David Brenner Goes Comic

David Brenner - 1969



David Brenner and Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show 

David Brenner left Ocean City - Somers Point on Labor Day 1965 and went back to Philadelphia were he continued working as a documentary news producer and director for KYW TV, as did his cameraman Gary Shenfield and on camera reporter Tom Snyder, all winning journalism awards for their work making 115 television documentaries including the hour long feature “Long Cool Summer of '65.”

Brenner grew up in South and West Philadelphia, served in the 101^st Airborne after high school and then attended Temple University before producing television shows.

Shenfield later recalled that even in 1965 Brenner was using numerous techniques he would later use as a standup comic, - cracking jokes, kidding authority and giving Snyder a nuggy head rub whenever the opportunity presented itself, which was often, until Snyder got it, which he eventually did.

By 1969 however, Brenner had stashed enough money away and decided to take a year off from regular work to try to make it as a professional comedian, moving from his Philly to New York and getting a steady gig at a Brooklyn nightclub, where after working a year and a half he was asked to appear on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show on January 8, 1971, a ten minute experience you can now get on YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7-ZF7wiPl8]

Brenner was an instant hit, Carson invited him back, and his 158 appearances and as guest host 75 times.

On one occasion Brenner told Carson about his years as a documentary film producer, and the incredulous Carson asked for a story so Brenner told Carson about the time he broke into the Somers Point, N.J. judge's office and called him at home to tell him he was there, and got arrested for exposing the kangaroo court they were running for arresting drunk college kids.

Brenner died of cancer on March 15, 2014 at the age of 78.

Benner's hour long CBS KYW TV award winning documentary “The Long Cool Summer of ‘65” is preserved among other reels of tapes at Brenner's alma mater - Temple University's Samuel L. Paley Library, that should document all that has been recoded here.