Hillcrest Round Table

The Hillcrest Round Table, or "Comedian's Round Table", was a group of Jewish comedians who met daily at a particular round table at the Men's Grill of the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. The group included (from oldest to youngest):


 * Al Jolson        1886–1950
 * Chico Marx	1887–1961
 * Harpo Marx	1888–1964
 * Groucho Marx	1890–1977
 * Eddie Cantor	1892–1964
 * Gummo Marx	1892–1977
 * Lou Holtz	1893–1980
 * Jack Benny	1894–1974
 * George Burns	1896–1996
 * George Jessel	1898–1981
 * Zeppo Marx	1901–1979
 * Al Ritz	1901–1965
 * Jimmy Ritz	1904–1985
 * Harry Ritz	1907–1986
 * Milton Berle	1908–2002
 * Danny Kaye	1911–1987

Arthur Marx wrote, "In the heyday of the Round Table, in the '40s, '50s and '60s, it was probably the most amusing place to lunch in all the world. Imagine sitting at a table with that group, each one trying to out-funny the other, and all but Harpo, Chico and Danny Kaye puffing on long, fragrant Havanas. If you didn't die laughing, you could have choked on the smoke.'"

Each comedian had to have an actual membership in the country club. George Burns, the penultimate surviving member, was also one of the first in the group to join. His original membership fee was $300.

With Milton Berle's death in 2002, all members had died.