Joe Laurie, Jr. (1892, New York City, New York - April 29, 1954, New York City, New York) was a vaudeville monologist who later performed on Broadway.

On radio he was one of the comedic panelists on the popular joke-telling series, Can You Top This? He also portrayed the character of Sniffy on the Mutual daytime drama, We Were Always Young.

Books

His jokes were part of Cream of the Crop (Grosset and Dunlap, 1947) along with other members of the Can You Top This? team.

He collaborated with Abel Green on the show business history, Show Biz: From Vaude to Video (1951) and then followed with his memoir, Vaudeville: From the Honky-Tonks to the Palace (1953).

Laurie's first wife was his vaudeville partner, Aleen Bronson, in the act, Laurie & Bronson. During the 1940s, Laurie and his second wife, Nellie Butcher (1922–1954), lived at 130 West 44th Street in Manhattan.

Source: Wikipedia