The scandalous affair that Fisher and Taylor had been having while each was already married was widely reported and brought unfavorable publicity to both Fisher and Taylor. Approximately five years later, he and Taylor divorced and he later married Connie Stevens. Fisher is the father of Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, whose mother is Reynolds, and the father of Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher, whose mother is Stevens.
Early life
Fisher was born in Philadelphia on August 10, 1928, the fourth of seven children born to Gitte Kathrine "Kate" Tisch (née Minicker, later Stup; c. 1901–1991) and Joseph Fisher (né Tisch; 1900–1972), both Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. His father's surname was originally Tisch, but was changed to Fisher by the time of the 1940 census. To his family, Fisher was always called "Sonny Boy", a nickname derived from the song of the same name in Al Jolson's film The Singing Fool (1928). His siblings were Sidney, Nettie, Miriam, Janet, Alvin, and Eileen. Kate and Joseph divorced when Fisher was an adult, after 33 years of marriage, and Kate married Max Stup.
Fisher attended Thomas Junior High School, South Philadelphia High School, and Simon Gratz High School. It was known at an early age that he had talent as a vocalist, and he started singing in numerous amateur contests, which he usually won. He made his radio debut on WFIL, a local Philadelphia radio station. He also performed on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a popular radio show that later moved to television. Because he became a local star, Fisher dropped out of high school in the middle of his senior year to pursue his career.
Career
By 1946, Fisher was crooning with the bands of Buddy Morrow and Charlie Ventura. He was heard in 1949 by Eddie Cantor at Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel in the Borscht Belt. Cantor's so-called discovery of Fisher was later described as a totally contrived, "manipulated' arrangement by Milton Blackstone, Grossinger's publicity director. After performing on Cantor's radio show he was an instant hit and gained nationwide exposure. He then signed a recording contract with RCA Victor and became their best selling pop artist.
Fisher was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951, sent to Fort Hood, Texas, for basic training, and served a year in Korea. From 1952 to 1953, he was the official vocal soloist for the United States Army Band (Pershing's Own) and a tenor section member in the United States Army Band Chorus (an element of Pershing's Own) assigned at Fort Myer in the Washington, D.C. Military District. During his active duty period, he also made occasional guest television appearances, in uniform, introduced as "PFC Eddie Fisher". After his discharge, he began to sing in top nightclubs and had a variety television series, Coke Time with Eddie Fisher on NBC (1953–1957). Fisher also appeared on The Perry Como Show, Club Oasis, The Martha Raye Show, The Gisele MacKenzie Show, The Chesterfield Supper Club and The George Gobel Show, and starred in another series, The Eddie Fisher Show (NBC) (1957–1959, alternating with Gobel's series).
Personal life
Fisher had five marriages and four children:
- Debbie Reynolds (September 26, 1955 – May 12, 1959; divorced)
- Elizabeth Taylor (May 12, 1959 – March 5, 1964; divorced)
- Connie Stevens (February 9, 1967 – June 12, 1969; divorced)
- Terry Richard (October 29, 1975 – April 1, 1976; divorced)
- Betty Lin (July 14, 1993 – April 15, 2001; her death)
In 1981, Fisher wrote an autobiography, Eddie: My Life, My Loves (ISBN 978-0-0601-4907-9). He wrote another autobiography in 1999 titled Been There, Done That (ISBN 978-1-5311-9694-3). The latter book devotes little space to Fisher's singing career, but recycled the material of his first book and added many new sexual details that were too strong to publish before. Upon the book's publication, his daughter Carrie declared: "I'm thinking of having my DNA fumigated."
While performing at The Tropicana Hotel in 1957, Fisher had numerous affairs with women, which contributed to his turbulent marriage to Debbie Reynolds. One of his notable affairs was with model Pat Sheehan. They eventually parted ways after Fisher refused to divorce Reynolds. He would divorce Reynolds two years later and marry Elizabeth Taylor.
When she was interviewed, Debbie Reynolds said that she could understand being dumped "for the world's most beautiful woman", referring to Taylor, who was previously a close friend. Taylor and Reynolds later resumed their friendship and mocked Fisher in a TV movie written by Carrie Fisher, These Old Broads, in which their characters ridiculed the ex-husband they shared, named "Freddie Hunter".
Death
Fisher suffered from knee, back, hearing, and eyesight problems in his later years, the last of which were worsened by complications stemming from cataract removal surgery, and he rarely appeared in public. According to friends, he remained mentally vigorous and kept himself busy watching television, following news and politics, and singing his old songs while friend George Michalski played the piano. Michalski had worked on several occasions over the years to help Fisher get his name back on the music charts. He said "The '60s passed Eddie by; he missed that entire era of music. I'd play a Beatles song like "Something" for him and he'd think I wrote it."
Fisher fell and broke his hip on September 9, 2010, and died 13 days later on September 22, 2010, at his home in Berkeley, California, from complications from hip surgery, at the age of 82. His ashes were interred at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park next to his wife Betty Lin, who died in 2001.
If you want to read more, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Fisher
- SERVES
- 10
- COOK TIME
- 15 Min
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- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 1/2 cups cooked shredded rotisserie chicken
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National Manufacturing Day on the first Friday in October celebrates those who proudly stand behind our goods and services in America. In the United States, we continue to develop products and unlock new technologies growing our economy. Manufacturing businesses create jobs through entrepreneurship, and their competitiveness revitalizes American manufacturing.
Throughout the observance, more than 1,600 American manufacturers will open their doors and participate. They will take up the important work of inspiring our young people to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering. Today’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates will power the next chapter of American production and innovation. Harnessing their potential is an economic imperative.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY
Find local manufacturing events, explore innovative ideas, and collaborate on new technologies. Encourage students to attend job fairs or ask your employer to participate. You may help inspire the next generation to fill your shoes when we need it most. Since many skilled laborers will be retiring, there will be more jobs than workers.
NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY HISTORY
Governor Chris Cristie of New Jersey proclaimed the first official Manufacturing Day in 2012. President Barack Obama signed the Presidential Proclamation in 2014.
Manufacturing FAQ
Q. What types of manufacturing is in the United States?
A. Businesses in the United States manufacture the tiniest of components to building supplies to complete structures. While we often think of manufacturing as an assembly line that builds equipment, it’s so much more. Some examples of the different kinds of manufacturing include:
- Textiles
- Clothing
- Food
- Furniture
- Electronics
- Transportation
- Chemicals
- Plastics and Rubber
- Metal fabricating
- Wood products
Q. Has manufacturing grown in the U.S. in recent years?
A. Yes. Manufacturing in the U.S. is on the rise. The rise of manufacturing in the U.S. creates a growing demand for skilled labor.
