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for remembering some of the highlights of the 20th Century "Hundreds of videos" and tons of material for your enjoyment. Over three hundred links to other relevant websites
- new material added frequently. From Fashion to Vaudeville theatre through to Old Time Radio Film and film stars Comics to Tanks through to Trains Cars & Motorbikes, Inventions, The War Years: WW1, WW2, the Vietnam WarWeapons, History of pop music, Aircraft and Warships The Roaring Twenties to the Swinging Sixties and many other subjects from the 1910s to the 1990s. If you spot the "deliberate" mistake, email us with a correction. With more than 89 pages and counting! plus
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Here we have a cross
selection of funny videos and the comics of each decade, what will find one person laughing will leave another cold, that
is the strange thing called humour, from the rather prim start of the decades to humour of the end of the 20th century that
is cruel but very observant of the times..
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 after ward. 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).
1980s
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.
1990s
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 alsao 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).
