Master Roaster Red Buttons Finally Gets His Own
Kings of Comedy prepare to smoke
him at the 49th Annual Thalians Ball

Beverly Hills, Ca – Red Buttons, the American comic icon famous for his celebrity roasts, is renowned for his artful jobs at celebrities such as Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor. The tables will now turn on Button’s legendary Friar’s Club roasting antics as a group of comedy greats will put Buttons on the burner at the annual Thalians ball to be held on November 7, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Those slated to appear for the frying are comedy legends Dennis Miller, Jack Klugman, Fred Travelena, Don Rickels, Rich Little and others to be announced.

“Hollywood’s Original Celebrity Charity,” the Thalians annually honors legends of the entertainment world and this year Buttons will be receiving the coveted “Mr. Wonderful” award at the event.

Based on Button’s Oscar-winning performance in “Sayonara” (MGM), the evening is themed to say “sayonara” to the Thalians first 50 years, while laughing their way to the next half-century. For an opportunity to honor a man who has charmed audience for years and to help raise awareness for mental health issues, call the Thalians at (310) 423-1040 for tickets.

Composer, award-winning comedian and actor, Red Buttons has been a comic mainstay on Broadway, television and film since 1941 when Jose Ferrer plucked Red out of burlesque for his first Broadway show, “The Admiral Had A Wife.” The Academy and Emmy Award-winning Buttons has been the star of his own “The Red Buttons Show” on CBS, been directed by Cukor, Zanuck and Brando, and has appeared on every major television show from Carson, Sullivan and Combo to “E.R.” His roasting prowess is featured on a CD titled “Never Got a Dinner A Dinner” (Laugh.com).

Buttons will join a group of entertainment legends who have also received the “Ms./Mr. Wonderful award,” such as Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Bing Crosby, Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Jack Lemmon, Mary Tyler Moore, Debbie Reynolds, and many more.

This prestigious award, a Goofy character in a medical coat, was designed by the late Walt Disney.

The Thalians was created in 1955 by Richard Donner, Jack Haley Jr., David Wolper, Hugh O’ Brien (the first president), and others who wanted to change the publicly careless image of celebrities by lending their time and talent to a responsible community cause. Now headed by Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee, their legacy raised approximately $30 million to build and maintain the Thalians Mental Health Center at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Named after the muse of comedy, “Thalia,” the Thalians has attracted most of Hollywood’s megastars.

Unlike any organization of its kind, the Thalians serves as a star fraternity, boasting a rich membership of the world’s most adored of the silver screen.

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