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February 20, 2025

Page 1

February 20, 2025

Volume 55 - No. 8

THE FUNNIEST PLACE ON EARTH The Legendary Catskill Mountains

RODNEY DANGERFIELD

By Friedrich H. Gomez Probably no piece of real estate on the planet ever gave forth such a constellation of comedy stars as the Borscht Belt, sometimes called “The Jewish Alps,” but more commonly known as the Catskill Mountains, located in upstate New York. The Catskill Mountains was a legendary proving ground for upcoming Jewish entertainers, as well as a familiar landmark for the seasoned performer.

DON RICKLES

GEORGE BURNS

JERRY LEWIS

Overall, it was a multi-hotel resort haven for Jewish-American families to play, eat, fraternise, and be entertained, from the 1920s onward.

exclusively a launching pad which propelled many Jewish comedians into the limelight, the Borscht Belt also proved to be the indispensable training grounds which ignited the careers of such extraordinary gentile talents as: Phyllis Diller, Rowan & Martin (of NBC’s smash hit, “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”), Jonathan Winters, and countless others!

‘schtick’ (from the Yiddish: shtik). He was the fastest comic of his day, clocked at delivering an astonishing eight or more jokes per minute, sometimes exceeding 50 jokes in a span of only eight minutes!

The Borscht Belt, as it was also called, was a matrix for generating first-magnitude Jewish comedians, such as: Jack Benny, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Billy Crystal, Jerry Lewis, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, The Three Stooges, Groucho Marx, Sid Caesar, Danny Kaye, Buddy Hackett, and countless others! However, the Borscht Belt was not

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Borscht Belt humor refers to the rapid-fire delivery, and few could match Jewish comedian, Henny Youngman (1906-1998)! He was highly thought of for his hilarious

Rarely did a Henny Youngman joke last more than 24 seconds. He was not only quick, but his jokes were hilariously rich in comedic imagery: “While playing golf today I hit two good balls. I stepped on a rake!” Holding a violin down by his side,

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February 20, 2025 by The Paper - Issuu