The Sad Tale of Uncle Miltie
Thursday, July 9, 2026
“Well, that’s life. Everybody’s got their own tale of sorrow.” – Milton Berle
Mendel Berlinger was born on July 12, 1908, and at the age of five, he won a Charlie Chaplin contest. As a result, he was signed to appear as a child actor in several silent movies. He also served as a child model for Buster Brown shoes.
By the time he was 12, Berlinger was working on vaudeville as a comedian and later, as master of ceremonies. When he turned 15, he adopted the stage name “Milton Berle” and was soon starring on Broadway and radio, where he was a frequent guest on The Rudy Vallee Hour and a regular on The Gillette Original Community Sing. Eventually, Berle got his own program, The Milton Berle Show.
In 1948, Berle was hired to host the Texaco Star Theater, a variety show on the new medium of TV. It became an instant hit and dominated Tuesday night television for the next several years, reaching #1 in the Neilsen ratings with as much as 97% of the viewing audience. Berle’s wild success led to his two nicknames, “Uncle Miltie” and “Mr. Television”, and he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
In 1951, NBC signed Berle to an unprecedented 30-year exclusive television contract that paid him more than a million dollars over its term simply as a retainer, with any activities as "actor, producer, writer, or director" calling for additional compensation. By 1956, the renamed Milton Berle Show had lost its edge and was cancelled.
Berle spent the next several decades appearing in movies and nightclubs and making guest appearances on TV. His last acting role was in 2000, and he died of colon cancer on March 27, 2002.
How ironic is it that a man whose comedy career spanned more than eight decades would utter today’s quote about a “tale of sorrow”. I guess that just goes to show you that everyone – whether they are world famous or live their lives in total anonymity – is carrying an unseen burden or two. So, let’s do our best to be kind to everyone we meet and help lighten their earthly load.
“Cast your burdens on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)
“…casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
