Hal Kanter

Hal Kanter, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer, and a director and producer whose career included writing for Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, directing Elvis Presley and creating a landmark 1960s TV series starring Diahann Carroll, has died. He was 92. Kanter, who for decades was a writer for the annual Oscar telecast, died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at Encino Hospital, said his daughter, Donna Kanter. "What a dear man," longtime friend Carl Reiner said Monday after learning of Kanter's death.

Hal Kanter, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer, and a director and producer whose career included writing for Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, directing Elvis Presley and creating a landmark 1960s TV series starring Diahann Carroll, has died. He was 92. Kanter, who for decades was a writer for the annual Oscar telecast, died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at Encino Hospital, said his daughter, Donna Kanter. "What a dear man," longtime friend Carl Reiner said Monday after learning of Kanter's death.

Some of the best comedy we'll ever enjoy isn't the hard stuff concocted by pros; it's those impromptu moments when a spirit ignites--usually among family or friends--and a series of remembrances or eccentricities or outrages balloon into each other until everyone is crippled with laughter. Such moments are nearly impossible to replicate--like trying to seize character in a snapshot.

You've seen it many times. A star, on stage to present an award, is reading from prepared material when he suddenly leans forward, squints and begins speaking haltingly, as if the lines on the TelePrompTer are so unutterably stupid, his mind is too embarrassed to relay them to his mouth. As awkward as it may seem, the moment is actually a slick piece of acting, a little body performance pleading, "Don't blame me, I didn't write this crap!"

You've seen it many times. A star, on stage to present an award, is reading from prepared material when he suddenly leans forward, squints and begins speaking haltingly, as if the lines on the TelePrompTer are so unutterably stupid, his mind is too embarrassed to relay them to his mouth. As awkward as it may seem, the moment is actually a slick piece of acting, a little body performance pleading, "Don't blame me, I didn't write this crap!"

The guys around the table call Sid Caesar "The King. " They're seated in a back room of Factor's Famous Deli on Pico Boulevard, a boisterous group of longtime Hollywood funnymen, enjoying their lunch, which is somewhere between a meal and a ritual. The legendary Caesar still has a place of honor even though he's frail and rarely speaks. As his friend and lunch pal Monty Hall - of "Let's Make a Deal" fame - notes, the 90-year-old Caesar wouldn't miss these lunches. "You know when he walks in we say, 'The King is here,'" said Hall, 91. "He loves that.

Uncle Miltie: The Hollywood Press Club is planning a celebration to note Milton Berle's 80th year in show business. The dinner gala Jan. 19 at the Friars Club in Beverly Hills will include remembrances from, among others, Steve Allen, Bea Arthur, Sammy Cahn, Larry Gelbart, Monty Hall, Hal Kanter, Tony Martin, Charles (Buddy) Rogers and George Sidney. And, says producer Allan Byrns, "the list keeps growing." Berle will be 85 this year.--ALEENE MacMINN

Remembering Capra: Actor James Stewart will be among those paying tribute to director Frank Capra at a public memorial service Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America Theater in West Hollywood. Film clips from Capra's movies will be screened and other colleagues sharing remembrances will include Sheldon Leonard, Delbert Mann, Stanley Kramer, Jane Wyatt, Hal Kanter and Jane Wyman. Capra died Sept. 3 at age 94.

The Writers Guild of America will hold a memorial service Aug. 28 for Melville Shavelson, a former president of the union who wrote and directed such films as "The Seven Little Foys," "Houseboat," "It Started in Naples" and "Yours, Mine and Ours." Shavelson died Aug. 8 at his home in Studio City. He was 90. Among those scheduled to speak at the event are actress Angie Dickinson and writers Hal Kanter, Mort Lachman, Del Reisman and Sherwood Schwartz. The memorial begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Masonic Press Club of Los Angeles will honor 33rd degree Mason Maury Foladare on his 80th birthday with its Masonic Press Club Founders Award. The award will be presented at the club's annual testimonial dinner dance Thursday at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Manny Harmon's Orchestra will play, and celebrity guests will include Danny Thomas, Hal Kanter, Patty Andrews and Wally Weschler. A social hour at 6 p.m. will precede dancing and dinner at 7.

Some of the best comedy we'll ever enjoy isn't the hard stuff concocted by pros; it's those impromptu moments when a spirit ignites--usually among family or friends--and a series of remembrances or eccentricities or outrages balloon into each other until everyone is crippled with laughter. Such moments are nearly impossible to replicate--like trying to seize character in a snapshot.