February 19

This Day in Humor with Mike Durrett

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Born 1887: Paul Terry, animator and creator of Terrytoons, which included a big stable of stars, like Farmer Al Falfa, Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, and Gandy Goose. Died 1971.

Born 1913: Frank Tashlin, animator, director, screenwriter. From "Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia": "Tashlin occupies a very special place in Hollywood history: he is the only major cartoon director to switch to live-action features -- making them look like cartoons, to boot. His outlandish comic style first flourished at Warner Bros.' cartoon shop in the mid 1930s, where, alongside Tex Avery, he pioneered fast cutting, bizarre angles, and inside jokes." He directed major stars Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and Bugs Bunny. His human comedies provided vehicles for Bob Hope (1952: "Son of Paleface"), Jayne Mansfield (1957: "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?"), and eight with Jerry Lewis (1958: "The Geisha Boy," 1962: "It's Only Money"). Died 1972.

Born 1917: John Fenton Murray, writer, contributed to TV's "The Red Skelton Show," "McHale's Navy," and "Gilligan's Island." For the big screen, he wrote "It's Only Money" (1962), "The Man From the Diner's Club" (1963), and "Man's Favorite Sport?" (1964). Died 1996.

1922: Comedian Ed Wynn became the first artist to contract as a radio performer.

Born 1924: Lee Marvin, veteran actor cemented to hard-boiled roles became a true movie star with his raucous participation in "Cat Ballou" (1965), which also won him an Oscar. Among his other comedies: "Donovan's Reef" (1963), "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), "Paint Your Wagon" (1969). Died 1987.

1942: The Joe E. Brown comedy "Shut My Big Mouth" opened in U.S. theatres. Tagline: "He's A Fun-Totin' Fool ... Lickin' Gun-Totin' Bandits!"

Born 1955: Jeff Daniels, actor, "Terms of Endearment" (1983), "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985), "Dumb & Dumber" (1994), "101 Dalmatians" (1996).

1960: "The Family Circus" comic strip by Bil Keane (and sometimes Billy) debuted in newspapers.

Born 1966: Justine Bateman, actress, best-known as Mallory Keaton on the sitcom "Family Ties" (1982-89).

1985: China opened its doors to Mickey Mouse.

Copyright ©2003 Mike Durrett. All rights reserved.