Biography
Bert Kalmar was an American songwriter and screenwriter. Born in New York City, he began his career in vaudeville as a magician, comedian and dancer before a knee injury led him to songwriting. He formed a long-term partnership with composer Harry Ruby from 1918.
Kalmar and Ruby wrote the score for the Marx Brothers stage and film versions of Animal Crackers (1930) and contributed songs and screenplays to Horse Feathers (1932) and Duck Soup (1933). Kalmar also received screenplay credits on other films including Bright Lights (1935). He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
