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