D. J. David B. Spins Comics-Tunes: James Thurber
What a treat I have in store for you this Tuesday, dear Arf blog readers. Fasten your seatbelts!
It never ceases to amaze me how thoroughly comic culture has pervaded the mainstream. And I’m not just talking about things like the X-Men cartoon series or the upcoming Iron Man movie. Comics have been in the popular media since the days of radio. There was a movie serial of Captain Marvel in the Forties. Superman was on TV in the Fifties. Batman in the Sixties. And so on. But let’s not forget The Great White Way. Yes, comics have been on Broadway many times. We already featured a song from the stage presentation of Li’l Abner (that was on November 20, 2025 if you’re keeping track). There was also the Superman musical which is coming up on a future Tuesday, and the Broadway show Annie (which, fortunately, is not).
But whooda thunk there’d be a Broadway show based on the work of writer/cartoonist James Thurber?
I love this track from the show for its sophisticated New York wit, back when being witty in the city was more important than being sexy. Yes, that’s Peggy Cass, famous game show panelist, as one of the urbane party-goers, along with John McGiver and the rest of the troupe. Trivial tidbit: The show was directed by Burgess “The Penguin†Meredith, for an additional comics connection. To listen, click on the bar below…
(if no bar appears please click here to listen)
Next Tuesday we feature The Ventures!
— C. Yoe (in the funny papers)
Thurber seems to be almost forgotten these days, but I’m still a big fan.
The man was ahead of his time.
some thurber “erotica” has recently turned up so i plan on showing some of that in the sequel to “clean cartoonists’ dirty drawings”
I thought this recording was pretty erotic! It doesn’t mention it, but I assumed everyone at the party was naked.
What year was this on Broadway. Could it have been the inspiration for the “Cocktail Party” segments on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In? Music was more 60′s rock than Manhattan Jazz, but would play while “guests” chatted amongst themselves, then zoom in on someone, Dan, Goldy, etc., who would deliver a one-liner, usually a double entendre or a slam on a politician or well-known person of the time. Example, Dick to Dan, “If you take your girlfriend to Maine, make sure you take her to Bangor.” I think they also had text that would appear on the screen during the music with other one-liners. I think I remember one that made fun of stand up comedian Jack Carter that said, “Never invite Jack Carter to the same party.” Anyways, it sure plays similarly. Love that Peggy Cass.
What year was this on Broadway. Could it have been the inspiration for the “Cocktail Party” segments on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In? Music was more 60′s rock than Manhatten Jazz, but would play while “guests chatted amonst themselves, then zoom in on someone, Dan, Goldy,etc., who would deliver a one-liner, usually a double entendre, a slam on a politician or well-known person of the time. Example, Dick to Dan, “If you take your girlfriend to Maine, Make sure you take her to Bangor.” I think they also had text that would appear on the screen during the music with other one-liners. I think I remember one that made fun of stand up comedian Jack Carter that said, “Never invite Jack Carter to the same party. Anyways it played that way to me. Love that Peggy Cass.
Interesting observation. The show opened on February 26, 1960, long before Laugh-In. So it certainly could have been an inspiration.
The closing segment on Laugh-In was a similar series of one-liners with the cast popping out of little windows in the wall. That was inspired by an old burlesque sketch called Crazy House, which is still being performed by the last surviving traveling burlesque show. (Mine.)