American Cornball: A Laffopedic Guide to the Formerly Funny

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Rob Farr
Godfather
Posts: 488
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 12:00 pm
Location: Our Nation's Capitol

American Cornball: A Laffopedic Guide to the Formerly Funny

Postby Rob Farr » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:40 pm

This tome, by Christopher Miller, looks at over 200 comedy staples and tropes whose common denominator is that they are totally obsolete by today's standards (tho I dare say not by the standards of the SCM). Miller looks at the origins of jokes about mothers-in-law, fat people, anvils, exploding cigars, hammers, rolling pins, baldness, etc. The only trope that Miller misses is the time-honored explorers/missionaries in the cannibals' cauldron which enjoyed a 30-year run from the 30s to the 60s. Miller ties many of these gags to their film roots, tho he seems to think that The Three Stooges invented visual comedy. For example, in his section on pianos several examples of The Stooges' encounters are given, but no mention of Laurel & Hardy's' Music Box, let alone Chaplin's His Musical Career. But these caveats aside, I highly recommend this book. It makes for great bathroom reading since one entry lasts about as long as... Well, never mind.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Cornball ... n+cornball
Rob Farr
"If it's not comedy, I fall asleep" - Harpo Marx

Pasquale Ventura
Posts: 169
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 7:52 pm

Re: American Cornball: A Laffopedic Guide to the Formerly Fu

Postby Pasquale Ventura » Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:45 pm

Rob Farr
I highly recommend this book. It makes for great bathroom reading since one entry lasts about as long as... Well, never mind.


Are you saying when one starts reading this book it automatically causes the squishy drippings?

Pasquale

Robert Moulton
Cugine
Posts: 43
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:12 pm

Re: American Cornball: A Laffopedic Guide to the Formerly Funny

Postby Robert Moulton » Tue May 16, 2017 5:34 pm

Late to the game but I'll give this an endorsement too. I've had it for about a year and a half and never tire of flipping thru it. Very thorough. I especially like the discussion of the living room couch as scene for romantic encounters.


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