2026-01-22

1968 Premiere of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

    Laugh In on the Teevee
When I was 13 Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In was a regular television entity in my life.

The show was created by one Digby Wolfe and starred Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, and Gary Owens.

It popularized rapid fire vignette comedy including comedy sketches, punch-lines, musical numbers, and gags are edited together in a rapid and almost random format.

Their trademark elements included the joke wall, the dancing women painted with one-liners and the fickle finger of fate award.

It was here that I got my first good look at and listen to Mr Herbert Butros Khaury, aka Tiny Tim.

At the time it was all very entertaining to a fool boy such as myself. I'm glad to say I've grown past most of it by now.

The show as aka "Laugh In" and was a prime example of sketch comedy on teevee at the time. It ran from January 22, 1968, to July 23, 1973. It was even touted as the most popular television show in the United States for a time.

It supported a gaggle of writers including Lorne Michels before he became the producer of Saturday Night Live. Before he fired Charlie Rocket. Before he became a woke idiot.

All in all "Laugh In" was an enjoyable interlude in the life of this fool child and I never became so involved in any other comedy programs again.

See Also:

Remembering Judy Carne
Henry Gibson