Sportsmen Quartet - Martin Sperzel

[Shemp]

Looking for some general biographical info on Martin Sperzel, to complete his filmography bio at ThreeStooges.net.

Sperzel appeared with the Stooges in BEER AND PRETZELS.

[Shemp]

Correcting the prior post's url...

BEER AND PRETZELS.[/quote]

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

Since the info and memorabilia I have on Mr. Sperzel is going to be used as part of a personal project, I will share this much.

Mr. Sperzel was baritone of The Sportsmen from 1943 - 1957. He replaced John Rarig, who stayed on as arranger. When he left the group in 1957 (replaced by Jay Moffett), he wrote (and sang as well) commercial Jingles with Henry Russell, Don Quinn and Gene Garf. He appears in the Elvis Presley movie, "G.I. Blues". Look for him, you'll find him center screen during a musical number His wife, radio actress Barbara Eiler passed away in July 2006. Despite what IMDB says, he married her in 1961. It was the second marriage for both. At last check, he was living in Sherman Oaks, CA and turned 95 years old last month. Actually, I share a birthday with him!

[Shemp]

Since the info and memorabilia I have on Mr. Sperzel is going to be used as part of a personal project, I will share this much.

Mr. Sperzel was baritone of The Sportsmen from 1943 - 1957. He replaced John Rarig, who stayed on as arranger. When he left the group in 1957 (replaced by Jay Moffett), he wrote (and sang as well) commercial Jingles with Henry Russell, Don Quinn and Gene Garf. He appears in the Elvis Presley movie, "G.I. Blues". Look for him, you'll find him center screen during a musical number His wife, radio actress Barbara Eiler passed away in July 2006. Despite what IMDB says, he married her in 1961. It was the second marriage for both. At last check, he was living in Sherman Oaks, CA and turned 95 years old last month. Actually, I share a birthday with him!

Thank you! It's great to know that he is alive, and hopefully in good health.

It's all in the timing... a few hours before your post, I and three friends left for a week-long trip to L.A., which included Three Stooges related research at the MPAAS Margaret Herrick Library, and having dinner with several supporting players who live in Sherman Oaks. Of course, with my life's luck, I read your message the night after my return home to NJ.

If you're able to share any of Mr. Sperzel's recollections about BEER AND PRETZELS, I would certainly appreciate it.

Do you have a birthdate that we can add to his "cast" bio entry at THREESTOOGES.NET?

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

Unfortunately, Mr. Sperzel didn't have "fond" memories of the business. He said that he had thrown away most (if not all) of his memorabilia and didn't want to share too many recollections.

Speaking with Jack Smith before he died, he remembered "Beer and Pretzels" as a fun experience and he specifically remembered the scene where everyone dives into a pile on the floor.

[scottp]

Beer and Pretzels is included on the DVD of "Flying Down to Rio."

(In case you didn't already know that.)

[krledu]

Does anyone know why Mr. Sperzel doesn't have such nice recollections about his time in showbiz? Or any theories on that?

[TheSportsmenQuartet]

From what I can gather from the other members of The Sportsmen that we spoke with (and they didn't come out and actually say it), his split from the group seems not to have been amicable. Whether that is the underlying reason, I can't tell you. I know there is/was an issue with his children. From my research he was fairly successful in advertising after he left the group and had success with The Three Ambassadors and The Sportsmen so where someone's unhappiness lies is usually their own personal deal and unless they tell you (or a family member tells you), you'll never know.

If I write anything more, someone who hasn't spent the time and money that I have spent researching the members of The Sportsmen will take the info for their own and I'd rather not have that happen at this stage of my research. I have to be selfish in this regard.