Chain of Fools traces the art of slapstick comedy from its
pre-cinema origins in the ancient pantomime through its silent
movie heyday in the teens and twenties, then on to talkies,
television, and the Internet. As in his first book, the critically
acclaimed No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made
Vaudeville Famous, author Trav S.D. mixes a wicked wit, a scholar's
curiosity, and a keen critical appreciation for laugh-makers
through the ages, from classical clowns like Joseph Grimaldi to
comedy kings like Mack Sennett, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and
Buster Keaton . . . to more recent figures, from Red Skelton, Sid
Caesar and Ernie Kovacs to Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey and Steve
Carell . . . all the way down to the teenagers on YouTube whose
backyard antics bring us full circle to slapstick's beginnings.
This valentine to the great clowns contains enough insights and
surprises to open the eyes of even life-long comedy fans. Here's
what critics had to say about Trav S.D.'s first book, No Applause,
Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous: "A book
that sharpens the mind and stirs the heart . . .The writing is as
snappy as these troupers and headliners deserve. And the
scholarship is high-class. - Margo Jefferson, New York Times
"Almost a vaudeville show unto itself...Open a single chapter of No
Applause and you'll get a great snapshot of the industry at that
time. . .An ode to the tenacity, the freaks, the slapstick, and
yes, the art form that was responsible for entertainment today as
we know it." - Rachel Shindelman, Time Out Chicago "Much has been
written about the American institution of vaudeville, but readers
would be hard-pressed to find an account as humorous and sharp as
writer and performer Trav S.D.'s tasty chronicle . . . A
well-researched, riotous book." - Publisher's Weekly (starred
review) "Thorough and thoroughly entertaining . . . One of the
year's best historical performing arts texts; a wonderful story
wonderfully told." - Barry X. Miller, Library Journal (starred
review) "Both performer and theatre historian, Trav S.D.] knows of
what he speaks. His rich, well-researched history of American
vaudeville from its roots in the 1880s onward is a rare enough feat
made all the more startling by the wit, zest and fresh eyes he]
brings to the subject." - Jack Helbig, Booklist (starred review)
General
Imprint: |
Bear Manor Media
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
March 2013 |
First published: |
March 2013 |
Authors: |
Trav S.D.
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152 x 19mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
356 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-59393-240-4 |
Categories: |
Books >
Arts & Architecture >
Performing arts >
Films, cinema >
General
|
LSN: |
1-59393-240-5 |
Barcode: |
9781593932404 |
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