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What is life without a sense of humor? Man would
be nothing but a reasoning animal without it. Many a life has been inspired by the ability to laugh in a tough situation and
smile at the miseries of life. The drudgery of life is often relieved by these little glorious moments of humor. The capacity
to see the flip side of life in the day to day situations and to come out of the bottlenecks of life , with a smile is indeed
a great blessing, a great gift of the Gods. Charlie Chaplin had often said that he would not have survived the greatest battles
of his life with out the great sense of humour he had. He could come out smililing in the hardest moments of his life. He
laughed at the ironies of life, the very bitter sarcasm that life is.
1910
Kinemacolor
was the first successful colour motion picture process, used commercially from 1908 to 1914. It was invented by George Albert
Smith of Brighton, England in 1906, and launched by Charles Urban's Urban Trading Co. of London in 1908. From 1909 on,
the process was known as Kinemacolor. It was a two-colour additive colour process, photographing and projecting a black-and-white
film behind alternating red and green filters.
1920
Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a 1920 horror silent film based upon Robert Louis Stevenson's novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll
and Mr Hyde and starring actor John Barrymore. The film was directed by John S. Robertson and co-starred Nita Naldi,
and is now in the Public Domain This story of split personality, has Dr. Jekyll a kind and charitable man who believes
that everyone has two sides, one good and one evil. Using a potion, his personalities are split, creating havoc.
1930s
A popular form of theater during the 19th
century was the minstrelsy show, arguably the first uniquely American style of performance. These shows featured white actors
dressed in blackface and playing up racial stereotypes.
Burlesque
became a popular form of entertainment in the middle of the 19th century. Originally a form of farce in which females in male
roles mocked the politics and culture of the day, burlesque was condemned by opinion makers for its sexuality and outspokenness.
The form was hounded off the "legitimate stage" and found itself relegated to saloons and barrooms, and its content
mostly raunchy jokes.
Vaudeville is a style of variety entertainment
predominant in America in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. Developing from many sources including shows in saloons,
minstrelsy, British pantomimes, and other popular entertainments, vaudeville became one of the most popular types of entertainment
in America. Part of this entertainment was usually one or more comedians. Vaudeville provided generations of American entertainers
including George M. Cohan, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Mae West, Fanny Brice, and W.C. Fields, among others. Vaudeville
grew less popular as movies replaced live entertainment, but vaudeville performers were able to move into those other fields.
Former vaudeville performers who were successful in film, radio and television include: Buster Keaton, Marx Brothers, Edgar
Bergen, Three Stooges, and Abbott & Costello.
1940s
British humour is a somewhat general term
applied to certain comedic motifs that are often prevalent in comedic acts originating in the United Kingdom and its current
or former colonies. Comedy acts and television programmes typical of British humour include Monty Python, Benny Hill, and
Keeping Up Appearances to name a few that have become quite popular outside of the United Kingdom. At times, however, such
humour can seem puzzling to non-British speakers of English (references to English slang terms or people, who are unknown
internationally for example) while certain Commonwealth nations (such as Australia, Canada and South Africa) tend to find
it more familiar. Many UK comedy TV shows typical of British humour have been internationally popular, and have been a strong
avenue for the export and representation of British culture to an international audience.
1950s
Hancock's Half Hour was a ground-breaking
and influential BBC radio comedy series of the 1950s, starring Tony Hancock, with Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Bill Kerr and
Kenneth Williams. From 1956 it also became a television comedy series.
The show was written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, and produced by Dennis
Main Wilson, although, after Main-Wilson departed for his television career, this role was later taken by Tom Ronald. The
distinctive tuba-based theme tune was composed by Wally Stott. Comedian Tony Hancock starred in the show, playing an
exaggerated version of his own character, as a down-at-heel comedian living at the dilapidated 23 Railway Cuttings in East
Cheam. The comedy actor Sid James played a criminally-inclined confidante of Hancock, who usually succeeded in conning him
each week, and Bill Kerr appeared as Hancock's Australian lodger, a character who became noticeably dim-witted in the
later shows. A young Kenneth Williams, taking his first job in comedy, provided the funny voices for all the minor characters
in the show each week. Moira Lister appeared in the first series, before being replaced by Andrée Melly for the next
two; both women played love interest for Hancock's character, but both were playing essentially straight roles. In the
fourth and fifth series a comedienne, Hattie Jacques, provided comedy in the female role as the harridan Grizelda Pugh, who
was Hancock's secretary and Sid's occasional girlfriend.
1960s
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme,
originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme.
The first series, broadcast between May and September 1951, was titled Crazy People; all subsequent series had the overall
title The Goon Show.
The
show's chief creator and main writer was Spike Milligan. The scripts mixed ludicrous plots with surreal humour, puns,
catchphrases and an array of bizarre sound effects. Some of the later episodes feature electronic effects devised by the fledgling
BBC Radiophonic Workshop, many of which were reused by other shows for decades afterward. Many elements of the show satirised
contemporary life in Britain, parodying aspects of show business, commerce, industry, art, politics, diplomacy, the police,
the military, education, class structure, literature and film.
NBC began broadcasting the programme on its radio network from the mid-1950s.The programme
exercised a considerable influence on the subsequent development of British and American comedy and popular culture. It was
cited as a major influence by the Monty Python team, The Beatles and the American comedy team The Firesign Theater.
1970s
Till Death Us Do Part was a BBC television
sitcom series written by Johnny Speight that ran from 1966 until 1975. The programme starred Warren Mitchell as the racist
East End misogynist (and Rudyard Kipling lookalike) Alf Garnett. Also appearing in the series were Dandy Nichols as Alf's
long-suffering wife, Else Garnett, Una Stubbs as Rita, his daughter, and Anthony Booth as Mike, his layabout son-in-law, whose
socialist leanings were the cue for many of Alf's more offensive outbursts. The series was remade in the United States
as All in the Family (1971–79), in Brazil (1972-75) as A Grande Família ("The Big Family"), in Germany
(1973–76) as Ein Herz und eine Seele ("One Heart and One Soul") and in Hong Kong (1994–96) as Sei Hoi
Yut Gar ("All in a Family"). In the Netherlands ("In voor en tegenspoed") (1991, 1993, 1995 en 1998).
1980
Stand-up
comedy is a style of comedy where the performer speaks directly to the audience, with the absence of the theatrical "fourth
wall". A person who performs stand-up comedy is known as a stand-up comic, stand-up comedian (comedienne if female) or
more informally stand up. It is usually performed by a single comedian, with the aid of a hand-held microphone (sometimes,
however, the comic will opt to keep the microphone in the stand so he or she may use both hands for visual effect, as is the
case of Ron White). The comedian usually recites a fast-paced succession of humorous stories, short jokes (called "bits"),
and one-liners, which comprise what is typically called a monologue, routine or act. Some stand-up comedians use props, music
or magic tricks to enhance their acts. Stand-up comedy is often performed in comedy clubs, bars, colleges and theaters. However,
there is no real restriction on where the craft can be performed. Many smaller venues hold "open mic" events, where
amateur comedians perform comedy before a live audience, offering a way for such performers to hone their craft and possibly
break into the business. In North America, many comedy clubs feature the now-iconic brick wall as the backdrop for stand-up
performances.
1990
1895-1930 is the era of silent movies.
They began coming into sight in substantial numbers during these years. Because this kind of comedy has no verbal communication,
it relies on slapstick and burlesque, which involves parody and at times grotesque exaggeration. Charlie Chaplin is one of
the most popular actors in the line of silent movies. In France, Max Linder holds the title. In 1920's, comedy in the form of animated cartoons
became popular. The characters have been receiving "special cartoon treatment." To name a few, there are Felix the
Cat, Betty Boop and Krazy Kat. The
introduction of sounds in movies started the use of verbal humor. This took place in towards the end of 1920's. At the
start of 1930's slapstick comedians were replaced by dialogue film comedians like W.C Fields and the Marx Borthers. Despite
these changes, Charlie Chaplin remained in his position and was still a favorite during that time. He also made some changes
like putting sound effects but still has no dialogue. Screwball comedy was next in line. It encompassed pleasing and idealized climate that certain values
and positive beliefs about everyday life of people were showed. Although physical comedy was still there, it is no longer
a necessity because verbal interaction was prioritized and appreciated by the audience. Short subject films were also part
of the trend during those times. It is when the Three Stooges was at its peak. When the World War II started, military themes were such a hit
in the industry. Comedy was focused on civil defense, service, boot-camp and shore leave. Because there are restrictions in
traveling during the war, Hollywood was in boom time. But in the 1950's, comedy was introduced in television. Family themed
comedy became part of the industry because of this reason. Towards the end of 1950's, darker humor began to rise, which
includes satire and social commentary. In the 1960's, star-packed comedies were released. This is also when Peter Sellers tried his luck on international
audience and had a favorable outcome. 1970's was when slapstick comedy came back through Mel Brooks. His films include Young Frankenstein and
Blazing Saddles. But still, verbal use prevailed. This is the start of the career of Steve Martin and others notable comedians. Gag-based comedy films and disaster-themed
series were well known trends in the 1980's. During this time, American TV series were favored.
In the early 1990's, the family-themed
movies cam back to the limelight. Sequels were even made out of its success. Romantic comedy films were admired. Stoner comedies were such a
knockout. The story usually involves the adventure of two guys. Gross out movies were also patronized by younger audience. Comedy in television will always
stay but it will continuously evolve to adapt to the traditional and pop culture, politics and even trends that represent
the current era.
Monty
Python's Flying Circus 4:Funniest Joke In The World
Possibly
Britain in the 1970's certainly needed all the
laughs she could get. Troubled by strikes and political tension, there seemed to be an explosion of comedy and silly crazes,
perhaps as a means to escape all the problems. Whether it was bouncy toys, TV comedy series or children's characters like
Muppets and Wombles, having a laugh became something of a national sport.
'Wacky', which is another word for 'crazy'. In Britain, the 70's were a great era for TV comedy,
and in particular 'sitcom' (or 'sit-com'), which is short for 'situation comedy' - that is people
finding themselves in funny circumstances.
'Slapstick', an obvious kind of humour - like people slipping
on banana skins. But 70's comedy wasn't all about TV. It was also about 'fads' (something that's very
popular for a short period of time), fashions and 'cults' (something that's very popular and fashionable among
a particular group of people).
