Joe Penner was a radio comic who rose to fame during the Great Depression, captivating audiences with his slapstick humor and silly antics. Born József Pintér in Hungary, he immigrated to New York City as a child and later changed his name to Joe Penner. He began his career in vaudeville and burlesque, eventually becoming a popular patsy, similar to Lou Costello.
Penner's signature catchphrase, "Wanna buy a duck?", originated from his routine where he would go on stage with a prop and say, "Wanna buy a... [insert prop name]?" The phrase gained popularity after he introduced a wooden decoy duck, which led to a massive reaction from the audience. He parlayed this success into a major radio career, becoming a household name with his over-the-top antics and one-liners like "You naaaaasty man!"
Penner's radio series was broadcast from Los Angeles, and his popularity led him to minor leads in Hollywood "B" musical films during the 1930s. His films often had college themes, such as College Rhythm (1934),Collegiate (1935),and Mr. Doodle Kicks Off (1938). His talents were limited, but he seemed to find his niche. His most notable film, The Boys from Syracuse (1940),was based on the Broadway musical and featured him playing dual roles alongside Martha Raye.
Despite his early success, Penner's career would likely have declined due to the repetitive nature of his shtick. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack at the age of 36 in 1941, cutting short his career and preventing him from experiencing an eventual decline.
