Who's Who in Comedy: Comedians, Comics, and Clowns from Vaudeville to Today's Stand-Ups [Hardcover]

Ron Smith (Author), Ronald L. Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Smith, author of Stars of Stand-Up Comedy ( LJ 5/15/86), offers this comprehensive encyclopedia. The book's approximately 450 entries, from Abbott and Costello to Zeb and Zarrow, includes well-knowns like Jackie Gleason and Lucille Ball, as well as lesser-knowns like Huntz Hall and Minerva Pious. Almost 100 years of funny people are covered. Each entry includes given name, date of birth (and, if applicable, death), brief biographical information, a historical account of the subject's career, and some analysis. There are excellent See references and three appendixes: nickname and character name, catch phrase, and categorical (impressionists, dialect, TV, teams, etc.). Essential for answering questions like, "What comic said, 'Picky, picky, picky'?" (Photos not seen.)-- Sherle Abramson, Williamsburg Regional Lib., Va.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (July 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816023387
• ISBN-13: 978-0816023387
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,160,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book about American Comedians Past & Present, October 5, 2008

By 

Frank Cullen "Vaudeville Frank" (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Who in Comedy: Comedians, Comics, and Clowns from Vaudeville to Today's Stand-Ups (Hardcover)

Ron L. Smith's survey of American comedians (both sexes) from vaudeville through revue, musical comedy and movies to comedy clubs is the best book about American comedians I've read.
Too often survey books are limited by scope: providing too little information about too many people and failing to impart a sense of the act, or by an author's intent to showcase himself: a fan's enthusiasm or an academic's theorizing.
In his deft sketches of Who's Who in Comedy, from vaudeville through revue, musical comedy, movies and radio to television and comedy clubs, Mr. Smith demonstrates he understands what information is important to his readers, and we get a sense of what made each comedian and comedy team successful.
No theatre or show business library is complete without this book.
Frank Cullen
author: Vaudeville, Old & New: an Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America.
founder: American Vaudeville Museum.