Borscht Belt - Comedic Legacy

Comedic Legacy

See also: Jewish humor

The tradition of Borscht Belt entertainment started in the early 20th century with the indoor and outdoor theaters constructed on a 40 acre (16-hectare) tract in Hunter, New York, by Yiddish theater star Boris Thomashefsky.

Comedians who got their start or regularly performed in Borscht Belt resorts include:

Joey Adams
Marty Allen
Woody Allen
Morey Amsterdam
Bea Arthur
Benny Bell
Jack Benny
Gertrude Berg
Milton Berle
Shelley Berman
Al Bernie
Joey Bishop
Mel Blanc
Fanny Brice
Mel Brooks
Lenny Bruce
George Burns and Gracie Allen
Pesach Burstein
Red Buttons
Sid Caesar
Eddie Cantor
Jean Carroll
Jack Carter
Myron Cohen
Bill Dana
Rodney Dangerfield
Phyllis Diller
Totie Fields
Fyvush Finkel
Estelle Getty
Jack Gilford
George Gobel
Shecky Greene
Buddy Hackett
Mickey Katz
Jay Jason
George Jessel
Danny Kaye
Alan King
Robert Klein
Harvey Korman
Mal Z. Lawrence
Thelma Lee
Jack E. Leonard
Sam Levenson
Jerry Lewis
Charlie Manna
Chico and Harpo Marx
Jackie Mason
Lou Menchell
Marilyn Michaels
Gary Morton
Zero Mostel
Jan Murray
Molly Picon
Charlotte Rae
Alan Reed
Carl Reiner
The Revuers (Judy Holliday, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Alvin Hammer and John Frank)
Don Rickles
Joan Rivers
Freddie Roman
Benny Rubin
Rowan & Martin
Mort Sahl
Soupy Sales
Dick Shawn
Allan Sherman
Phil Silvers
Arnold Stang
Jerry Stiller
Larry Storch
Renée Taylor
The Three Stooges
Jackie Vernon
Jackie Wakefield
Bert Wheeler
Jonathan Winters
Henny Youngman

Borscht Belt humor refers to the rapid-fire, often self-deprecating style common to many of these performers and writers. Typical themes include

Bad luck: "When I was a kid, I was breast-fed by my father." (Dangerfield)
Puns: "Sire, the peasants are revolting!" "You said it. They stink on ice." (Harvey Korman as Count de Money (Monet) and Mel Brooks as King Louis XVI, in History of the World Part I)
Physical complaints and ailments (often relating to bowels and cramping): "My doctor said I was in terrible shape. I told him, 'I want a second opinion.' He said, 'All right, you're ugly too!'" "I told my doctor, 'This morning when I got up and saw myself in the mirror, I looked awful! What's wrong with me?' He replied, 'I don't know, but your eyesight is perfect!'" (Dangerfield)
Aggravating relatives and nagging wives: "My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met." (Dangerfield). "Take my wife—please!" (Henny Youngman); "My wife drowned in the pool because she was wearing so much jewelry." (Rickles); "My wife ain't too bright. One day our car got stolen. I said to her, 'Did you get a look at the guy?' She said, 'No, but I got the license number.'" (Dangerfield) "This morning the doorbell rang. I said 'Who is it?' He said 'It's the Boston strangler.' I said 'It's for you dear!'" (Youngman)

Some—but not all—of the modern Borscht Belt comedians, such as Don Rickles, Lenny Bruce. Jackie Mason and Joan Rivers, referred openly to Jews and anti-Semitism.

Also seen regularly at these Catskills resorts were a large number of singers, dancers, musicians, and other variety acts including: