Old-time comedians...

[PALADIN85020]

You know, I really enjoyed many of the old-time comedians. There were Will Rogers, Fred Allen, Spike Jones, Amos 'n Andy, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason and Abbott and Costello.

Today, in this politically correct day, they'd all be censored. And that's a pity. Their often biting humor, laced with threads of truth, but which might be deemed offensive would not be allowed.

Today, a bit of esoteric wry humor will sneak by now and then, but the comedic open-field running days are over. Sad.

John

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Don't forget Laurel and Hardy.

Red Skelton.

Joe E. Brown

Larry, Moe & Curley.

Jimmy Durante.

 

[labworm]

As said, there are many from that era that were exceptional.

When I was about 6 years old (1952), I sat in the Mayflower Theater in Boston with my Mom and watched Dean and Jerry on stage live.

The guy and not a great comedian that did it for me was Henny Youngman. Super dry and quick.

 

[Bkreutz]

Charlie Chaplin in "Modern Times" is my all time favorite. Especially the automatic feeder bit. I start laughing just thinking about it.

It's at the 6 minute mark in this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfw0KapQ3qw

 

[the ringo kid]

Some of my favorites not yet listed are--and go a bit farther back than those mentioned:

Buster Keaton. I love "Ol Stone Face" as well as Harald Lloyd.

And Harald Lloyd:

Keaton and Durante in: What? No Beer!

 

[A10]

No Jack Benny yet?? WELL!!!!!

And how could we possibly leave out Burns and Allen?

 

[kozmic]

The Borscht Belt comedians were hysterical and their acts were clean.
I would submit...
Don Rickles
Joan Rivers
Sid Caesar
Alan King
Groucho Marx
Rodney Dangerfield
Red Buttons
Shecky Green
and perhaps my favorite; Buddy Hackett

 

[Steve in Vermont]

These folks were the product of Vaudeville where you performed live in front of audiences that, if they didn't like you, literally threw fruit at you. Many of them moved to TV, which was live and again separated the good talent from the bad. Those of us old enough remembered live TV when it was funny even when comedians forgot their lines. For the most part it's sad what passes for comedy today. That's why they need "canned laughter" (unlike the old days with live audiences) because most of it's not funny.

 

[the ringo kid]

Hawkswill knows Shecky Green.
In one of the best season 1 episodes of COMBAT--where he is "Col Clyde's (Keenan Wynn) Driver for the day. That was the funniest episode of the series.

W/ Sasha Hardin (the German Captain) who thinks Greene (Braddock) is Col Clyde.

 

[427mach1]

How about Foster Brooks? His drunk impression/routine still cracks me up.

 

[Old cop]

Don't forget Burns & Allen or Jack Benny.

 

[steveno]

Nipsy Russell , Flip Wilson and Rowan & Martin

 

[Mike McLellan]

Let's have a toast for Victor Borge.

 

[kozmic]

Tim Conway
Harvey Korman
Carol Burnett
Jonathan Winters
Phil Silver

 

[steveno]

if you look at the Dean Martin Comedy roasts on "you tube" you will you see these comedians at their best and I think Dean had the most fun just being the emcee.

I also forgot to mention Redd Foxx

 

[paplinker]

Anyone remember Rusty Warren? When my grandfather died i received all his old records. Included was a album of hers. Interesting to hear. Especially since i was ten at the time. I miss that man and now being older could imagine him listening to that while building things in his work basement.

 

[Dashriprock]

George Gobel.

Youtube the 1969 Carson show segment with Dean Martin and Bob Hope listening to George tell stories. Hi-larious!

They don't make them like those guys anymore.

 

[Dueeast]

Everyone in "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world"

 

[Mike McLellan]

Ernie Kovaks provided a "laugh-out-loud" evening at our house. His take on the poet, "Percy Dovetonsils", was a real inspiration to me during my starving-poet years. Check him out on youtube.

 

[shouldazagged]

I can't imagine why you think the guys you mentioned, and the others added to the list today, would be "censored". They were all squeaky clean compared to a lot of the stuff children, much less adults, can see today. Laurel & Hardy never needed to work blue. Certainly Abbott & Costello worked clean. Nowadays even 90-year-old Betty White gets away with bawdy humor that would have shocked the hell out of Fred Allen, one of my all-time favorites.

I've decided that in my old age I look like a cross between Allen and Buster Keaton, so I may be a bit biased...