Oscar Levant (1906–72) was an American pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor. He was also famous for his sarcastic temperament and witticisms on the radio and in movies and television.
Born to Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Russia in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Levant studied under the piano pedagogue Zygmunt Stojowski before moving to Hollywood in 1928. Levant befriended composer George Gershwin and composed the music for more than twenty movies between 1929 and 1948. He wrote or co-wrote numerous popular songs during this period, including “Blame It on My Youth” (1934.)
Levant was a regular panelist on the radio quiz show Information Please. He gained fame for his quick-wit, impressing the audience with his depth of knowledge and facility with a joke. Levant also appeared in many feature films, often playing a pianist or composer in such films as The Barkleys of Broadway (1949,) An American in Paris (1951,) and The Band Wagon (1953.) He appeared in Gershwin’s biopic Rhapsody in Blue (1945.)
Levant regularly appeared on NBC radio’s Kraft Music Hall 1947–49 and the NBC game show Who Said That? in the early 1950s. He hosted a talk show on KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, The Oscar Levant Show (1958–60.)
Levant’s memoirs are A Smattering of Ignorance (1940,) The Memoirs of an Amnesiac (1965,) and The Unimportance of Being Oscar (1968.)
Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger wrote the biography, A Talent for Genius: The Life and Times of Oscar Levant (1998.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Oscar Levant
There are two sides to every question: my side and the wrong side.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Pride, Courage
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m schizophrenic, and so am I.
—Oscar Levant
Once I make up my mind, I’m full of indecision.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Indecision, Decisions
Strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you will find the real tinsel underneath.
—Oscar Levant
I don’t drink; I don’t like it — it makes me feel good.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Drunkenness
Schizophrenia beats dining alone.
—Oscar Levant
A symphonic conductor should reconcile himself to the realization that, regardless of his approach or temperament, the eventual result is the same — the orchestra will hate him.
—Oscar Levant
Once he makes up his mind, he’s full of indecision. On Dwight D. Eisenhower
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Decisions, Indecision
She has the answer to everything and the solution to nothing.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Insults
The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too.
—Oscar Levant
An epigram is only a wisecrack that’s played at Carnegie Hall.
—Oscar Levant
There is a thin line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Genius
It’s not what you are; it’s what you don’t become that hurts.
—Oscar Levant
Happiness isn’t something you experience; it’s something you remember.
—Oscar Levant
I once said cynically of a politician, He’ll double-cross that bridge when he comes to it.
—Oscar Levant
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Pride
I envy people who drink – at least they know what to blame everything on.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Envy
Every time I look at you I get a fierce desire to be lonesome.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Loneliness, Desire
Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Character
I have given up reading books; I find it takes my mind off myself.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Selfishness
I am no more humble than my talents require.
—Oscar Levant
Topics: Humility, Talent
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Vladimir Horowitz Russian-born American Pianist
Stephen Sondheim American Musician
Sammy Davis, Jr. American Singer
Barbra Streisand American Musician
Elvis Presley American Musician
Mel Brooks American Film Actor
Arthur Rubinstein American Pianist
Louis Armstrong American Musician
Lou Reed American Musician
Tupac Shakur American Rapper, Actor