This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett


1894: Inventor Thomas Alva Edison recorded his first motion picture experiment of a man on film, comedian Fred Ott, sneezing.

1911: Butterfly McQueen, character actress, forever remembered as the beloved Prissy in "Gone With the Wind" (1939). Her often quoted remark: "Oh, Miss Scarlett, I don't know nuthin' 'bout birthin' babies." Other comic roles included "The Women" (1939), "I Dood It" (1943), and the "Beulah" sitcom on radio and television (1947-53). Died 1995.

Born 1912: Charles Addams, famous "The New Yorker" cartoonist with a deep, dark sense of humor. His collection of macabre characters became known as "The Addams Family" on TV and in films. Died 1988.

1926: George Burns and Gracie Allen married in Cleveland, Ohio. They teamed as comedians in 1923, finding stage, radio, film, and television success.

1927: The Harlem Globetrotters, razzle dazzle basketball comics, took to the court in their first game.

Born 1928: William Peter Blatty, novelist and screenwriter of "The Exorcist," previously scripted comedies of note, sometimes teamed with Blake Edwards. His films include Danny Kaye's "The Man From the Diner's Club" (1963), Peter Sellers' "A Shot in the Dark" (1964), Shirley MacLaine's "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home" (1965), Warren Beatty's "Promise Her Anything" (1965), James Coburn's "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" (1966), and Julie Andrew's "Darling Lili" (1970).

Born 1964: Nicolas Cage, leading film actor, at ease in comedies, such as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982), "Peggy Sue Got Married" (1986), "Raising Arizona" (1987), "Moonstruck" (1987), "Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992), "It Could Happen to You" (1994), "Trapped in Paradise" (1994), "Guarding Tess" (1994), and "Adaptation" (2002).

1966: From producer Chuck Barris, the comedy quiz show "The Newlywed Game" debuted on ABC-TV, Bob.

Born 1977: Dustin Diamond, stand-up comic and actor, forever Samuel "Screech" Powers from the sitcoms "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" (1987-89) and "Saved by the Bell" (1989-2000).

Copyright ©2003 Mike Durrett. All rights reserved.