She was nicknamed “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas” and hot she was. Bette Midler so revered her talent that she named her daughter after her. Who is “her?” Her name is Sophie Tucker, the Ukrainian-born American singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality. Known for her raunchy, rowdy, risqué delivery of comical songs, she was one of the most popular entertainers in America the first half of the 20th century. Joining Halli at her table on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, are the authors of I AM SOPHIE TUCKER and the film producers of THE OUTRAGEOUS SOPHIE TUCKER Susan and Lloyd Ecker; producer, writer, performer, director TRAV SD, and a legend in his own right American radio and television host Joe Franklin.
 
In 1973, Susan and Lloyd Ecker’s first date was a Bette Midler concert. They fell in love with one another, with the Divine Miss M and Miss Sophie Tucker. Forty years later, three children, the sale of a million dollar business, their obsession with Tucker still intact, they are a two-man band to bring The Last of the Red Hot Mamas to the Twenty-first century audience with their new book and film.
 
TravSD is the author of NO APPLAUSE, JUST THROW MONEY: THE BOOK THAT MADE VAUDEVILLE FAMOUS, which Bette Midler calls the “best showbiz book,” and CHAIN OF FOOLS: SILENT COMEDY AND ITS LEGACIES FROM NICKELODEONS TO YOUTUBE. He writes and speaks on theater, arts and culture. His work has appeared in among other publications The Village Voice, American Theatre, Time Out New York and The New York Sun.
 
Legendary talk show host Joe Franklin is an American treasure. His first show began in 1951 on WJZ-TV (later WABC-TV) and moved to WOR-TV. He continues to talk on Bloomberg Radio. Billed as the “King of Nostalgia,” Franklin has interviewed such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Barbra Streisand, and Marilyn Monroe. He was a personal friend of Sophie Tucker’s.
 
What Becomes a Legend? A look at the life and times of Miss Sophie Tucker on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show. For more information visit goo.gl/hBbMig