Tom Howard

Thomas Black Jr. (June 16, 1885 – February 27, 1955), known professionally as Tom Howard, was an Irish-born American comedian in burlesque, vaudeville, radio, film, television and Broadway plays. He co-wrote and starred in the radio comedy show It Pays to Be Ignorant.

He was born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Black in County Tyrone, Ireland. The family emigrated to the United States when he was 11 months old. Purporting to be a quiz show, the program had Howard posing ridiculous questions ("What color is a red stoplight?"), to which his panel of "experts"—Harry McNaughton, Lulu McConnell, and George Shelton—supplied dull-witted responses ("Where is this stoplight located?"). Howard's daughter Ruth wrote many of the show's jokes and scripts. The African Dodger (1931) Two A.M. (1931) The Rookie (1932) Breaking Even (1932) Acid Test (1932) Aces Wild (1933) Static (1933) Get That Venus (1933) The Big Meow (1934) The Wrong Bottle (1934) Second Hand Husband (1934) Easy Money (1935) An Ear for Music (1935) Grooms in Gloom (1935) Time Out (1935) The Magic Word (1935) Stylist Stouts (1935) He's a Prince (1935) Where Is Wall Street (1936) Rail Birds (1936)

Broadway plays The Greenwich Village Follies (September 20, 1923 – January 1924) Dixie to Broadway (October 29, 1924 – January 1925) The Greenwich Village Follies (December 24, 1925 – May 29, 1926) Rain or Shine (February 9 – December 15, 1928) Smiles (November 18, 1930 – January 10, 1931) The Gang's All Here (February 18 – March 9, 1931) Keep Moving (August 23 – September 8, 1934)