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His personal life is not nearly so rich. Sensitive despite his brashness, he has been left deeply insecure and distrustful by his career as a child in a rough-&-tumble struggle. "The great want to conquer" has left him neither time nor depth for other interests, except the spectator sports and an occasional game of billiards. He goes almost everywhere with a bolstering entourage of yesmen, who run his errands and remind him at frequent intervals that he is terrific. In 1941 he married Showgirl Joyce Mathews, a striking blonde who got a Reno divorce six years later. Still friendly, they share custody of an adopted daughter, 3½year-old Victoria, on whom he lavishes deep affection.
Conquests to Come. Three months ago, convoyed by a housekeeper, valet and chauffeur, Berle moved into a sumptuous nine-room bachelor apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side. There he keeps in touch with Broadway and Hollywood through two phones in each of four rooms. Aside from mellowing him, success has awakened some tony tastes that amuse old acquaintances. He has recently taken to Homburgs, dark, dignified suits, fancier restaurants, and an occasional pose of world-weariness.
Success has also aroused a desire for "more time for Berle." One friend is skeptical of this reach for leisure: "What Milton would really like would be to have his TV and radio shows, do a midnight turn at a nightclub, have a disc jockey show from noon to 2, spend some time during the week with Dick Rodgers batting out a few tunes. Sandwiched in between, he'd direct and produce a play, stage some revue sketches, be a TV network consultant, be called to Hollywood to star in, co-produce, co-direct, co-write and edit a movie. In spare moments, at all state, national and international functions, he'd like to be toastmaster. He'd like to be abbot of the Friars [which he is], shepherd of the Lambs and president of the Players. And in the sunset of his life, if show business ever has a czar like Happy Chandler, three guesses on Milton's choice for the job."
Milton's own plans are a little more modest. Anxious for a new crack at an old failure, he will probably make a movie this summer if he can get a deal that will give him some control over the picture. He has thought about starring in a show next fall on Broadway, where he has $30,000 in a forthcoming revue. Next month he will start a daily 400-word syndicated column in more than 50 newspapers. He is getting ready to parlay his television winnings into a TV producing company, a TV school and, for tours of U.S. theaters, Milton Berle Television Units. In the long haul, he wants to produce and direct. Well fed at last, the great want still hungers for new conquests.