Join us as we say Goodbye to Dr. Joel Goodman

Humor Capitalized

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

We can think about it as much as we want, but the reality is, we feel our way through life. Millions of people around the world have gotten to feel good because of author, educator, and entrepreneur Dr. Joel Goodman - and that’s just good business.

FILLING SARATOGA WITH LAUGHTER AND JOY

Since 1968, Dr. Joel Goodman has been teaching people practical ways to develop and use their sense of humor and creativity. “The ability to play with serious situations is at the heart of humor,” says the laugh doctor. For more than four decades, that heart has been located in Saratoga Springs, where Goodman and his wife, Margie Ingram, founded The HUMOR Project in 1977. Hosting conferences at the City Center for twenty consecutive years, they brought more than 23,000 attendees to the city while honoring comedic legends including; Steve Allen, Sid Caesar, Victor Borge, Jay Leno, The Smothers Brothers, Gilda Radner, Bob Newhart, David Hyde Pierce, Elmo, and Lucie Arnaz, among others. Because of their vital contribution to the community, Goodman and Ingram received the first Hometown Heroes Award from the Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau in 1997. Now, Goodman and Ingram are moving to Silver Spring, Maryland to begin the HUMOR Project 2.0.

By the Numbers

10: Books written by Dr. Joel Goodman, including Laffirmations: 1,001 Ways to Add Humor to Your Life and Work Nearly 4 million: People reached through the HUMOR Project’s Speakers Bureau presentations 7,000+: Appearances in television and radio shows, newspapers, and magazines in 175+ countries, including: The TODAY Show, PBS, ABC NEWS’ prime-time special on The Mystery of Happiness (aired nationally three times), BBC, Latenight America, Donahue, CNBC's Management Today, All Things Considered, the front page of The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Washington Post, USA Today, Readers' Digest, Successful Meetings, and numerous AP national features. What made his kids most proud was Joel being highlighted on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. 500: Grants given to schools, hospitals, and human service agencies to help them develop services and resources to tap into the positive and healing power of humor 5: Prestigious awards to mark significant achievement in his field: the International Lifetime of Laughter Achievement Award, the International Punster of the Year Award, the Beacon Humor and Peace Prize, the LOL (Legacy of Laughter) Award, and the International HA (Humor Achievement) Award

HEALTH, HISTORY, HORSES & HUMOR

Through his work, Goodman has reached millions of people in all 50 states, on all 7 continents, and even into space (with an Apollo Moon-walking astronaut). In 2006, he brought Hello, Dolly! star Carol Channing to the area. On her packed visit, she stopped into Saratoga Springs High School and spoke with the cast rehearsing that year’s play. “The students were sitting around her, enamored, entranced by this legend being literally, right there,” said Goodman. The 50 students wrote her notes and that evening, Channing responded to each one personally. “It’s all the behind-the-scenes things that these people do that touched me so much. They have incredible talent and incredible humanity.” “To be in the presence of these comic icons, I was just in awe. Being with them, I was like a kid in a candy store. It was like, ‘Wow! It doesn’t get any better than this!’”

THE HUMOR PROJECT 2.0

Mementos of all the beautiful personal relationships that have been forged through his work, made sorting through the memorabilia Goodman’s collected over the years sweetly sentimental. Professionally appraised with a value of $350,000, the funof- a-kind collection of 20,000 pieces is being donated to the National Comedy Hall of Fame in Florida. “We are delighted that The HUMOR Project will be part of their ongoing laughing legacy library. This donation fits in with our goals of downsizing and uplifting at the same time.” The HUMOR Project continues, the next chapter revitalized by the inspiration of being closer to their four-year-old grandson, Jakobe, and one-year-old granddaughter, Zoe. Find humor articles, resources and more information at www.humorproject.com SS

5 Joel Goodman Quotes to Remember:

1“Take humor seriously and

yourself lightly.”

There’s humor to be found in any situation, so develop your Comic Vision.

2“Turn AHA’s into HA-HA’s” Delight in surprises.

3“Jest for the health of it!” Humor is healing.

4“Seven days without laughter makes one weak.” Make a habit of humor in your life.

5“Do Well and Do Good.” Your success today leads to a world of good tomorrow.