Kliph Nesteroff

This is a valuable recitation of the cultural scandals and outrages of the 1940s up through the time before the internet arrived. It's disturbing to find out how everything new is old again, but notably, how for seventy years, the libertarian branch of the Republican Party has turned towards MAGA fascism, and the author exposes the party's descent into evil, beginning with the villains Koch and the Birchers in the '50s. There's not enough meat on the bones, but it offers some great quotes.

Quotes: "A leading California Republican officeholder said that the John Birch Society was "the closest thing to a totalitarian party in this country. Their aim is to get control of the Republican Party. I do not believe the Republican Party can survive this kind of thing."

"In 1968, Republican senator Mark Hatfield worried that the Paul Weyrichs of the world would one day seize his Republican Party. The Far Right has been successfully united by a well-designed, well-financed, and persistent campaign of fear. The continual fanning of this fear shows that they can no longer distinguish between fantasy and reality."

George Carlin on Andrew Dice Clay, 1990: "His targets are underdogs. Comedy has traditionally picked on people in power, people who abuse their power. Women, gays, and immigrants are, to my way of thinking, underdogs. I think his core audience is young white males who aren't sure of their manhood. Women who assert themselves and are competent are a threat to these men."

President Harry Truman, 1960: "I feel if our constitutional system fails, it will be because people got scared and turned hysterical and someone in power will demagogue them right into a police state of some kind."

Frank Zappa, 1984: "With all these fundamentalist organizations gathering up millions of dollars, you're looking at a whole nation of potential mutants who could be very harmful."… (más)

Glad I made it all the way through. My interest in comedy history only goes so far and the high level of detail made this tedious at times. Nesteroff does an admirable job of providing context by discussing the role of places (specific clubs, Vegas), changes in media, cultural shifts (the Counterculture), etc. I wasn’t aware how much advertising controlled content in radio pre-television. Another interesting theme is vaudeville’s influence on early comedy. If you’re not a “comedy nerd,” the book is still well worth reading because it provides excellent pop culture history.… (más)

What a fascinating read.

This is non-fiction and chronicles the almost non-existant history of Native American comedians. It also showcases up and comers.

Yet, it is so, so much more. I am an IOTA Menominee and thought I "understood" the Indian culture to a point. After all, my family regularly went to the Rez when I was a kid. I have been to pow wows. I am proud of my heritage.

Well, I quickly learned how ignorant and blinded I truly am.

It's a real eye opener. A history lesson; a Current Events lesson; and great, funny stories all rolled into an extremely well written book.… (más)