| As a race, we've been laughing at one thing | | | | so many more. The Charlie Chaplin film |
| or another for a very long time. The number | | | | festival can still be seen in various parts |
| of comic acts that have come and gone over | | | | of the world.From duos, to single performers |
| the ages is staggering. Some were good, some | | | | to trios. No greater trio existed than The 3 |
| were not so, but some were beyond | | | | Stooges. Moe, Larry and Curly took the art |
| description. These were the best of the | | | | of slapstick to new levels. This in spite of |
| best. These were the ones who made us laugh | | | | the tragic lives that they suffered through. |
| harder than anyone else. In honor of these | | | | Even after Curly died at such a young age, |
| great funnymen, we take a look at just a few | | | | Shemp Howard, the third of the brothers, |
| of them here.There was probably no greater | | | | reluctantly took over in spite of his fears |
| comic duo than Abbott & Costello. At the | | | | of performing. Nobody ever had a clue.Then |
| height of their popularity, they made several | | | | there was the Marx Brothers. Groucho, Chico |
| movies in one year, something you don't see | | | | and Harpo, Each one had their own personality |
| happening today. Their most classic routine | | | | and shtick. Groucho was the funny man with a |
| was "Who's On First". But they were so much | | | | million one liners. Chico played piano with |
| more than that, entertaining us on radio, in | | | | a flair that was unequaled. And then there |
| movies and on television with their own TV | | | | was Harpo, who never said a word and yet was |
| show.Another great duo was Laurel & Hardy. | | | | probably the funniest and most beloved of |
| They were many years before A & C but no less | | | | all. His harp playing was simply gorgeous. |
| funny. Their classic movie "March Of The | | | | Their movies like "A Night At The Opera" and |
| Wooden Soldiers" is shown every year around | | | | "Duck Soup" are pure classics.And who could |
| Thanksgiving. It has become a tradition. | | | | forget the great duo of Martin and Lewis? |
| While they didn't make as many movies as A & | | | | That would be Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. |
| C, they did do a number of short subject | | | | Jerry Lewis was probably one of the craziest |
| films, such as the classic "The Piano" that | | | | funnymen ever. He played off the straightman |
| will have fans laughing for years to come.If | | | | Martin's cool crooner looks like a pro. Even |
| you're looking for single performers, look no | | | | though their partnership ended badly, they |
| farther than Charlie Chaplin. Without ever | | | | will always be remembered for the laughter |
| saying a word, he made us laugh harder than | | | | that they gave us.This list not only barely |
| just about any single person in history. He | | | | scratches the surface but hardly does justice |
| was the king of the silent film era. His | | | | to these great performers. If you've never |
| numerous short subject films were some of the | | | | seen their work, do yourself a favor and rent |
| funniest ever made, including "The Rink", | | | | some of their videos. You won't be sorry. |
| "The Cure", "One A.M"., "The Immigrant" and | | | | |