Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Alan King on Married Life in 1965

Some of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Today we continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines by iconic comedians on Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.

Alan King (1927-2004) was synonymous with classic Jewish comedy during his career which lasted about 50 years starting in 1955. He had roles in many movies, but we remember him most vividly for his stand-up comedy routines in the Catskills and on television.

King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews. King's style of comedy changed when he saw Danny Thomas performing in the early 1950s. He realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response. King changed his own style from one-liners to a more conversational style that used everyday life for humor. His comedy inspired other comedians such as Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Robert Klein, and Bill Cosby.

In one of his earliest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965, with his wife and two sons in the audience, King talks about married life.

Enjoy! 

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Alan King on Doctors in 1964

Alan King (1927-2004) was synonymous with classic Jewish comedy during his career which lasted about 50 years starting in 1955. He had roles in many movies, but we remember him most vividly for his stand-up comedy routines in the Catskills and on television.

King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews. King's style of comedy changed when he saw Danny Thomas performing in the early 1950s. He realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response. King changed his own style from one-liners to a more conversational style that used everyday life for humor. His comedy inspired other comedians such as Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Robert Klein, and Bill Cosby.

In this video clip from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, Alan King tells stories about the frustrations associated with doctors' offices, waiting rooms, and the indignities suffered while waiting to see the doctor.

Enjoy!

   

    #Throwback Thursday          #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Alan King and Johnny Carson Talk About Bad Food and Bad Restaurants

Today we're turning the calendar back 38 years to 1985 when Alan King and Johnny Carson talked about their experiences with bad food served in bad restaurants.

The conversation was triggered by King giving Carson a copy of his newly published book, "Is Salami and Eggs Better than Sex?"

Alan King appeared on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show a total of 73 times. He was a frequent guest on the show and often appeared as a guest host. King was a well-known comedian and actor who was popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and his appearances on the Tonight Show helped to solidify his status as one of the greats of his time.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

  #Throwback Thursday   #TBT

Celebrating Our 4,000th Post in 13+ Years of Jewish Humor Central

Jewish Humor Central made its first appearance on the Internet on Sunday, October 4, 2009. In the following 13+ years we have posted video clips to fulfill the mission that we established at the beginning -- an objective that has appeared as the header on our home page ever since.

We posted Jewish humor items in the following categories: Jokes,  stories, parodies, satire, legends, books, films, Unbelievable But True, and In the News. Some were new, and some were classics. Occasionally some were not really funny, but thought-provoking.We included our own comments, but generally relied on the links to tell their own story.

We included items from religious and secular sources of all Jewish denominations, and we tried to keep the site family-friendly. Any perceived slight to any group or subgroup has been unintentional, and we trusted that people without a sense of humor would not be offended by anything we posted or linked to.

 

So for today's 4,000th post, we are looking back over the years and repeating the five most viewed posts since Jewish Humor Central began. We hope you enjoy seeing them again and understand why they have been so popular. 

#1 - Barbra Streisand Performs Avinu Malkeinu at Shimon Peres' 90th Birthday Celebration in Jerusalem.

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2013/06/barbra-streisand-performs-in-hebrew-and.html

#2 - Alan King Explains All the Middle East Conflicts

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2015/12/a-rare-comedy-find-alan-king-explains_3.html

 

#3 - Ivanka Trump Goes to Shul on Sukkot and the Media Doesn't Get It

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2011/10/ivanka-trump-goes-to-shul-on-sukkot-and.html

 

#4 - I Could be Jewish For You

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2014/07/i-could-be-jewish-for-you-from-songs-by.html

 

#5 - Yiddishology - How Good Is Your Yiddish - "Shtipper" or "Shtupper"?

http://www.jewishhumorcentral.com/2010/04/yiddishology-how-good-is-your-yiddish.html

 

Enjoy them all!

 

Thanks to all of our subscribers and casual readers for your feedback, encouragement, and loyalty through the years. We look forward to more postings to keep you smiling always. We'll be back with more posts tomorrow starting with our weekly Welcoming Shabbat video.

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Alan King on Insurance Adjusters

It's another Throwback Thursday and we're going back to 1966 when Alan King appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show with a story about his encounter with insurance adjusters.

Alan King was one of our favorite comedians. He was funny not only in his standup routines but just about everywhere he appeared in person or in television interviews. 

King appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show 50 times and one of his favorite targets was the insurance industry. Here he goes again.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

   

#Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Alan King on Being a Pal to His Children

Today's another Throwback Thursday and we're turning the clock back 57 years to 1965 and one of Alan King's 50 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In this segment King talks about the joys of being a pal to his two sons and the pleasures of a Sunday drive with his family.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

   #Throwback Thursday      #TBT

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Special: Alan King - "A Wife is a Wife is a Wife"

Alan King (1927-2004) was synonymous with classic Jewish comedy during his career which lasted about 50 years starting in 1955. He had roles in many movies, but we remember him most vividly for his stand-up comedy routines in the Catskills and on television.

King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews. King's style of comedy changed when he saw Danny Thomas performing in the early 1950s. He realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response. King changed his own style from one-liners to a more conversational style that used everyday life for humor. His comedy inspired other comedians such as Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Robert Klein, and Bill Cosby.

In this video clip from Expo 67 in Montreal, King reflects on his life with his wife and the universality of his experience.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Alan King on the Insurance Industry

Today's another Throwback Thursday and we're turning the clock back 54 years to 1966 and one of Alan King's 50 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In this segment King takes aim at the insurance industry in all of its forms and finds it an easy target, whether it's life insurance, accident, medical, travel, mortgage cancellation, water damage, fire and theft, or locust plague.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

#Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Throwback Thursday: Alan King on the Joys of Air Travel

It's another Throwback Thursday. Time to travel back in time to 1974 for a classic performance by Alan King appearing as a guest on The Carol Burnett Show.

Holding his usual cigar as a prop, King reflects on the indignities of air travel, the food, and especially the way luggage was handled (or not handled.) 

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.



#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Alan King Interviewed by David Letterman in 1995

Alan King was one of our favorite comedians. He was funny not only in his standup routines
but just about everywhere he appeared in person or in television interviews. He made frequent appearances on the late night TV programs and gave us a candid look at the man behind the routines.

We found a video clip of Alan being interviewed by David Letterman and we're sharing it with you today. In the clip, Alan talks about his children and grandchildren, smoking cigars, and why Jews shouldn't play golf.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

#Throwback Thursday   #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Alan King Visits Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show

Comedian Alan King was a frequent guest on Johnny Carson's Tonight show. As a guest he didn't do formal stand-up comedy, but their conversations often included jokes, gags, and funny stories.

In this appearance from 1982 (that's 36 years ago, folks) Alan revealed some family facts, including his growing up in an Orthodox family, holding on to the basic laws of kashrut, having a grandfather who was a rabbi who lived to 104, and reflections on doctors and the medical profession (3 of his brothers were doctors.)

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.
 

#Throwback Thursday   #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Alan King Reminisces About His Son's Bar Mitzvah Haftorah

We hope you had a joyful month of holidays. Now that Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot are behind us, we're back to our usual mix of jokes and funny happenings around the world. 

Mondays are reserved for a Joke to Start the Week, Fridays for a Shabbat-related post, and Thursdays for reaching back in time for a classic comedy post. The other days? Whatever we think is funny or nachas-producing.

On this Throwback Thursday we're reaching back to an episode of The Johnny Carson Show when Johnny interviewed Alan King and Alan reminisced about the time his son had difficulty learning the Haftorah for his Bar Mitzvah.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 

A Rare Comedy Find: Alan King Explains All the Middle East Conflicts

One of the pleasures in searching the Internet for funny Jewish videos is the unexpected discovery of gems in largely unknown old video clips.

While surfing on YouTube this week, we came across a video of an appearance by comedian Alan King in which he explained all the Middle East conflicts in a seven minute commentary that ends in a song and dance number.

Since the clip was made in the early 1980s, the explanations have no relevance today. Really? The more things change, the more they remain the same. The key players are all gone, but the game hasn't really changed much.

The video clip was made in the 1980s, but was just posted by Jack Abdo earlier this year. It shows a side of the great comedian that we never knew and never expected.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)  

Introducing a New Series - The Great Jewish Comedians: Alan King on Airline Travel on The Carol Burnett Show

It's no secret that the greatest comedians are Jewish, and most of them achieved their fame by entertaining audiences without having to resort to using foul language, like many of today's younger comics.

Today we're starting a new series on Jewish Humor Central that we're calling "The Great Jewish Comedians." In the coming weeks and months we'll be posting some of the funniest routines by the funniest comics, along with some biographical information taken from The Encyclopedia of the History of Jewish Comedy by Harvey Sheldon.

Alan King (1927-2004) was born Irwin Alan Kniberg in New York City. King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews. Over the years he appeared in films, on TV, in nightclubs and in concerts -- as a headline act often, but also opening for many legendary singers, including Judy Garland at the Palace and the London Palladium.

In this video clip, King appears on the Carol Burnett Show and delivers a stand-up set about airlines and the way they handle (and mishandle) luggage.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 

A 40 Year Old Comedy Classic: Alan King - "Survived By His Wife"

Last week the long-running Off-Broadway show Old Jews Telling Jokes went on the road and opened at the Royal George Theater in Chicago.

Reviews were positive, and the Chicago papers praised the show that has kept New Yorkers laughing for the last few years.

The show has a new cast but uses the same old jokes (what else would you expect?) The reviewers especially enjoyed an old video clip that was part of the show -- a famous routine that master comedian Alan King introduced more than 40 years ago. In the video King repeats the routine 15 years later, in 1987 in Las Vegas. We thought you'd like to see it and laugh along with the audience.

King declares that women live longer than men and produces a few pages of obituaries from local newspapers. He walks into the audience and  asks members to read the closing line of each one, which provides hilarious proof of his premise.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)