The Collection
The American Comedy Archives is collecting primary source material -- including oral history interviews, scripts, monographs, photographs, audio and video recordings, ephemera, memorabilia and realia -- relating to the study and appreciation of comedy. The goal is to make accessible the work and insights of individuals involved in the public performance of humor or those who have made a significant contribution to the field of comedy:
- Producers (such as Norman Lear, Hal Kantor)
- Directors (such as Howard Storm, Bill Persky)
- Writers (such as Larry Gelbart, Buck Henry, Bill Dana)
- Promoters (such as Hugh Hefner, George Schlatter )
- Stand-up comedians (such as Jackie Mason, Phyllis Diller, Shecky Greene, Eddie Brill)
- Improvisational comedians (such as Fred Willard, Louis Nye, Jonathan Winters)
- Political/Social Satirist Comedians (such as Dick Gregory, Lewis Black)
- Teachers of comedy (such as Shelley Berman, Sam Denoff)
- Comedic Actors (such as Charles Grodin, Ed Begley, Tony Roberts)
- Sitcom actors (such as Betty White, Don Knotts)
- Stage performers (such as Bea Arthur, Janis Paige)
- Radio personalities, Humorists and talk-show hosts (such as Peter Marshall, Gary Owens, Andy Rooney)
- Prospective interviewees include Agents, Critics, Scholars, and emerging comedians in the field.
The collection currently includes videotapes of oral history interviews and written transcriptions of the interviews. It also includes the paper manuscript collections of Howard Storm and Bill Dana.
We expect to be adding to the collection in the near future and will make updates to this website accordingly.
The Archives is seeking additional funding to expand this rare collection and make it accessible to the public. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the American Comedy Archives, please Contact Us.
