the goodies

They say laughter is the best medicine, but that did not prove to be true for Alex Mitchell.

Alex Mitchell
Alex Mitchell

On March 24, 1975, Mitchell was enjoying the BBC comedy program The Goodies. While watching a skit entitled “The Battle of Ecky Thump,” in the episode “Kung Fu Kapers,” Mitchell burst out laughing and continued to laugh, non-stop for the next 25 minutes. He then succumbed to cardiac arrest.

Rather than be resentful of the program, Mitchell’s widow sent a letter of gratitude to the show’s producers, thanking them for making her husband’s final moments so enjoyable.

Watch the infamous episode below, IF YOU DARE AND ONLY IF YOU ARE NOT UNDER A PHYSICIAN’s CARE FOR CARDIAC DISEASE.


When Mark Twain Needed the First Lady to Reassure His Wife

Mark Twain has a well-deserved reputation for not being intimidated by those in high authority. His self-assurance and disregard for the opinion of others allowed him to rub elbows with the most influential members of society and remain unaffected. That’s not to say he was unconcerned about everyone in his life. This fact came toโ€ฆ

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2 responses to “Laughter: the Best Medicine?”

  1. YouTube probably took down that episode because of the blackface, you think?

    1. I don’t think so. It looks like it may have come down from YouTube because BBC has started selling the series on DVD. Thanks for letting us know about the broken link, though. It should be working now.

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