Funny Stuff - by Laura Laplaca & Ryan Lintelman (Hardcover)

About the Book

More than just gags and giggles, comedy is a powerful force, reflecting our hopes and fears, helping us understand social and political changes, and creating a shared national culture. In this book, historians from the Smithsonian Institution and National Comedy Center tell the stories of the comedians, performances, and provocations that have shaped American history.

Book Synopsis

The Smithsonian Institution and the National Comedy Center hold unparalleled collections of objects that illustrate the vitality and importance of comedy in American life, from 19th century vaudeville, minstrel, and puppet shows to stand-up comedians, television satire, and internet memes. Now, for the first time, these incredible collections will be shown in vibrant photographs and illuminating essays that tell the story of how comedy shaped American history.

This accessible, comprehensive history--written by historians from Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Comedy Center--transports readers behind the scenes to see beloved and rarely exhibited artifacts while learning the stories of famous, infamous, and unknown comics and their influence on the nation's culture. Perfect for comedy fans, pop culture aficionados, history lovers, and anyone who has ever laughed at a viral video, this dynamic work offers a new perspective on American history and who we are as a nation through the lens of comedy.

Review Quotes

"A one-of-a-kind trip through the archives of the National Comedy Center and Smithsonian Institution that shines a new light on America's funniest moments."

--Carol Burnett

About the Author

LAURA LAPLACA is the founding director of the National Comedy Center's archive in Jamestown, New York, the United States' congressionally-designated home for the preservation of comedy history. She holds a PhD from Northwestern University and has published, taught, and presented about American popular culture for over 15 years.

RYAN LINTELMAN is the curator of entertainment at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and is one of the curators of the landmark exhibition Entertainment Nation. He contributed essays to Smithsonian Books' Entertainment Nation (2022) and Smithsonian Civil War: Inside the National Collection (2013).