Evening star., 1946-12-08


slays them in Seattle and bores
them in Boston. Here some
sad tales about funny stories
ToU HoLTz has been brandshng cigar for rs years
- and recng amusing stories in dialect He gttering
member OF that galaxy of perhaps 20 professional TESTERS the
opdrawer comedians who regularly receive 5000 and
more week hclers of risibites in theaters in night
clubs and over the radio Like his eternay haraseed COL
leagues. Hoz forever wondering When joke? What
Joke? To whom is it joke?
On these questions. the opinion of experienced
performer is albe To illustrate the irony of this Holtz
recently narrated what he considers the uproar
GUS anecdote he has ever spun
We sitting by the pool table in the club of the
Frars Club overlooking the hurlyburly of Broadway at
midnight Hotzs large black eyes mornlu he told
the story OF Mr.. Schwartz travelling salesman for line
OF dresses Mr. Schwartz enters department store in Buffalo
and asks to see the president Mr. Hnkel Mr. Hinkels
secretary telephones inside and then informs him Mr. Hnel
Is busy Mr. Schwartz fumes and returns the following day.
Again he fails The third day. Mr. Schwartz waits outside of
Mr. Hnkels Office without any Finally the fourth
day. he is admitted Hinkes sanctum Mr. Schwartzs
wrath, by now. is boundless
Funny - Bus No Laughs
f1EL, he cries. why did you keep stalling off like
this? Why did make wait outside four days? Aren't
old friends? Didn't your life at Chateau Thierry in
1918? Didn't I?'
Sure /" remarks Hinkel casually
And after the didn't give you your first Job? And
when wanted to into business for yourself who loaned
the money? Who introduced you to the girl who is now
your wife? And during the depression when you nearly
IN bankruptcy who came to your and staked you?
did. didn't II"
Hnkel listens thoughtuly. and then he inquiries 'Yes
Schwartz but what have you done for me Lately7"
Holtz sighed he finished the story He sucked on his
cigar It's funny story isn't it? he said 'Tve told it in
every heater played in the last couple Of years. Nobody
laughs Nobody laughs at in New York Nobody laughs at
1t IN California It's the funniest story heard but
nobody laughs at it. Maybe the audience waiting to
find out what Schwartz did do for Hnkel lately!"
Never before own time has laughter been 50 sought
after so well paid and geedy absorbed by the general
public The comedians and their satraps the industrious
horde of gagmen and special material writer's live in state
OF extreme frenzy in their unceang efforts to make people
laugh Constantly, they drive themselves to turn out new
gags old themes and old gags themes Years ago.
when comic bought piece of special material say
musical parody could do the number for an entire
season. Radio today demands fresh material every week.
The Kids Are Hep
OR some perverse reason people will laugh Joke and
not at another What funny city greeted with loud
silence In another The gag which bo or belly" to
heater audience may LAY there" and cur. up disrally
when told in night club.
One basic variable lies in the age of an audience MIt
Joseberg of Holywoods sckest comedy writer's and
the stout right gaw of Jack Benny says The Younger
set today hep to gag about current slang characters