Funniest Slapstick Comedians Ever

Self | 1-25-02 | Self

[Temple Owl]

I have always loved slapstick comedians. When we were kids, around 15 or 16, we used to go to the old TROC Theater in Philly and lie about our age to gain entrance.

The shows we saw, for the most part, would get a "G" rating today. The most popular comedian was Billy (Cheeze and Crackers) Hagan, who instead of cursing would say "Cheeze and Crackers." He goes down as my all-time favorite stand-up comedian.

Most of these did not use foul language. Among my other favorites, not necessarily in order, are: Bob Hope

Jonathan Winters

Red Skelton

Red Buttons

Bill Cosby

Flip Wilson

Bob Newhart

Jack Benny

George Burns

Jackie Gleason

Feel free to add or disagree. I just will not pay any attention to those who disagree.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Gracie Allen and George Burns. Listen to them every night on old-time radio.

[RLK]

Most of the people you mention were not slapstick. Slapstick has a physical component. Skelton was a riot and was probably the greatest pantomimist that ever lived, followed, by Gleason. But they were not what is known as slapstick. Neither were Benny or Burns. The Keystone Cops would be closer to slapstick. The best slapstick routine I ever saw was an old vaudeville team, Sullivan and McGinty who appeared on the old Ed Sullivan show one time.

[lysie]

About a year ago...I woke up at 3:00 in the morning. Could not get back to sleep so I turned the tv on. There was an old Buster Keaton movie playing. I don't recall the name but it had someting to do with boats. I was in awe of this man's talent. I later learned he did all his owns stunts. The man was brilliant.

[bassmaner]

Let's go to Tunis and have tuna sandwiches for lunch! Nyuk nyuk nyuk ... oooh

[raysol]

Ditto that.RS who I met once was in a class of his own along with Abbott & Costello & lets NOT forget BENNY HILL either.

[Dog]

Carol Burnett show Tim Conway and his Mrs. AViggins

LOL!

[Eddeche]

The only time I've seen my Pops cry was when he was laughing at Peter Sellers in one of the Pink Panther movies.

[RLK]

Keaton was a splendid athlete. There was a film in which he was hanging by an awning support 12 stories up. In those days there was no such thing as special effects or dubbing. It was really him.

[Eddeche]

It was the scene where he was searching a room and vaccumed a parrot (or something like that).

[Lurker]

Peter Sellers in a movie called "The Party" circa 1968 or so. I have it on cassette and it still busts me up every time we watch it.

L

[ironwill]

...lets NOT forget BENNY HILL either

Benny Hill was a crack up. Let's not forget the Little Rascals either. Ya, they're little kids but they are still fun to watch.

[MotleyGirl70]

Jerry Seinfeld. His book has me in tears.

[RippleFire]

Then there is the master:

[untenured]

My mother has told me numerous times that when she was pregnant with me she nearly gave birth in the theater watching "A Shot in the Dark" (which I've never seen myself) because she was laughing so hard.

[Mikey]

"Hey! You forgot Laurel and Hardy! Maybe not standups, but the Grand Piano episode is the first memory I have of laughing at a movie til I peed my pants...."

They were definitly funny and that grand piano episode had me laughing so hard my side felt like it was gonna split, but lets not forget the three stooges or Abbot and Costello. The who's on first is definitly a classic.

[Migraine]

Does anybody remember Charlie Callas? He could turn his body into a cash register or a tube of toothpaste. Funnier'nhell

But there was only "one" Three Stooges (gotta have the real "Curly", though -- Shemp and that other pretender were lame).

[Mikey]

Another side splitter.

[hunyb]

my hubby and i record all the News Radio's that he is in, we miss him that much! What a talented man.......

[AUgrad]

What about the Three Stooges?

[kenholm3]

Brain Donors, a 1992 Zucker Brothers comedy, features John Turturro, Bob Nelson and Mel Smith. These guys and this film is HILARIOUS!

If you have not seen this film and would like a laugh, you should get this flick.

The humor is mostly clean, very punny. I've cried watching this film before.

-Ken