SHORT SYNOPSIS

Why are there so many Jewish comedians? When Comedy Went to School answers this question with an entertaining portrait of this country’s greatest generation of comics – the generation that includes the likes of Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar, Jackie Mason, Mort Sahl, and Jerry Stiller, all of whom make appearances in the film, sharing hilarious and personal experiences. The answer is also found in upstate New York’s Catskill Mountains, aka the Borscht Belt, where Jewish immigrants transformed lush farmland into the 20th century’s largest resort complex. Those Catskill hotels and bungalow colonies provided the setting for a remarkable group of young Jewish-American comedians to hone their craft and become worldwide legends. It was truly When Comedy Went to School.

WHEN COMEDY WENT TO SCHOOL

Why are there so many Jewish comedians? In a 1970's survey, it was found that although Jews represented approximately 3% of the total U.S. population, they accounted for 80% of professional comedians. How did it come to pass that a nation that started the 20th century laughing at the folk humor of Will Rogers, ended being captivated by the urbane parodies of "Seinfeld"? Is there a common denominator within the generation of Jewish-Americans that produced literally dozens of comedy legends? How could that happen? And why did that happen? What is their legacy? As Butch Cassidy in awe asks The Sundance Kid regarding the posse tracking them: "Who are those guys?"

Attempting to answer those questions became a journey with unexpected turns, which not only illuminated the most transformative period in American comedy, but also provided a look, through the rear-view mirror of' history, at myriad complex social and political issues. What we learned is that it's not just about “those guys”, it's also about us. Indeed, many a truth is said in jest. When Comedy Went to School is their, as well as our, story.

As vaudeville expired in the 1930's, unable to cope with rising costs or compete with the proliferation of motion picture houses, comedians sought an outlet for their developing talents. The upstate New York hotels of Sullivan and Ulster Counties numbered in excess of 900 and were collectively known as The Catskills. The area was later dubbed The Borscht Belt, and it provided a comedy boot camp for stand-up comedians, basic training for a remarkable group of gifted comics who tickled countless funny-bones and influenced most of today’s popular entertainers.

The Borscht Belt hotels offered a range of unprecedented facilities where comics could get in front of audiences, work on developing a style, hone their material, and check out the competition. They could even bomb and not be banished forever. The film explores the environment in which these hotels and bungalow colonies, catering almost exclusively to a Jewish clientele, provided a vital proving ground, a laboratory for determining what material worked…and what didn't. It was a perfect storm: comedians looking for work and hundreds of venues in need of them.

Hosted by comedian/actor Robert Klein, When Comedy Went to School features interviews with comic greats who redefined standup and sketch comedy, and forever altered the course of American humor. Such comic legends as Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar, Jackie Mason, Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory, Jerry Stiller and others, offer their unique, heart-felt and oftentimes hilarious anecdotes about what the Catskills meant to their careers.

Former Catskill busboy Larry King recounts his experiences, and displays a surprising comedic touch himself. Hugh Hefner discusses his role in supporting the 'New Comedy', specifically Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce and Dick Gregory. Historian Professor Joseph Dorinson, and noted sociologist/author Lawrence Epstein, ("The Haunted Smile") provide cogent, informative perspectives on subjects including humor as a survival tool and defense mechanism in Jewish history, immigration and assimilation, and the correlation between anti-Semitism and the rise of the Catskills.

When Comedy Went to School pays homage through rare archival clips to many other Catskill veterans, including Danny Kaye, Mel Brooks, Red Buttons, Buddy Hackett, Lenny Bruce, Henny Youngman, Don Rickles, Totie Fields, and Rodney Dangerfield to name a few. In later years, Billy Crystal, Joan Rivers, Woody Allen and a very young Jerry Seinfeld built on this foundation.

The Borscht Belt, aka “The Mountains”, was a comfortable place where people could be with their own kind, many of them still learning how to be American. They could escape the summer heat at a time before air conditioning, and could choose from a variety of activities catering to all members of the family. And the food! As the gag goes, “There was so much sour cream in the dining room I thought it was a blizzard!”

Nonetheless, entertainment was the key to attracting and keeping guests.

Originally, the ‘comics-in-training’ (including bellhops, busboys and waiters) were known as porch clowns or tummlers, a Yiddish word meaning to create noise or tumult, did anything to get a laugh. They used physical comedy and impressions, whatever it took to get the guests’ attention and keep it. Danny Kaye was fired after one day as a tummler. “Much too crazy!” was the word. A tummler too crazy? He must have been something! The tummlers were the reincarnation of the ancient Court Jester, wearing bizarre outfits with a patchwork of colors, and operating outside of society’s strictures with no rules. He was ‘The Joker’, literally wild. To many of those who had recently escaped from Europe, or who knew those that had, that freedom to act nutty without repercussions must have been reassuring as well as nourishing. This was the right place to be.

Lenny Bruce and Buddy Hackett were busboys who bunked together. Irving Kniberg and Joseph Levitch, better known as Alan King and Jerry Lewis, worked there as teens. Some bellhop named Aaron Schwatt, who had bright red hair and large buttons on his uniform, said “I’ll call myself Red Buttons, what the hell”. Sid Caesar performed as a terrific saxophone player with Benny Goodman’s Orchestra, but was also pretty terrific at creating characters and skits with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks. George Jessel made his last insulting remark in the Catskills, Don Rickles his first. Henny Youngman, Jackie Mason…. the list goes on and on.

Later, in the post-World War II period, the Catskills attracted more diverse and sophisticated guests, well-travelled New Yorkers, and convention groups. Theatre-style stage shows evolved into more night-clubby settings requiring performers to become more adaptable, to work both small groups and large crowds every night, and usually for several shows. These were known as the toughest audiences in the world. You had to bang ‘em, or they walked. The younger comics watched, gauged the audience response and learned what worked, what didn’t … and why. Gone was the traditional set-up/pay-off structure of Old World humor such as “didya’ hear the one about?”, “a guy walks in to a bar…” or jokes with punch lines in Yiddish. The new, more educated audiences demanded more sophisticated humor, and the resulting innovations included character development, social commentary, stream-of-consciousness delivery, triple punch lines and emotional tags. This re-vamped, updated approach - which could only have been developed in this unique comedic cauldron - produced a whole new kind of standup comedy.

When Comedy Went to School is also about the survival of a culture. The primarily Eastern European Jews who migrated to The Catskills turned that farmland into the 20th century’s largest resort complex. They may have lacked many skills, most barely spoke English, but what they had was courage, vision, and the conviction that the American dream of success could be realized by faith and persistence.

Selig and his wife Malke were fairly typical. They worked together in New York City sweatshops for years, and after scrapping together a few hundred dollars, they escaped to upstate New York and bought a broken-down farmhouse. The returns on their meager harvest couldn’t sustain the growing family, so they took in a boarder, then another. In the years to come, Selig and Malke Grossinger would own a hotel with two private airports, twelve tennis courts and its own zip code.

The last major surviving Catskill hotel is Kutshers. Our interviews on location with Mark Kutsher and his recently deceased mother Helen, provide a very personal look at the immense obstacles and struggles the very early ‘settlers’ overcame, how they flourished, and their connection and commitment to the continuing development of comedy talent. Perhaps it’s fair to say that embedded in their genes was a natural and instinctive understanding, not only for them, but for their guests, that the best escape from despair, pain, or worry, if only temporarily, is laughter. Tania Grossinger, author of “Growing Up at Grossingers” offers an own up-close and personal description of her family’s hotel that staggers the imagination as she recounts its scope and opulence… and her ingenuity as a teenager advising comedians about material.

The decline of the Catskills was not only directly related to the socioeconomic rise of Jewish Americans, but to seismic changes in American society and culture. In the late 1960’s and early 70’s, Viet Nam and the civil and women’s rights struggles changed what Americans found funny. Catskill comics didn’t adjust, at least not quickly enough. And there was the explosion of television. It was free. “Why go out to a club, let alone a resort? Besides, we’ve got a swimming pool, we can turn on the air conditioning, and fly wherever we want. Also, being honest, our kids don’t want to spend their vacation with us, and being really honest, maybe we should take some time…just the two of us.”

When Comedy Went to School cautions that it would be a mistake to relegate the nexus of the aforementioned comedians and the rise of the Catskill Hotels to just an historical footnote; it would be a tragedy to consign this era to the ash heap of history. Comedians, the great ones, take the temperature of the culture. They remind us in many ways, “What fools we mortals be”. Is it any wonder that in “King Lear” the Jester is the man who knows the truth but disguises it with jokes?

Edmund Kean, a noted 19th century Shakespearean actor, was asked as he lay on his death-bed how he was feeling. He replied “Dying is easy, comedy is hard!” One thing is certain, those Catskill Comics sure made living a lot more fun. The important comedians of today and tomorrow and the days after tomorrow stand on their shoulders. It’s long overdue that we honor them and their Alma Mater, The Catskill Hotels. It was When Comedy Went to School.

The Comedians

Robert Klein (Host-Narrator)

Known for his observational humor, Robert Klein starred in HBO's very first stand-up comedy special, and went on to star in nine other HBO one-man shows. His numerous awards include two Prime-Time Emmy and two Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album, and a Tony nomination for Best Actor in "They're Playing Our Song". Klein has appeared over a hundred times on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show", hosted two "Saturday Night Live(s)", and been featured in over forty films.

Quotes from the film:

"It was an Oz without the Wicked Witch."

"A comedy boot camp for American humor." "From the 1930's to the late 60's, the Catskill Hotels were the settings for the most important and fascinating era in American humor."

Jerry Lewis

An iconic show business legend, Jerry Lewis has achieved world-wide fame in all phases of media, motion pictures, television, theatre, and night clubs. Lewis is considered by many as the comic successor to Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. One of the most successful performers in show business history, Lewis has also garnered international recognition as a writer-director. He has received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, Comedy Central’s "Comic Lifetime Achievement Award", and a Cable ACE Award, among many honors, as an entertainer and as a humanitarian. However, it all started at Brown's Hotel in Loch Sheldrake.

Quotes from the film:

"The Catskills was where it all began, where we all learned." “It was a laboratory, it was marvelous, comics had a place to be bad."

Sid Caesar

Arguably an authentic comic genius, Sid Caesar re-defined sketch comedy in his two Emmy-winning TV series, "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour". His satire, physical comedy and mime were done live before millions - with daring, wit and impeccable timing - oftentimes improvised. Broadway theatre producers petitioned his network to move Caesar to a weeknight, too many people were staying at home Saturday nights. Two awards probably best define his career, both awarded by the Television Critics Association: "The TV Pioneer Award" and "The Lifetime Achievement Award". Caesar transitioned from being a highly respected musician (Benny Goodman Orchestra) to comedy at the Vacationland Hotel in Swan Lake and at Kutsher's in Monticello.

Quotes from the film:

"When you went to the mountains, that's where you learned." "To make people laugh is the biggest thing you can do, to help them get thru life." "Sometimes it's hard, and it's tough, but you make a joke." “If you can laugh at your situation, what a gift!" Mort Sahl Mort Sahl was one-of-a-kind, a razor-sharp trailblazer of biting, critical comedy in the 1950's and 1960's. He took on false piety, inequality and political spin. He was the first humorist on the cover of Time Magazine, the first to do a record album, and the first to perform on the college campus circuit. His recounting in the film of his appearance at The Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake is hilarious as well as revealing. Quotes from the film: "They didn't tell you to go away because you had a dream of being a comedian."

Jackie Mason

A brilliant monologist, Jackie Mason is well-known for his material on Jewish and American culture and political satire. His 1-man show performances on Broadway have been hugely successful, and toured throughout the country. His TV guest shots, club performances and featured movie roles have made him one of America's best-known comedians. In a poll conducted by his peers, he was voted among the top 50 comedy artists in history. One of this former Rabbi's proudest accomplishments was when he became Social Director at The Lake Fieldston Hotel in Swan Lake. Quotes from the film: "It was a school for comedy."

Jerry Stiller

With wife Anne Meara, this Jewish-Irish comedy team were headliners for over three decades. They appeared on the landmark "Ed Sullivan Show" thirty-six times. Today, Jerry Stiller is best known for his continuing roles on "Seinfeld" and "The King of Queens”. He was featured on Broadway in shows including "Hurlyburly", "The Ritz", and the revival of "Guys and Dolls". A few of his many motion picture credits are "The Ritz", "Hairspray", and with son, Ben, "Heavy Weights" and "Zoolander". An Emmy Award winner in 1997, in 1998 he received The American Comedy Award. Quote from the film: "I went up there to be a part of a knife act. I made 5 bucks!"

Dick Gregory

Dick Gregory is a comedian whose career incorporates true and lasting social significance. A member of the iconoclastic triad of Mort Sahl and Lenny Bruce (another Catskill veteran), Gregory brings another dimension to When Comedy Went to School. His heartfelt debt to Hugh Hefner is strongly expressed.

Mickey Freeman

A Catskill Mountain fixture, Mickey Freeman is the quintessential Borsch Belt comedian. He played the smallest bungalow colonies to the largest hotels. He was a regular, some say the Chairman, for decades at the comic pre- and post-show haunts, Tilly's Diner and The Red Apple Rest. He achieved early notoriety as Private Zimmerman on "The Phil Silvers Show" (aka Sargent Bilko). In 2005 he appeared as himself in the well-received documentary, "The Comedian's Comedian". Freeman passed away in 2011. Quote from the film: "On behalf of all comedians of today and tomorrow, keep 'em laughing."

The Commentators

Larry King

Larry King's span as a television and radio interviewer-personality is truly remarkable. When he left CNN it was estimated he had conducted over 60,000 interviews in his career. His many awards include two Peabody's and ten Cable ACE Awards. King exhibits some surprising comic timing himself in When Comedy Went to School in a very memorable and very personal anecdote about his stint as a busboy.

Quotes from the Film:

"The Catskills were a breeding ground for the stand-up comedian.”

"These guys led the way."

Hugh Hefner

Hefner's pivotal role in the careers of Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce and Dick Gregory has been vastly underreported. 'Hef' has important things to say about Playboy's influence on the comic revolution, its acceptance and spread in the late 1950's, and particularly, the 1960's. Hugh Hefner made it possible for Dick Gregory to play Chicago's North Side white night clubs. He was among the first to enthusiastically back Mort Sahl early in his career when most media sources didn't appreciate him and bookings were hard to come by. And he helped defray Lenny Bruce's legal expenses when he was charged with obscenity. This triad – Sahl, Bruce and Gregory - backed by the pervasive "Playboy" influence, blazed a trail for a new brand of cutting-edge comedy which further widened the gap between the comedic material and style which had characterized 'Catskill humor'.

Sandy Hackett

Son of Buddy Hackett, Sandy toured with his Dad for ten years. He is presently the producer of "The Rat Pack Show", a theatre experience that recreates the on and off-stage antics of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Joey Bishop whom he portrays. The show, based in Las Vegas, tours throughout the country.

Quotes from the Film: “My father shared a one room apartment with Lenny Bruce. They hung a single light bulb, put up an umbrella, bought sand, smoked joints and invited broads over to the beach." Sandy's wife Lisa Dawn Miller sings "Make 'Em Laugh" and "Send in the Clowns" in When Comedy Went to School. Lisa's CD, "Fly Away", has been well reviewed. Aside from being a cast member in "The Rat Pack Show", she performs cabaret as a solo vocalist.

Joe Franklin

Joe Franklin is credited with being TV's first talk show host (1951). A radio and TV personality for over 60 years, Joe is a world-renowned collector of entertainment memorabilia, and author of "The Encyclopedia of Comedians". Franklin played himself in such movies as "Manhattan", "Broadway Danny Rose" and "The Aristocrats". Billy Crystal impersonated him for 4 years on "Saturday Night Live".

Amy Stiller

Amy is from a distinguished show business family, daughter of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, brother of Ben Stiller. Amy is an actress who also performs stand-up comedy. She has appeared seven times on "The King of Queens" and appeared in numerous national TV commercials. Her last feature film was "Little Fokkers".

Wendy Liebman

Liebman has guested on "Late Night with David Letterman", “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson", "Jimmy Kimmel Live", as well as hosted her own Showtime special, "Taller on TV". In 1997 Liebman was the winner of The American Comedy Award for Female Stand-up Comedian of the Year. She also appeared in the motion picture, "The Aristocrats". Quote from the film: "I got to hear the words of those comedians, they informed my comedy".

Marc Maron

Known for his raw, thought-provoking comedy, Maron has done stints on HBO, Conan, Letterman as well as two Comedy Central specials. Riding a crest of popularity, he is now starring in his own show on IFC Channel. Quote from the film: "That Borscht Belt thing resonates through all areas of comedy."

Cory Kahaney

Aside from touring nationally in all the major comedy clubs throughout the country, Kahaney has had her own comedy specials on HBO and Comedy Central. Her TV guest shots include Letterman and Craig Ferguson. She was the grand finalist and runner-up in NBC's, "The Last Comic Standing", and was voted Best Female Comedian by the Manhattan Cabaret Association. Quote from the film: "A comedian is like a Doctor, in theory you're providing pleasure and relief from one's problems."  

WHEN COMEDY WENT TO SCHOOL

Filmmaker Biographies

MEVLUT AKKAYA,

Director/Producer Mevlut Akkaya is accomplished as both a film producer and director. In 1999, he wrote and directed “A Jazz Story”, featuring jazz legend Gary Bartz, which has been shown in numerous international film festivals. He also shot “Kanake” in Germany, a film that tackles the subject of racism and which screened in the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, AFI Film Festival, and Sedona Film Festival.

As a producer, Mevlut guided the development of the films “Reality Trap”, “Last Looks”, “Following Bliss”, and “Art=(Love)2 which have been well received in many international film festivals. Akkaya was supervising producer for the film “Toss-Up”, which won numerous international awards, and a record-setting 11 awards at the Antalya Film Festival, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Script, and Best Actor. The film was also officially selected to screen at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, the Montreal International Film Festival, and the Kiev International Film Festival. “The Doorman”, which Akkaya co-produced, stars Lucas Akoskin and Peter Bogdanovich, and was distributed by Gigantic Releasing in 2008.

Besides producing “Naked Mind”, a full-length documentary about Buddhism which explores its practice from East to West, Akkaya also co-produced “Five Minarets in NY”, starring Danny Glover, Gina Gershon and Robert Patrick. Currently he is in pre-production of the film “Fortunate Sons”, staring Emily Watson and finishing his latest directing project, the only documentary about legendary American jazz artist Ahmad Jamal. He is in development with two feature films.

In addition to his roles as a Director and Producer, Akkaya is also involved with several film festivals as programmer, creator, adviser and jury member.

Akkaya studied at Anatolian University in Turkey, Dortmund University in Germany, and Brooklyn College in New York.

RON FRANK Director/Producer/Editor

Ron Frank is a Peabody award-winner and Emmy nominated filmmaker with credits on PBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MTV, A&E, TLC, Starz, Encore, National Geographic, Discovery and History Channels. Screenings of his films have been held at SXSW, AFI SilverDocs, MOMA, Israel Film Fest, Kennedy Center, the United Nations, and the Television Academy. Ron recently received a Peabody Award for his film, "MLK: The Assassination Tapes". Before that he received an Emmy nomination for "The Lost JFK Tapes" a two hour film on the JFK assassination. He was director and editor of “In the House”, a Hollywood talk show series with Peter Bart and Peter Guber on Starz/Encore. He is director, producer and editor for When Comedy Went to School.

Ron produced and directed bestselling author and lecturer, Deepak Chopra turning two of his major books, “How to Know God” and “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” into feature length films for Fox Home Entertainment Ron also produced, directed and edited “Only in America”, a behind-the-scenes story of Senator Joe Lieberman's national campaign for VP in 2000. “The Hunt for Adolf Eichmann”, which Ron wrote, produced and edited was narrated by Gregory Peck.

He directed and edited “Gloria”, hosted by James Earl Jones, a musical spectacle performed live in Jerusalem with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Millennium Choir. Other titles include: “Israeli Intelligence”, “Shadows of the Six Day War” and “Mystery of Mars”, a story regarding the possibility of intelligent life in the universe, narrated by Leonard Nimoy.

Ron has always been intrigued by subjects with a social content, but never more than when he produced “The Eternal Road: An Encounter with the Past”, a testament to the last German-Jewish generation born in the early part of the 20th century. This film screened on over 50 PBS stations and many film festivals.

A graduate of New York University's film school, Frank lived in Jerusalem for three years, working for CNN and ABC News and producing film and television productions for the Israeli government and various non-profit organizations. Ron is currently working on a major documentary about Israel and writing a screenplay on a national canine hero of World War One.

LAWRENCE RICHARDS, Writer/Producer

Lawrence Richards is an accomplished Writer-Producer who conceived and wrote When Comedy Went to School. He produced the film along with Mevlut Akkaya and Ron Frank. Richards is currently developing "E Pluribus Brooklyn”, a two-part TV Mini-Series and "Taking Sides", a documentary and non-fiction book about Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce and Dick Gregory. In addition, he is writing and co-producing a film, "It Can't Happen Here" with production slated to commence in the 4th Quarter of 2013.

Richards co-produced "The Man Who Would Not Die", an action-adventure feature, with Robert Arkless. In theatre, he wrote the libretto for "Valadon", an original musical, and produced "A Question of Loyalty" Off- Broadway. He wrote and produced "Empowered Learning", a one-hour radio broadcast which aired in New York and Connecticut. He has also written numerous radio commercials and magazine articles. Richards is a member of The Writer's Guild, an Associate Member of The Dramatist's Guild, and has served as a judge on several Emmy Blue Ribbon Panels.