A Hundred Years, a Million Laughs: A Centennial Celebration of the Friars Club (Hardcover)

by Barry Dougherty (Author) "No institution has embraced Shakespeare's observation with as much unbridled bravado as the Friars Club..." (more)
Key Phrases: testimonial dinner, Friars Club, Alan King, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Dougherty has produced the ultimate book on the origin and evolution of this legendary showbiz club -- Tim Boxer, 15minutes.com

Product Description
The world-famous Friars Club thrives as one of the most beloved—and exclusive—entertainment organizations in the world. In celebration of the Friars Club’s centennial anniversary, A HUNDRED YEARS, A MILLION LAUGHS by Barry Dougherty flings open the doors to the famously secretive organization’s "monastery" in midtown Manhattan—and offers a front-row seat at legendary Friars Club Roasts, testimonials, Frolics, and other history-making antics.

A roll call of Friars Club membership reads like a who’s who of American entertainment in the twentieth century: George M. Cohan. Enrico Caruso. Milton Berle. Jimmy Durante. Frank Sinatra. Bob Hope. Carol Burnett. Robin Williams. Barbara Walters. Billy Crystal. Drew Carey. Joy Behar. From ribald comedy to musical merrymaking, the show biz giants interviewed in A HUNDRED YEARS, A MILLION LAUGHS come clean with behind-the-scenes tales of what happens behind closed doors.

Starting with the club’s humble beginnings in 1904, official Friars Club author Barry Dougherty reveals the group’s ups and downs through the ’30s and ’40s, its golden age in the ’50s and ’60s, and its importance today to a new generation of comics and entertainers. With nearly 200 photos—many never before seen—and timeless Al Hirschfeld caricatures, A HUNDRED YEARS, A MILLION LAUGHS captures many of the world’s favorite comedians in rare form as they perform for their peers. It’s a must-have for fans of twentieth century American humor, show biz, and pop culture history.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Clerisy Press, Emmis Books (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578601614
• ISBN-13: 978-1578601615
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,226,641 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique masterpiece of American humor, July 10, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The Friars Club is a showbusiness icon and a legendary entertainment organization principally known for its Friars Club Roasts, Friars Club Testimonials, and Friars Club Frolics where the best names of 20th Century American entertainment regularly engaged in ribald comedy and musical merry-making. A Hundred Years, A Million Laughs : A Centennial Celebration Of The Friars Club by Barry Dougherty will serve to introduce a whole new generation of readers to this famously secretive organizations's "monastery" located in midtown Manhattan, as it reveals the group's colorful history from its humble beginnings in 1904 down to its present day worldwide popularity. Enhanced with almost 200 photographs and timeless Al Hirschfeld caricatures, A Hundred years, A Millions Laughs is a unique masterpiece of American humor, show biz, and pop culture history that would embellish any personal, academic, or community library collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to the "monistary!", May 30, 2008

By	J. Arena (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

In midtown Manhattan, there can be found the headquarters of a secret organization with a very colorful history with worldwide recognition. If you are thinking of Skull and Bones, or buried religious artifacts you are wrong.

The Friars Club is a legendary organization whose members are the top names in American show business. A Hundred Years, A Million Laughs: A Centennial Celebration Of The Friars Club by Barry Dougherty is a magnificent introduction to those icons, perhaps unknown by those born after Baby Boomers, who idolized these tremendous talents.

It's an amazing, entertaining and informative read, made that much better with about 200 photos. It also includes caricatures drawn by the legendary Al Herschfeld. This book is a tremendous resource of popular culture information.

Highly recommended.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Million Laughs, July 3, 2006

By	Dr. W. Dale Parker (Boone, N.C.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I thought it to be a joke book so I didn't like it.