Jewish Humor Central is a daily publication to start your day with news of the Jewish world that's likely to produce a knowing smile and some Yiddishe nachas. It's also a collection of sources of Jewish humor--anything that brings a grin, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, or just a warm feeling to readers.
Our posts include jokes, satire, books, music, films, videos, food, Unbelievable But True, and In the News. Some are new, and some are classics. We post every morning, Sunday through Friday. Enjoy!
Paul Winchell (December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005) was an American
ventriloquist, comedian, actor, voice actor, humanitarian and inventor
whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1950–1954, he
hosted The Paul Winchell Show, which also used two other titles during its prime time run on NBC, The Speidel Show, and What's My Name?. Winchell was born Paul Wilchinsky in New York City on December 21, 1922 to Solomon Wilchinsky and Clara Fuchs. His father was a tailor. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russian Poland and Austria-Hungary. Winchell's initial ambition was to become a doctor, but the Depression wiped out any chance of his family's ability to afford medical school tuition. At age 13, he contracted polio. While recovering, he happened upon a magazine advertisement offering a ventriloquism kit for ten cents. Back at school,
he asked his art teacher, Jerod Magon, if he could receive class credit
for creating a ventriloquist's dummy. Mr. Magon was agreeable, and
Winchell named his creation Jerry Mahoney, by way of thanks.
Winchell went back to reading magazines, gathering jokes from them and
putting together a comedy routine, which he then took to the Major Bowes Amateur Hour in 1938, winning first prize. A touring offer, playing various theaters with the Major Bowes Review, was part of the prize. Bandleader Ted Weems
saw the young Winchell while on tour; he visited Winchell and made him
an offer of employment. Winchell accepted and became a professional at
age 14. Let's go back 60 years to 1956 and visit with Paul Winchell and his two dummies, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead. Enjoy! (A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:
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Paul Winchell held over 30 patents... many in the field of medicine. He invented and patented one of the first Artificial Hearts (prior to Jarvik) along with Dr. Heimlich. He donated the heart to the University of Utah so that they could continue doing work on it. He also developed a system for farm raising Tilapia fish in sub-Saharan Africa. He worked with the Leukemia Foundation and the American Red Cross. One of his inventions was a blood plasma defroster. He was a brilliant man on so many levels.
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A Message From Al Kustanowitz About FAU OLLI Lectures
A video greeting to all past, present, and future patrons of Florida Atlantic University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Boca Raton. The University is making Al's presentation of The Great Jewish Entertainers available online until June 30 as it transitions from live lectures in the 550 seat auditorium to video lectures accessible at home on computer screens, laptops, and smart phones. To register for this lecture click on this link and follow instructions to obtain a Patron ID. The fee for this lecture is $35 and membership in FAU OLLI is not required.
Jewish Humor Central Staff
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief:
Al Kustanowitz Food and Wine Editor:
Aviva Weinberg Israel Food and Wine Consultant Penina Kustanowitz Reporter and Photographer:
Meyer Berkowitz Reporter Phyllis Flancbaum
Now You Can Book Program and Lecture Dates for 2021 Via ZOOM
Now is the time to book our Jewish humor programs and lectures for your 2021 events via ZOOM anywhere in the world. Book any of our 20 popular programs including "The Great Jewish Comedians", “Israel is a Funny Country”, and "Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places." Click above for details and videos. To book a program, contact Al at akustan@gmail.com or 201-390-7535.
BUY OUR LATEST BOOK IN PAPERBACK AND GET THE KINDLE VERSION (E-BOOK) FREE!
Buy our latest book "Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places" from Amazon in paperback for $9.95 and Amazon will offer you the Kindle (e-book) version free of charge. You can read the Kindle (e-book) on any computer, tablet, or smart phone with a Kindle reader that you can download free from Amazon. You can give the print version as a gift and keep the Kindle version for yourself. The book presents 150 anecdotes and associated video clips that reveal the myriad ways that Jewish culture, religion, humor, music, song, and dance have found expression in parts of the world that, at first glance, might not seem supportive of Jewish Life. It includes 50 videos of Hava Nagila being performed from Texas to Thailand, from India to Iran, and from Buenos Aires to British Columbia. Also highlighted are 34 international versions of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, Adon Olam, Abanibi, and Tumbalalaika. Whether you’re reading the print version and typing in the video URLs or reading the e-book version and clicking on the links, you’ll have access to 150 video clips totaling more than 10 hours of video. Enjoy!
Buy "Israel is a Funny Country" and Amazon will give you a free copy of the Kindle edition
Amazon.com is running a promotion of the Kindle Edition of our book, "Israel is a Funny Country." If you buy the paperback edition, Amazon will give you the Kindle edition free under their MatchBook program. After you order the book, return to the book page and click on Kindle Edition. The price will change from $2.99 to $0.00. Amazon offers free Kindle reading apps so you can read any Kindle book on your PC, Mac, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android smartphone.
Now is the time to book our Jewish Humor Shows and Lectures for your shul, JCC, or club on ZOOM.
Bring Al's Jewish humor lectures and comedy programs with the funniest videos on the Internet to your community and your synagogue, club, JCC, organization or private event via ZOOM. We're taking reservations now for 2021 dates in your community. Click above for details. To book a program, contact Al at akustan@gmail.com or 201-390-7535.
Now Open: The Jewish Humor Central Gift Shop
Jewish Humor Central logo merchandise is now available. Click on the image above to see the complete collection -- More than 100 items from tote bags, baseball caps, mugs, aprons, drinkware, T-shirts and sweatshirts, to pajamas and underwear.
Add Laughter to Your Purim Celebration. Order Now From Amazon.com.
The Kustanowitz Kronikle - 25 Purim newsletters from 1988 to 2012 filled with parody, satire, and spoofs. Available now from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.. A great gift for the hosts of your Purim Seudah.
Booking a Comedy Show? Contact the Jewish Speakers Bureau at JewishSpeakersBureau.com
The Best of Jewish Humor Central - Now Available in eBook and Paperback at Amazon.com
The Best of Jewish Humor Central - More than 400 video clips, including music and comedy videos for all the Jewish holidays. View them on Your PC, Mac, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone, iTouch, Android Tablet and Smartphone. Click on the image above to peek inside and download a free sample. And now, a paperback edition for anyone who prefers a traditional book and doesn't mind typing the URLs instead of clicking on them.
About the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Al Kustanowitz, Jewish Humor Central's Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, has collected Jewish humor even before there was an internet. For the last 25 years he has been editor and publisher of The Kustanowitz Kronikle.
Al is a member of the Jewish Speakers Bureau.
Want to contact us? Just send email to akustan@gmail.com.
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Very enjoyable
ReplyDeleteLoved it! I am always amazed when I watch him and wonder how he could do that...
ReplyDeletehe was the best of his kind
ReplyDeletePaul Winchell held over 30 patents... many in the field of medicine. He invented and patented one of the first Artificial Hearts (prior to Jarvik) along with Dr. Heimlich. He donated the heart to the University of Utah so that they could continue doing work on it. He also developed a system for farm raising Tilapia fish in sub-Saharan Africa. He worked with the Leukemia Foundation and the American Red Cross. One of his inventions was a blood plasma defroster. He was a brilliant man on so many levels.
ReplyDelete