I first read "Great Comedians" in 1972 when I was starting out as a comedian. I found it to be just what I needed as a young aspiring comedian. The interviews of Woody Allen, Shelley Berman, Jack Benny, and Phillis Diller resonated with me and helped me immensely in my standup comedy development. It also inspired me to write my own book probing the methods of my generations great comedians ("Comic Insights") in order to help today's young comedians get a better idea of what it takes to do quality standup. I recently read "Great Comedians" again, and my original verdict still stands. This book is still of immense value to all aspiring comedians.

It's no secret that comedians -- great and not-so-great -- are influenced by the WORK of other comedians. The advent of film in the 20th century made this a lot easier since when a comedian died the work was still available...and now with videos etc. it's easier than ever.

But what about HOW these comedians made laughs...how they were inspired...what specific techniques they used and did not use...and what advice they would give anyone interested in going into any area of comedy?

Those have been tough answers to get. To do it you'd have to buy a slew of good and sometimes rotten bios, many of them out of print. Until now. Stand-up comedian Larry Wilde's Great Comedians Talk About Comedy brings it all together.

Great Comedians is a superb, singular achievement that collects within one lively, 402-page, info-packed volume, detailed interviews done over several years with some of the 20th century's greatest comedians and comedy actors.

The selection is absolutely mind-boggling: Woody Allen, Milton Berle, Shelly Berman, Jack Benny, Joey Bishop, George Burns, Johnny Carson, Maurice Chevalier, Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Dick Gregory, George Jessle, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Danny Thomas and Ed Wynn.

Each interview is presented in straight Q&A format so you get to "hear" the question and "hear" the response, from what the comedian/comedy actor says to his/her own speech pattern. These folks worked in venues from vaudeville, to radio, to night clubs, to radio to early silent movies to talkies to TV. And their responses to questions contain revelations and constant inspiration.

A key theme: how "making it" in comedy requires timing, good material, dogged persistance, constant analysis of jokes/laughs and being LIKEABLE to an audience. Copying someone's stage personna or stealing their jokes just won't do it.

My favorite interviews were with Woody Allen (how he writes ten jokes on everything from matchbooks to napkins and only uses a few; how he won't try jokes out on friends since they're often too negative; how audience appeal MATTERS...and his pointing to Jackie Gleason as someone who often had a lousey show but people loved him), Jack Benny (the importance of learning comedy and advancing step by step...an explanation of his legendary timing), Joey Bishop ("...Luck cannot sustain you.Only talent can sustain you.."), George Burns (tips on timing, attitude and the importance emulating but not copying other performers), Phyllis Diller (five truly SUPERB short inspirational tips that can advance MANY careers...Her high laugh per minute standards), and Jerry Seinfeld (timing, getting into a focused mental framework and how his love of comedy as a kid blossomed).

This book an essential for ANYONE interested in comedy, or for students of comedy, public speakers, or anyone who simply wants to be funny in public. It's ALL HERE: the inspiration, the tips, the stories, the bios...the TOOLS.

It's now a cliche to say "comedy isn't easy" and the whole process is mysterious. Larry Wilde's Great Comedians Talk About Comedy makes it less mysterious and -- a a bit easier.

Anyone interested in stand-up comedy Must read this book. Especially the people who hang out at "The Improv" bar who THINK they are a comedian. The Woody Allen interview is more important today than it was 35 years ago. About time the neophytes learned some history of the art form. A GREAT BOOK!

Uncle Miltie does it again! This is a fine companion to his first big, fat hilarious volume. The good news is that the topics are not all the same as in the first volume (you do need both to have a complete collection) but the big laughs are as big as ever. You truly get a sense when you read Berle's jokes from this and his first book that he wanted to include some of his best and favorite stuff and get it out there to the public (and maybe other comedians, as a kind of legacy). I only wish I had the $ to buy his file's CD-rom version but until I do this and the first book are on my office reference shelf for use when I need a laugh, when I want to appear brilliant when visiting friends, or to plug a gap in a routine that I'm writing or a special show that I'm doing (I'm a fulltime ventriloquist). You can see how many of his jokes were "switched" from others over the years and that is a common practice. You can take a joke on X subject and reword it and customize it for a specific person or group. The main thing is: Berle didn't issue a thick, joke-filled book containing filler. Every joke, every page MATTERS. He gifted to all who pay the price some of his funniest stuff: one-liners, longer jokes, insults, riddles. Super high quality --and worth a LOT more than the book's price.

THIS BOOK GAVE ME SOME GREAT JOKES.

I bought this book with the intention of reading one or two stories a day. I couldn't put it down. I was laughing out loud and my children begged me to read them what was so funny. I would read them some and they enjoyed it as much as I did. What started out as a month or so of giggles turned into an afternoon of belly-laughs.

Lemme tell ya, this book deserves 5 stars just for Uncle Miltie's graphic depiction of his steamy affair with evangelist Aimee Semple MacPherson ... not to mention a ton of other raunchy Hollywood gossip. Way to go, Milt! Let me know when you're available ...

This book was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I was afraid it would be a real "Mommie Dearest" hatchet job on poor old Milton, but although there were certainly some problems in their relationship, Bill has the honesty to point out that it was his fault as much as his father's. It would be interesting to know how (or if) their relationship was affected by this book - did they speak at all after it was published? (By the way - my sympathies, Bill. It's tough to lose a parent but especially so when you were on the outs with him.)

I've thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with this easy to read work. The book is rich in the interesting history of one of the world's most beloved entertainers, penned by someone that could only be a loving son. Both funny and tragic, it held my attention through the honesty without scandal. An unexpected ending certainly reminds us we're all equals! Thanks, Bill!

I have always heard that comedians by nature are truly serious people, and basically an unhappy group. Therefore, it doesn't surprise me that Milton Berle treated people, especially his son Bill, so obusively. MFUM humanizes the great TV star and, in fact, I pitied my idol after reading this book. I'm sure that Bill Berle would have much preferred a "real father" from a modest background rather than a superstar ogre such as Uncle Miltie. MFUM was an informative, interesting, well written book, and while it shattered my image of Milton Berle, I found it quite enjoyable.

There are amazing photos in this book -- it reminds you how young Elvis was in 1956. See him in rehearsals with Milton Berle, Debra Paget, and Scotty & Bill. There's not much text in this book, but really how much text can there be about one television show appearance. It's the photos that count.

Believe it or not but Books by Ger Rijff are ALWAYS of high quality: Paper, Photo's, Lay-out....everything is done with knowledge and love and care for Elvis. Yet, when his books hit the shelves they hardley sell more then 2000 copies. Why?. No one knows. These books, and thus this one as well, deserves a larger audiance. YOU are there when the King starts his trip to ever lasting fame, It is Pure Elvis. Besides it also gives a great view of the time in wich it all happend: The Fifties. Go back in time, buy this book. It will be a joy that will make you want more.

I had seen Milton Berle on TV and he seemed funny them, so I bought this book and was ever so disappointed. Over 600 pages and under 100 laughs, and that includes groaners. H. Allen Smith jokebooks, if you can still find them, are better written and so much funnier. The editor of this book also bears some responsibility for this book as it is obivous he cut nothing. The book carries far too many vaudeville and burlesque bits that might have been funny before the depression. Sadder still are the inclusion of racist and ethnic stereotype jokes with a poor rationale of why these jokes are OK to tell. Again, the editor of the book deserves some blame here. For the price of this book, one could purchase any single George Carlin, Richard Pryor, etc. CD and it would provide more laughs and be a better value.

This has to be the most impressive joke book ever asssembled. I've seen others that have lots of very funny stuff. Others that are better organized. And others that better reflect a comedian or editor's particular humor page per page. This one is truly a joke file. It's a big, thick, fat book with highly readable type -- and jokes that "rock." These jokes range from old-style vaudeville, burlesque jokes to jokes more "modern," from puns to insults, to long anecdotes. I'm an entertainer and when I do a show and am looking for a joke I look to this; sometimes I use one of them to fill a gap but often it gives me an idea upon which I can expand. If you like to laugh or need laughs for your speaking programs, shows, etc. you MUST have this on your library shelf. I often enter jokes that I like in my database but there are just so many I have cirlced here that I love that I go to the original. Also, it is big and fat and hilarious but the subjects may not include every single subject you want. Some other "big" joke books have more subjects, but this covers most of the basics and the selection is so wonderful that it's worth it. Actually, if you get this you should have the second volume he did, too -- which I also have and enjoy. Joke per joke I think this is the best, most diverse joke book ever published. Well worth the price in the enjoyment you'll get and the laughs you'll generate!

This book is filled with many ideally sized jokes arranged by numerous topic. Although I do not appreciate off-color jokes, most of those are avoidable by avoiding the off-color topics.

I have used many of these jokes in writing and speaking and highly recommend this as perhaps the funniest large-volume jokebook.