{"product_id":"the-funniest-decade-a-celebration-of-american-comedy-in-the-1930s-hardback-hardcover","title":"The Funniest Decade: A Celebration of American Comedy in the 1930s (hardback) - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eGarry Berman\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Author Garry Berman gives readers a history lesson in comparing and overlapping the mediums of radio artists and film comedies during the decade of the 1930s. In doing so, he has not only created a new format, he has brought in fresh perspectives of the people that made the magic.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - Bill Cassara, author of Nobody's Stooge and Edgar Kennedy: Master of the Slow Burn.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \"It is a thorough and fascinating study, filled with interesting details.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- James Neibaur, author of Arbuckle \u0026amp; Keaton and The Charley Chase Talkies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Garry Berman has done a stellar job.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Michelle Morgan, author of The Ice Cream Blonde: The Whirlwind Life and Mysterious Death of Screwball Comedienne Thelma Todd.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf there was ever a \"Golden Decade\" of American comedy, it was the 1930s. At the dawn of that remarkable, laugh-filled era, comedians had, for the first time, three performing venues available to them: the stage, radio, and talking films (plus, in the final year of the decade, the arrival of television), resulting in this ten-year span producing the finest performances by the greatest comedians ever to make audiences laugh. In film, comedy titans Laurel \u0026amp; Hardy, The Marx Brothers, and W. C. Fields all reached their creative peaks, as did Mae West, Our Gang (a.k.a. The Little Rascals), the Three Stooges, and less-remembered teams such as Wheeler \u0026amp; Woolsey, Clark \u0026amp; McCullough, and the Ritz Brothers. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the same time, radio became a major entertainment force, allowing vaudevillians Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Fred Allen, Ed Wynn, George Burns \u0026amp; Gracie Allen, Edgar Bergen, Bob Hope, and Abbott \u0026amp; Costello to become national stars.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the stage, comedians including Bert Lahr, Fannie Brice, Jimmy Durante, and Wynn all thrived, while expanding their respective careers into films and radio.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Funniest Decade\u003c\/em\u003e devotes one chapter to each calendar year of the 1930s, covering the landmark comedy films, radio programs, and stage performances of each year, while focusing on the individual comedians and comedy teams at key moments in their professional careers, including their first major creative and popular breakthroughs. Dozens of photos, too \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEntertainment historian Garry Berman has been writing about pop culture-especially television, music, and films-for over twenty years. He has contributed to \u003cem\u003eNostalgia Digest\u003c\/em\u003e magazine, \u003cem\u003eHistory\u003c\/em\u003e magazine, and \u003cem\u003eBeatlefan. \u003c\/em\u003eHe has also written and\/or published several comedy scripts and humorous short pieces. This is his sixth non-fiction book.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 348\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.81 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 08, 2020\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42162047942791,"sku":"9781629336282","price":60.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/9f8e4152b9fc5b72afcd7f2fefd0d575.webp?v=1733286165","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/the-funniest-decade-a-celebration-of-american-comedy-in-the-1930s-hardback-hardcover","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}