Charlie Chaplin's satire was bold politically and socially.
He sympathized with pacifists, communists and Soviet supporters.
For exercising "Freedom of Expression"
In the land of the free,
The Little Tramp was persecuted loudly
As doors were slammed shut
By many "open-minded" Americans.
George Burns played Oh, God!
Smoked endless cigars
Enjoyed a daily, dry martini or two
Lived to a hundred loving Gracie every breath he took
Visiting her grave for monthly chats
For more than three decades.
Bob Hope, comedian, film star, king of the one-liners,
Entertainer of troops and presidents died at a hundred.
The land of the free,
Where freedom of expression is guaranteed,
Fried Hope's words
When Martin Luther King was assassinated.
His conservative support of the Vietnam War didn't help,
and his reaction to feminist protesters
When hosting the Miss World contest in 1970
Brought on another assault.
Jimmy Durante (February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980)
Known for his "Schnozzola",
"Inka Dinka Doo",
and "Good night, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are"
Turned out to be a tribute to his first wife—
Never forgotten.
Jackie Gleason's mother raised him
After the father did a vanishing act.
She died when he was nineteen.
Jackie played Ralph Kramden in the The Honeymooners,
Studied the paranormal and built a house in the shape of a UFO
Named the Mothership.
Red Skelton,
The World's Greatest Clown
Said in 2002 about "under God",
added to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance in 1954,
"Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer
and that would be eliminated from schools too?"
Jack Benny
Redd Foxx
Phyllis Diller
Jerry Lewis
Groucho Marx
Lily Tomlin
Johnny Carson
I Love Lucy
Many gave and still gift us with laughter
While sometimes shedding blood tears.
Charlie Chaplin said, "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
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