Tom H. Melody; Retired Comedian

Tom H. Melody, who performed stand-up comedy in Los Angeles night clubs, has died at a North Hills hospital. He was 73.

A resident of North Hills, Melody died Saturday of complications from a stroke, said his sister, Jean Gulick of Woodland Hills.

Born in Rockwell City, Iowa, Melody came to California in 1936. In the Army during World War II, he was captured in the Philippines by the Japanese and taken by ship to a prison camp in Japan. A prisoner of war for 3 1/2 years, Melody learned to speak Japanese while imprisoned and persuaded guards to let him and other prisoners perform in variety shows.

After he was discharged, Melody returned to Los Angeles where he enrolled at Santa Monica City College and acted in plays.

Melody later did stand-up comedy in Los Angeles and went to work for Playboy Clubs in the mid-1960s, performing at various locations across the country. He retired from Playboy in the late 1970s, but continued to write comedy material for other comedians until the early 1980s.

Melody was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

He is survived only by his sister.

Private services are planned, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. Gates, Kingsley & Gates Mortuary in Canoga Park is handling the arrangements.