This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett


Born 1892: Ernst Lubitsch, German movie director, relocated to Hollywood in 1922. Critic Leonard Maltin says: "Noted for the distinctive, if ill-defined, 'Lubitsch touch,' which depended mostly on his sly, continental/sophisticated treatment of sexuality and nose-thumbing at contemporary mores (then daring terrain for a filmmaker), this brilliant director had a gift that others tried to imitate but seldom achieved." His classic comedies include "Ninotchka" (1939), "To Be or Not to Be" (1942), and "Heaven Can Wait" (1943). Personal quote: "Nobody should try to play comedy unless they have a circus going on inside." Died 1947.

1930: Underway, the era of "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" cartoons. Producer Leon Schlesinger made his deal with Warner Bros. to develop animated shorts for the studio, using unemployed Disney artists as laborers. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and pals would be hired soon, too.

Born 1936: Alan Alda, actor. His signature role was Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, MD, the central surgeon-prankster of TV's long-running "M*A*S*H" situation comedy (1972-83).

1953: A chimpanzee, J. Fred Muggs, became a regular member of NBC's "The Today Show" cast, joining host Dave Garroway.

1956: The comic western, "Pardners," completed shooting at Paramount Pictures. By summer, its stars, comedy team Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, would no longer be partners.

• Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Links

1960: The BBC aired the final episode of its popular comedy sketch program, "The Goon Show," featuring Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, and Spike Milligan.

Copyright ©2003 Mike Durrett. All rights reserved.