Contest to follow.
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Only when we have drunk from the river of darkness can we truly see.
Brother Theodore
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Hello Kate
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The comedian Brother Theodore, Theodore Gottlieb (1906 - 2001), probably saw more and drank more of the river of darkness than most of us, even the most sinister of us, can imagine.
He was captured by the Nazis and taken to Dachau Concentration Camp where he witnessed all the terrible tortures, including seeing the guards laughing loudly as they watched men being eaten alive by vicious dogs.
He escaped Dachau by signing over his family's fortune to the Germans hoping t see his family again, which he never did. Having run into trouble in Europe he moved to America with the help of Albert Einstein, a family friend.
He worked at many odd jobs while developing an act as an anti existentialist monologist. He tried performing it in California whiteout success. During the time of his greatest struggle his wife left him and his son, his only child, went with her.
He eventually found a place for himself playing small out of the way clubs in NYC and developed a cult following. He was finally recognized by some of the TV talk show hosts and made appearances on TV, particularly toward the end with David Letterman.
Starting from an absurdist premise such as that we should walk on all fours, or that we shouldn't eat food because it's bad for us, he would weave a speech that challenged all the pretensions and broke all the rules.
The title of his act was "Stand Up Tragedy"
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Fortunately most of us never have to look into a river of darkness, much less drink from it, though we may have approached it sometimes during a dark night of the soul. We can be thankful for Theodore who knew it well, witnessed it, drank from it and yet could make humor out of it. Dark humor, for sure, but there's nothing wrong with that.
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DB - Vagabond Journeys
Never Give Up
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CONTEST
Here's a contest for you.
How hot is it?
When I first ran this contest the winner was a school teacher who wrote:
"It's so hot my hot flashes cool me off."
Now it's your turn. How hot is it?
It's so hot my toaster pops up before I push it down. (DB)
Its so hot we are using our dog's panting as an extra fan (SH)
it's so hot that sweat runs uphill. (BK)
It's so hot....the microwave popcorn packets are popping in the cupboard (LS)
It's so hot I saw two trees fighting over a dog.
It's so hot here in Texas that people have been deliberately committing crimes so they can go to hell and cool off. (JV)It's so hot....
Good luck, prizes will be awarded, the decision of the certifiably mad judge is final.
DB
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Showing posts with label Brother Theodore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brother Theodore. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Friday, January 29, 2010
Stand Up Tregedy
Only when we have drunk from the river of darkness can we truly see.
Brother Theodore
*******************
In 1906 Theodore Gottlieb was born to a very wealthy Jewish family in Germany. Around 1940 he was taken prisoner by the Nazis and sent to Dachau concentration camp where he witnessed German soldiers laughing as they watched prisoners being tortured to death. He never saw his family again.
He signed over his wealth to the German government to obtain his freedom. In Austria he found Albert Einstein, a family friend who arranged for him to come to America. He did janitorial work in California, but was also an expert chess player and made money at chess tournaments.
He appeared in a few films, made many TV appearances and eventually, back in New York, had a regular nightclub act as a comedian. In his 80's he was a regular guest of David Letterman.
His humor was dark and strange. One of his famous monologues was about why people should not eat food. He frightened some people with his intensity, but he had a loyal and dedicated following of fans. His gallows humor did not appeal to everyone. But those who know that there isn't anything in life that doesn't deserve to be laughed at, including me, appreciated and enjoyed his work.
"I'm the bride at every funeral, the corpse at every wedding."
"I don't understand music but I like the noise it makes."
"I've always aimed at nothing and I've always hit it."
"I find it hard to still in one spot and impossible to sit still in two spots."
"Fear of life is only matched by fear of death. I have both."
"Doctors are quacks and so are their patients. Only the Coast Guard is honest."
His tombstone reads "As long as there is death there is hope."
His humor may sound morbid to some, but in the dark, cruel, vicious and macbre world it's the comedy of one who knows what's in the shadows and can laugh at it. Bless him.
The title of his act was "Stand Up Tragedy."
Brother Theodore, may he rest in pieces.
DB
***************
Tomorrow: Theatre Story #27
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^6
WINTER QUESTION
(This is not a contest.)
Given the resources and opportunity, what one thing do you want to do in 2010 that you've never done before.
You have all Winter to answer. Answers will be posted on the first day of Spring.
15 responses so far.
DB - The Vagabond
Brother Theodore
*******************
In 1906 Theodore Gottlieb was born to a very wealthy Jewish family in Germany. Around 1940 he was taken prisoner by the Nazis and sent to Dachau concentration camp where he witnessed German soldiers laughing as they watched prisoners being tortured to death. He never saw his family again.
He signed over his wealth to the German government to obtain his freedom. In Austria he found Albert Einstein, a family friend who arranged for him to come to America. He did janitorial work in California, but was also an expert chess player and made money at chess tournaments.
He appeared in a few films, made many TV appearances and eventually, back in New York, had a regular nightclub act as a comedian. In his 80's he was a regular guest of David Letterman.
His humor was dark and strange. One of his famous monologues was about why people should not eat food. He frightened some people with his intensity, but he had a loyal and dedicated following of fans. His gallows humor did not appeal to everyone. But those who know that there isn't anything in life that doesn't deserve to be laughed at, including me, appreciated and enjoyed his work.
"I'm the bride at every funeral, the corpse at every wedding."
"I don't understand music but I like the noise it makes."
"I've always aimed at nothing and I've always hit it."
"I find it hard to still in one spot and impossible to sit still in two spots."
"Fear of life is only matched by fear of death. I have both."
"Doctors are quacks and so are their patients. Only the Coast Guard is honest."
His tombstone reads "As long as there is death there is hope."
His humor may sound morbid to some, but in the dark, cruel, vicious and macbre world it's the comedy of one who knows what's in the shadows and can laugh at it. Bless him.
The title of his act was "Stand Up Tragedy."
Brother Theodore, may he rest in pieces.
DB
***************
Tomorrow: Theatre Story #27
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^6
WINTER QUESTION
(This is not a contest.)
Given the resources and opportunity, what one thing do you want to do in 2010 that you've never done before.
You have all Winter to answer. Answers will be posted on the first day of Spring.
15 responses so far.
DB - The Vagabond
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