“In general, the straight line of a joke sets up a premise, an expectation. Then the funny ending – the punch line – in a sense contradicts the original assumption by refusing […]
Steve Allen Defines What is Funny
The Weird, Wonderful, Wacky, and Whimsical Writings of Sir Thomas Urquhart
Certain historical figures are worth studying for the sheer entertainment value. Near the top of that list would be Sir Thomas Urquhart, the Scottish author of the 17th century. What can we […]
The Great Toilet Paper Scare That Was No Laughing Matter
It seemed impossible that such a precious commodity could be in such short supply. The nation had endured great challenges, knowing that more days of sacrifice lay ahead. Even so, no one […]
The Volcano Eruption That Was an April Fools’ Day Joke
It had been 400 years since Alaska’s Mount Edgecumbe last erupted. The long-dormant volcano towers at the southern end of Kruzof Island. The 8,000-plus residents of Sitka delight in the mountain’s majestic […]
Triboulet: The Jester Who Was Condemned — and Saved — By His Wits
Nicolas Ferrial, also known as Le Févrial or Triboulet (1479–1536), was one of the most celebrated jesters in history. He served two French kings: Louis XII and Francis I. He had all […]
A Dose of Humor Dispels Lincoln’s Critics
No President understood the power of humor better than Abraham Lincoln. His longtime political opponent Stephen A. Douglas complained that Lincoln’s jokes were “like a slap across my back. Nothing else — […]
A Good Joke May Not Always Be the Best Medicine
When Alex Mitchell laughed himself to death while watching a comedy skit, it was a tragedy, but it certainly was not the first time anyone died from a fatal case of belly […]
Where Did the Knock Knock Joke Start? Verily, the Answer May Surprise Thee
William Shakespeare did more than write the most famous plays and sonnets in English literature and contribute more than 1,700 words to the English language. He can also claim credit for inventing […]
Comedian-in-Chief
Not a lot of people were laughing on September 22, 1862. The Civil War was about a year and a half old, and it was proving to be much more trying than […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 