
The Comedians
Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $29.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Kliph Nesteroff
-
By:
-
Kliph Nesteroff
In The Comedians, comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff brings to life a century of American comedy with real-life characters, forgotten stars, mainstream heroes, and counterculture iconoclasts. Based on over 200 original interviews and extensive archival research, Nesteroff's groundbreaking work is a narrative exploration of the way comedians have reflected, shaped, and changed American culture over the past 100 years.
Starting with the vaudeville circuit at the turn of the last century, Nesteroff introduces the first stand-up comedian - an emcee who abandoned physical shtick for straight jokes. After the repeal of Prohibition, Mafia-run supper clubs replaced speakeasies, and mobsters replaced vaudeville impresarios as the comedian's primary employer. In the 1950s, the late-night talk show brought stand-up to a wide public, while Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, and Jonathan Winters attacked conformity and staged a comedy rebellion in coffeehouses. From comedy's part in the Civil Rights movement and the social upheaval of the late 1960s to the first comedy clubs of the 1970s and the cocaine-fueled comedy boom of the 1980s, The Comedians culminates with a new era of media-driven celebrity in the 21st century.
©2015 Kliph Nesteroff. Some of the material herein is based on Kliph Nesteroff's work with WFMU's Beware of the Blog and Classic Television Showbiz. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2017 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















People who viewed this also viewed...


















Content Excellent.. Definitely worth the Listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
truly a must listen if you're into Old School come
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent Read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great Writing and Performance by Kliph Nesteroff
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Insightful
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
insightful
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Performance issues
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Comprehensive and Entertaining
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Fantastic book for comedy lovers
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I usually don't write reviews here, but a lot of people here have complained about the performance. The comments were so negative I hestitated before buying the book. But I'm glad I did buy it, and I wanted to encourage people who might have doubts to give it a chance.
It's true that Nesteroff isn't a professional voice actor isn't a particularly gifted mimc. But the book is read clearly and is not at all difficult or unpleasant to listen to. It's fine. it really is. And if you're interested in the subject, you should buy it, because it contains information you're not going to find anywhere else.
Great history of American comedy
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.