Benchley

Benchley-Mania!

b. September 15, 1889
Worcester, Massachusetts

Robert Charles Benchley

d. November 21, 1945
New York, New York.

Robert Benchley was a funny man, and his work is arguably the finest in American humor. Although film probably brought him more popularity, you probably won't find too many of his movies in your local video store. His stories (or essays) make for brilliant reading, if you can find them in your library or used book store.

News !!!

The recently formed Robert Benchley Society is "a not-for-profit association for the mutual enjoyment and promotion of the writings and motion pictures of Robert Benchley, American drama critic and humorist."

Nathaniel "Nat" Benchley (Robert's grandson) will be performing in "Benchley Despite Himself" on March 9, 2004 at the General Society of Tradesmen and Mechanics in New York City.(20 West 44th St., New York, N. Y. 10036)

Kino Video has released a video of several of Benchley's early film shorts, including the classic "Treasurer's Report". The video is called Robert Benchley and the Knights of the Algonquin . It also includes shorts featuring fellow Algonguinites Alexander Woolcott and Donald Ogden Stewart.
The video is panned by one reviewer; but welcomed by another.

The stories

In no particular order, here are some of my favorite essays.
Disclaimer used without permission, for personal use only, do not use while operating heavy machinery, void where prohibited, etc., etc.

Whoa!. Political commentary in the guise of humor? or vice verse?

Truffle Poisoning.

on Science

Although he often presented himself as just a joker, Benchley clearly had a broad understand of an array of topics. His comments on the scientific issues of the day are as insightful as they are funny. And often he is rather prescient.

Chemist's Sporting Extra anticipates the discovery of the quark (sort of ).

Is this the Missing Link?, on anthropology, from Pluck and Luck.

Cell-Formations And Their Work from Pluck and Luck. Anticipates the controversy over genetic engineering.

Botany Exam from No Poems.

Evolution Sidelights, in which the hermit-crab evolves into the sheep, from Pluck and Luck.

Penguin Psychology from The Treasurer's Report.

Taking Up the Cudgels , in which he defends Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

How much does the Sun jump?
An account of the Stroboscope, the New Tall-Tale from Pluck and Luck.

The Social Life of the Newt
from Of All Things. This is in the format of a lecture from a distinguished scientist. The short films, The Sex Life of the Polyp (1928), and The Courtship of the Newt (1938) incorporated elements of this story, along with Do Insects Think ? and Polyp with a Past , from Love Conquers All , and On the Floor of the Reebis Gulf from Pluck and Luck.

on Bicycling

"Bicycling", The New Craze, from Pluck and Luck.

The Life Polar Expedition is a series of reports describing his team's attempt to reach the North Pole by bicycle
from The Early Worm.

Time-Off from the Show from The Early Worm, contains a bit at the end which is a swipe at the automobile. (2 wheels good, 4 wheels bad!). from The Early Worm.

on Humor

Benchley wrote several essays on the subject of humor. Visitor's Day at the Joke Farm , a sartirical look at jokes that were old in 1924, from Pluck and Luck.

"What Shall We Say?" from The Treasurer's Report. Wherein he discusses the problems of people trying to be funny. The opening paragraph is classic Benchley:

I don't want to be an alarmist - oh, what do I care? Sure, I'll be an alarmist, and will point out that the more literate sections of country are today on the verge of an epidemic of brain-fag which threatens to plunge us into a national mental collapse.

I find his opening paragraphs to be just brilliant. Why do we Laugh -- or Do we? from Benchley - Or Else!, addresses the issue head on, complete with diagrams. from The Treasurer's Report. from The Treasurer's Report. from Pluck and Luck.

Bibliography of works by and about Robert Benchley. Currently only a few ( * , * , * , * ) are still in print.

Coming Soon:

Benchley in the movies

Influence on American humor
Dave Barry
Firesign Theatre
James Thurber
E. B. White
Woody Allen

Other Benchley (and Benchly-related ) web sites.

The people in Benchley's world.

at Vatoweb (some missing links).

Comedic Literature.

The Benchley page from Bohemian Ink, who also have some nice pages of other authors I like.

Premiere of Benchley Despite Himself, a play about Benchley written by his grandson, Nathaniel Robert Benchley (not to be confused with his son Nathaniel Goddard Benchley).

Nathaniel has his a nice web site with lots of background material on Benchley.

Tribute Page (lame).

The Dorothy Parker Society of New York