This Day in Manka Bros History – December 21, 1967:
A Holiday basket of cheeses sent to the cast of Manka Bros’ acclaimed Broadway production of ‘’Tis Pity She’s A Whore’ resulted in several actors getting food poisoning and throwing up on stage.
This Day in Manka Bros History – December 20, 1965:
‘Jonas Salk’s Mind Twisters’ – really, REALLY tough trivia – premieres on MBSwith the tagline ‘From The Brain That Brought You The Polio Vaccine.’ The trivia proved too hard for contestants and home audiences and it was canceled after a few weeks.
This Day in Manka Bros History – December 18, 1942:
To support the war effort, Victory Gardens are planted on open spaces around the studio lot. Studio chief Harry Manka orders the least talented screenwriters under contract to tend/harvest the gardens.
This Day in Manka Bros History – December 15, 1947:
After reading (and despising) John Steinbeck’s screenplay for Manka Bros.’ ‘The Ballad Of Clem Fortune,’studio chief Harry Manka stood outside Steinbeck’s office window and hit golf balls at him.
This Day in Manka Bros History – December 11, 1958:
Following his death on November 27, 1958, Simeon Olsa Mankewitz is buried next to the shack in Bulgaria where he was born. He is the only Manka brother buried in their homeland.