Full Description
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
The National Comedy Center and Smithsonian Institution hold unparalleled collections of artifacts that illustrate the vitality and importance of comedy in American life, from vaudeville, silent films, and TV sitcoms to stand-up, sketch, and cartoons. Now, for the first time, these collections are brought together in vibrant photographs and illuminating essays that tell the story of how comedy shaped American history.
Written by historians responsible for safeguarding these cultural treasures, the book takes readers behind the scenes to uncover the stories behind American heirlooms like Groucho Marx's tailcoat, George Carlin's joke files, Carol Burnett's "Went with the Wind" dress, Johnny Carson's monologues, and the very first Saturday Night Live script, alongside materials from cultural touchstones like The Simpsons, The Muppet Show, In Living Color, All In the Family, and I Love Lucy.
With a foreword by comedy legend Mel Brooks, this dynamic work offers pop culture aficionados, history lovers, and comedy nerds alike a new perspective on America's past and who we are as a nation through our comedy.
Contents
Foreword by Mel Brooks xi
Director's Note by Journey Gunderson xiii
Director's Note by Anthea M. Hartig xv
Introduction 1
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
Conclusion by Laura LaPlaca 333
Conclusion by Ryan Lintelman 337
Acknowledgments 343
Notes 345
Contributors 353
Illustration Credits 355
Index 000
