The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-12
In New York
By GEORGE ROSS

have StoogeS, opera singers have cheques, but Milton Berle has Nom. Milton is also the comedian who doesn't mind the rumor that he ap- propriates some of the best Ameri- can humor there is to be had. And yet, sometimes even one of his prize gags goes fiat in the midst of an act. At such times, there is lone some but loud handclapping from somewhere in front of the stage. Milton never fails to call the audi ence,s attention to it. That's my Mom," he calls out, Hello, Mom."
 Nom is a unique Broadway fig ure. Always in the company of her comedian son, she is on famil- jar terms with everybody who is anybody along the Rialto. Tall, grey-haired, a chic dresser, she is equally at home bandying badin- age with the loungers of Lindy's or Park avenue matrons. Every body knows Sarah Berle as well as they know Milton.
 Mom the Manager
 Only Milton's mother-but also his manager, coach, best friend, sev- crest critic and agent. She ar- ranges his transportation, makes his hotel reservations, fixes his bookings and is always on hand when there are contracts to be signed. Her boy never begins a vaudeville engagement unless she is down front and he never tries out a fresh gag unless she's laugh ed at it first. She has never, how ever, taken 8 bow with Milton onstage.
 Nom Berle has learned how to successfully juggle her duties as 8 housewife, mother and business manager. She has three boys and a girl besides Milton - and yet keeps discerning eye on her sons theatrical career.
 As girl she dreamed of stage career, but that was in the days when 8 woman behind the foot lights was pointed out in the streets. Abandoning her an1bi- ton, she married and resigned herself to housewifery. Her hus- band became ill, however, and after Milton, her fourth offspring, was born, she obtained work as store detective at Wanamaker's A hawk-eyed house sleuth she was, too.
 Mom the SvengaH
 It was on a quiet Sunday twenty two years ago that she came home and was frightened by 8 large crowd of neighbors in front of her modest home. Her first thought was Something has happened to the children" And something had. Milton, six years old, had made his theatrical debut. There he was on the stoop with his fathers shoes, derby hat and stick, a piece of fur cut off his mothers neckpiece hang ing precariously from his nose.
 So from an al fresco debut on the stoop, Milton went in short pants to a Charlie Chaplin con- test in 8 neighborhood movie house. He won first prize five dollars.
 Remembering her own thwart- ed aspirations, Sarah Berle de. cided that Milton was going to be an actor-if it was within her power to make him one. She en- couraged him to perform on every occasion and it wasn't long before he was earning $7.50 day as an extra in Lena Rivers" and in Douglas Fairbanks Mark of Zorro" l"
 
 Play Together, Too.
 By the time he was thirteen Mil- ton was featured in his own vaude. vile act. And the Berle finances began to look up. Now the Berle headquarters is a Central Park West apartment where live the parents. Milton, and Phil, the oldest son. The other Berles are married.
 Even after hours, Gothamites find the Berles together at night clubs, charitable functions and so- cials. When the master of cere- monies at any local caravansary calls upon Milton to get up and take Q bow and the spotlight Nom Berle leans far back in her seat to avoid attention.
 Her efforts to remain anony- nous, however. have always been futile. When Milton's tests. either original or borrowed, are falling upon barren ground, you can count upon him to look at grey- haired lady in the second row and crow, That's my Mom, folks; halln. nknnn."