I've had a really long week (haven't we all?) so I'm feeling like taking some time today to downshift and decompress.
One of my favorite means of relaxation is comedy. I am a huge fan of "classic" comedy, the kinds of things I remember seeing on television as a kid during the 1970's. Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, George Burns, and numerous other comedians from the golden ages of radio and television were still active in those days, and for some reason I always preferred their work to that of contemporary comedians. I also relished the work of great impressionists like Will Jordan, Frank Gorshin, and Rich Little.
So here is a mash-up of some classic, perhaps politically incorrect, humor from the golden age of television ...
Johnny Carson and Jack Webb: The Copper Clapper Caper
Dean Martin and Foster Brooks
Tim Conway and Harvey Corman: The Dentist's Office
Jack Benny guest stars on "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx
If you don't know much about Jack Benny, the only thing that he guarded more closely than his money was his true age. He was always "thirty nine." But when faced with a dilemma between his age and his money ... well, obviously Groucho had a lot of fun on this show.
Finally, if you're going to roast a politician, this is how you do it: Don Rickles roasts Gov. Ronald Reagan:
(Bonus points to anyone who can name all the celebrities visible at the table.)
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Filed under:
Humor
Tags: Dean Martin, Don Rickles, Foster Brooks, Groucho Marx, Harvey Corman, Jack Benny, Jack Webb, Johnny Carson, Ronald Reagan, Tim Conway
Comments (9)
Michael, thanks so much for... (Below threshold)1. Posted by WildWillie | October 11, 2009 10:22 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Michael, thanks so much for the laughs. I, like you wind up a hard week on you tube checking up on comedy. I just looked up the Foster Brooks one. So very funny.
On the dais: Reagan, Benny, Diller, ?, Martin, Spitz, Harrington. That's all I got. ww
1. Posted by WildWillie | October 11, 2009 10:22 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 10:22
2. Posted by GarandFan | October 11, 2009 10:22 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Back when comedy didn't require 4 letter words, but actually some thought.
2. Posted by GarandFan | October 11, 2009 10:22 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 10:22
3. Posted by rich | October 11, 2009 10:31 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Those were great. Thanks. My dad looks a lot like Foster Brooks. We were always got stopped by people asking if he was Brooks or for an autograph.
3. Posted by rich | October 11, 2009 10:31 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 10:31
4. Posted by bobdog | October 11, 2009 11:29 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Great classical comedy, but you should see the stuff on CSPAN. It's a laff riot.
4. Posted by bobdog | October 11, 2009 11:29 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 11:29
5. Posted by Dr Carlo Lombardi | October 11, 2009 12:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Here's another hilarious Tim Conway video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6jibGLw8JU
5. Posted by Dr Carlo Lombardi | October 11, 2009 12:05 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 12:05
6. Posted by epador | October 11, 2009 12:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Are you sure you didn't get the titles of your two posts reversed?
6. Posted by epador | October 11, 2009 12:56 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 12:56
7. Posted by Joe Miller | October 11, 2009 3:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Is that Jackie Vernon on the dais?
7. Posted by Joe Miller | October 11, 2009 3:47 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 15:47
8. Posted by Dennis D | October 11, 2009 7:13 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Easy ones are Dean, Rickles, Benny , Diller and Reagan. On the left the female could be Teri Garr? On the far right Tom Bosley?
8. Posted by Dennis D | October 11, 2009 7:13 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 19:13
9. Posted by Poole | October 11, 2009 10:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Dean, Reagen. Rickles, Benny, Mark Spitz, Phyllis Diller, Steve Allen, Shecky Green, Jayne Meadows.
9. Posted by Poole | October 11, 2009 10:15 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 11, 2009 22:15