æz ɐ jˈʌŋ mˈæn, fɹˈɛd wʌz ɪn vˈɔːdvɪl wɪð hɪz fɹˈɛnd bˈɑːɹni kˈɜːts, æz ðə dˈuːoʊ ʌv "mˈɜːts ænd kˈɜːts", nˈoʊn fɔːɹ "tˈæp dˈænsɪŋ, sˈɔft ʃˈuː ænd smˈɑːɹt kwˈɪps".
As a young man, Fred was in vaudeville with his friend Barney Kurtz, as the duo of "Mertz and Kurtz", known for "tap dancing, soft shoe and smart quips".