Hidy ho, substack folk! Today’s Joke Of The Day is from a true comedy pioneer and, in my opinion, a person who doesn’t get enough credit for the footprint he made on the industry. Enjoy this joke from the one and only Steve Allen!
It's an eternal question; do we judge an artist's work independent of who they were as a person?
From Picasso's rampant misogyny to Michael Jackson's pedophilia, to whatever Woody Allen is, do we draw a line? And if so, where, and when?
At any rate, Dalton Trumbo was a famed screenwriter and antiwar activist who wrote the trenchant "Johnny Got His Gun", a screed against the vietnam war. He was also blacklisted by the anti-communists in the 50's.
In the 60's, he engaged in a letter writing war with.... Steve Allen. The writing on both sides is brilliant; as far as I'm concerned, Allen loses completely on moral grounds. It's long, perhaps you'll find it worth it.
Love it. Steve Allen was a huge influence on shaping my sense of humor as a young lad. And I had the good fortune to see his one man show in the mid-90s. Smock! Smock!
Steve Allen was a wonderful pianist and he had a PBS show presenting famous dead philosophers at dinner discussing timeless issues. PLUS he always had a woman philosopher at dinner to give his wife Jayne Meadows an acting gig but gratefully it advanced my education. Who knew that there were women philosophers? It wasn't taught in my school.
I like how you give info and history of the comedians, etc after you read the joke. That’s interesting.
Corey,
It's an eternal question; do we judge an artist's work independent of who they were as a person?
From Picasso's rampant misogyny to Michael Jackson's pedophilia, to whatever Woody Allen is, do we draw a line? And if so, where, and when?
At any rate, Dalton Trumbo was a famed screenwriter and antiwar activist who wrote the trenchant "Johnny Got His Gun", a screed against the vietnam war. He was also blacklisted by the anti-communists in the 50's.
In the 60's, he engaged in a letter writing war with.... Steve Allen. The writing on both sides is brilliant; as far as I'm concerned, Allen loses completely on moral grounds. It's long, perhaps you'll find it worth it.
https://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/the-happy-jack-fish-hatchery-papers-dalton-trumbo-versus-steve-allen/
THANKS for including Steve Allen, Corey. I loved his humor.
By the way, I learn so much from you with these jokes of the day... besides also laughing.
Glad you're on the mend. Please continue to take good care of yourself.
My parents, who wanted to live as if it was the 1950s and not the 1980s, liked Steve Allen so I saw a bunch of his old stuff as a child. He's great.
Really enjoying this series. I knew of Steve Allen, but didn't know much of the stuff you presented. And that is a classic joke.
Love it. Steve Allen was a huge influence on shaping my sense of humor as a young lad. And I had the good fortune to see his one man show in the mid-90s. Smock! Smock!
Steve Allen was a great one for sure!
I remember Steve Allen, you're correct that he was under appreciated. Thank you for all the older comedians you're spot lighting.
He was sooooo smart Thank you for highlighting him. You’ve sent me to YouTube. Besides his various talents, he was a fantastic pianist.
Steve Allen was a wonderful pianist and he had a PBS show presenting famous dead philosophers at dinner discussing timeless issues. PLUS he always had a woman philosopher at dinner to give his wife Jayne Meadows an acting gig but gratefully it advanced my education. Who knew that there were women philosophers? It wasn't taught in my school.