RADIO HUMOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 28

RADIO HUMOUR

YARDSTICK OF GOOD TASTE

■ The reason that one seldom if ever hears jokes over, the radio about the Supreme Court, the Duke of Windsor, Mrs. Simpson, and the war' in Spain was explained in a recent issue of the "New York Times" by Ed.: Wynn, veteran comedian of stage and radio, who has been stringing together, all sorts of gags for. thirty-odd years. While broadcasters have few ironclad rules concerning the butt of the comedian's jibes, the yardstick of good taste is the measure that should govern the jests, according to Mr. Wynn.

"No matter what subjects may be specifically banned by the broadcasters, anything that offends good taste is, or should be, definitely taboo on the air," the comedian explained. "For instance. I have never been questioned or the blue pencil used on any jokes about President Roosevelt. Once, however, when I tried to introduce a joke about the President 'who would be known as the greatest lover-of all time because of his Supreme "courting",' I was asked tjot to use it Child marriages is another topic I was asked not to mention." ■ ■ ■' '.'■■'..

While there are.no bans placed on such subjects as Congress, the Presi-dent,-Hitler, or Mussolini, jokes on such topics must be handled with consummate skill by \ the radio gagster. However, when a jest is pointed at any national. or international figure such as Hitler, Mussolini, or Roosevelt,1 the comedian is treading on dangerous ground, Wynn points out. because no matter how.innocent the gag my be in itself, it may be interpreted as offensive'by a portion of the radio audience.

"The comedian's job is primarily to entertain," he explained.- -'Any joke concerning religious creed, human deformity or misfortune,, illness, disease, or death, should. be avoided, and if such topics are made the butt of a joke, they must be handled with the utmost discrimination and good taste. It might be possible to tell a gag about such a tragic affair as the Spanish revolution, but it seems to me it would take, a trigger mind to.devise a pun on this subject: that would not be considered in bad taste.

"Topical subjects .naturally inject freshness into a broadcast, but here again the greatest care must be exercised. For instance, while it is permissible to tell a joke about sit-down s'rikes in general, any reference to any specific strike is absolutely banned. I; was asked not to use a joke referring to a million-dollar baby and the five-and-ten-cent stored ' '

"The off-colour joke, of course, has no place in any mixed gathering, and should be ' strictly banned on stage, screen, and radio. . ;

"If the rule of good taste was religiously applied to each and every; joke, there would be no nee for censorship of any kind. There should be no «need for censorship on such, a' delicate subject as Edward and Mrs.; Simpson. A comedian who knows his: business realises that to tell a jokel that may be interpreted to be offensive; in any sense by even a minor part of; his audience does him immeasurable: harm. • ■ . .

"For example, I have never told a. joke in all my career that I considered; - buld ..aicw. a race of people in any! way. I have foundthat the Scotch are. most tolerant of jokes at their expense,, but his may be because of their fine 'pnse of humour. The Irish, too, haye i 9 highly developed sense of humour,!

jt jokes at their expense thf )i;efer; to come from one of their own race.; They resent bein made the butt of the1; itlier fellow's ioke." •■ ■.. '■