BEHIND THE LAUGHS
 Bob Newhart |
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 Lenny Bruce |
 Johnny Carson |
 Joan Rivers |
 George Carlin |
 Richard Pryor |
 Steve Martin |
 Comedy Clubs |
 TV Takeover |
 Modern Monologues |
Why did the chicken cross the road? By now you know the punchline to the age old joke - but, have you ever wondered about its origins? Believe it or not, it had to start somewhere. Just like the art of stand-up comedy.
According to Britannica, stand-up comedy is actually a more recent phenomenon. The origins of stand-up in the United States, date back to the 19th century when comic lecturer Mark Twain toured the country, entertaining the masses.
It was in vaudeville houses however, that stand-up comedy tooks it's first steps.
As stand-up began to catch-on in the 1930's and 40's, Jewish comedians developed a brash monolgue style of performing. This was loaded with gags and took inspiration from sterotypes, like the bossy mother-in-law and the nagging wife.
The laughs and the years kept on coming. Soon, entertainers like Bob Hope, Lenny Bruce, and Joan Rivers would take the stage - redefining the genre entirely.
For a thorough look at the progression of stand-up through the decades, click through the interactive timeline to the left.