Full Product Details
Author: Alan Havig
Publisher: Temple University Press,U.S.
Imprint: Temple University Press,U.S.
Dimensions:
Width: 14.60cm
, Height: 2.80cm
, Length: 20.30cm
Weight: 0.567kg
ISBN: 9780877227137
ISBN 10: 0877227136
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 22 August 1990
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Out of stock
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.
Reviews
Alan Havig has done an intelligent, careful and exhaustive research job. This is a well-written, solid performance-biography. -J. Fred MacDonald, Curator of the Museum of Broadcast Communication, Chicago Fred was one of the greatest of vaudeville and radio comedians. Anyone even casually concerned with the state of American humor will be well advised to give his work, as Mr. Havig presents it, careful study. -Steve Allen A notable example of radio at its best. -Back Stage/SHOOT
A notable example of radio at its best. --Back Stage/SHOOT Fred was one of the greatest of vaudeville and radio comedians. Anyone even casually concerned with the state of American humor will be well advised to give his work, as Mr. Havig presents it, careful study. --Steve Allen Alan Havig has done an intelligent, careful and exhaustive research job. This is a well-written, solid performance-biography. --J. Fred MacDonald, Curator of the Museum of Broadcast Communication, Chicago A Stephens College (Missouri) professor of history here examines Allen's (1894-1956) 20 years in vaudeville, his career in radio from 1933 to 1949, and his characteristic brand of air-wave comedy, and concludes that Allen was a literary humorist who created 'comedy uniquely aural in achievement and appeal.' His humor, as Havig observes, frequently involved parody, insult (as in Allen's long-time feud with Jack Benny); puns; dialect humor (a Chinese-American was a 'Yangtse Doodle Dandy'); worldly satire; and sporadorically profound wit (Allen defined life as 'a lull between stork and epitaph' and a spinster as 'a woman who indulged once too seldom'). Havig's searching account amuses and informs, offering further proof that the line between high and popular culture has blurred in our century. --Publishers Weekly
"""A notable example of radio at its best."" —Back Stage/SHOOT ""Fred was one of the greatest of vaudeville and radio comedians. Anyone even casually concerned with the state of American humor will be well advised to give his work, as Mr. Havig presents it, careful study."" —Steve Allen ""Alan Havig has done an intelligent, careful and exhaustive research job. This is a well-written, solid performance-biography."" —J. Fred MacDonald, Curator of the Museum of Broadcast Communication, Chicago"
Author Information
Alan Havig is Professor of History and American Studies at Stephens College in Columbia Missouri.
