LAUGH FOR YOUR COUNTRY

...Here is my hand, Lewis...

...Lewis, who operates from Madison Avenue, not only originated the Humor Lobby, but also the Humor Exchange Network back in 1945 "to discover, develop, and encourage the Future Funny Men & Women of America, and to involve more people in the pleasures of laughmaking...

...I'm not so sure what it will do for the country...

...Here is my heart, Atkins...

...And last of all, we might consider the advisability of a protective tariff to shield our infantile industry from the competition of the ancient, established humor industries of England and France...

...Let's mull over the tariff idea for the nonce...

...Atkins and Mr...

...These two fellows are real pros...

...Some gags are toxic, if not deadly...

...According to their joint news release the Humor Lobby seeks "to gain support from all governmental agencies for the promotion of a National Sense of Humor...

...A sense of humor strengthens morale—and is good for country, President, politicians, Congress, and the people alike...

...After all, The Progressive is a journal of opinion...

...With a release like this, filling up the rest of this page could be easy...

...Second, we should be permitted a 27.5 per cent annual depletion allowance for tax purposes, like the oil industry...

...Some of us are depleted of comic creativity at least six months in the year, but I'm not proposing a fifty per cent allowance, just 27.5 per cent...

...I feel guilty because not only have I failed to recognize that laughmaking is a public service and a duty to my country, and failed to meet my production quota of chuckles—I did not even realize that laughmaking is an industry that needs a lobby to get a square deal from Congress just like the oil companies, the food processors, and the American Medical Association...

...Surely the public is entitled to Federal protection against national television and radio network humor that is in a state of decay from age, over-exposure, or lack of proper preservatives...

...And from now on you can count on me to try to overcome my normally morose disposition and do my best to carry out the injunction in your news release: "Laugh, it's good for you and the United States, too...

...Incidentally, I would be interested in a faculty position at one of these comedy schools...

...If we want the security possible through Federal restriction of competition we must advocate higher standards for comedy, maybe even propose a U.S...

...Meanwhile, Mr...

...If we can get on a par with the oil companies, that's good enough for an opener...

...I have come up with a few ideas on what you might propose: First, if we—I mean the profession —are to have future job security we need some form of license or franchise under Federal law to keep our field from becoming overcrowded...

...Third, the Humor Lobby should lobby for Federal subsidies for our professional organizations, and for grants to build and staff schools of comedy writing...

...prime," "choice," and "commercial...

...Whenever I can, I'm going to step into a closet—away from newspaper headlines and radio news bulletins that cry of war—and really laugh it up...

...We can claim to be in interstate commerce, but if Congress won't buy that, maybe we can come under the Federal concept of a national menace, which makes air pollution and death on the highways subjects for U.S...

...I support your Humor Lobbying in Washington all the way, and in Capital Letters...

...Right now he is working to set up a Gagwriters Round Table and Gagwriters Comedy Workshop in the Washington area...

...Lewis, let me know if you want me to circulate petitions or write to my Congressman and Senators in support of Humor Lobby objectives...

...Capitals theirs) The announcement goes on to quote Lewis: "Laughter is good for the soul, and laughmaking is almost a public service...

...With your expertise, I am sure you will be the ones who will offer proposals for Federal legislation on behalf of gagwriters and humorists, and who will be testifying before the appropriate House and Senate committees...

...The British produce puns cheaper than we do...

...The government also should be empowered to order the destruction of shipments of gags found to be toxic or otherwise injurious to the human nervous system...

...legislation...

...But that won't give you my point of view, how / feel about the proposed lobbying of the Humor Lobby...

...I feel guilty...

...The profession will never acquire national status until it is in the hands of graduates of such schools— dedicated funnymen and funnywomen whose professors have taught them the solemn public-service nature of their calling...

...The French send us bedroom farce, and Hollywood hates them for doing it better and cheaper...

...As the nasty old gag goes: "Those who can't, teach...

...I gather this from their own release which states that Atkins has written for many of the top comedians and national magazines...

...But since reading the Atkins-Lewis release I know better...

...Of course we also should get tax deductions for humorous exploration expenses, especially to cover our losses when we hit dry holes...

...I could quote from it at greater length, and you would be fascinated by the picture it evokes of the dedicated laughmaking that goes on in the world of the Future Funny Men & Women, at the comedy round tables and workshops, and over the Humor Exchange Network...

...Maybe it will help me...

...Atkins represents something called the "Humor Lobby," which was created by George Q. Lewis, another comedy writer...

...Comedy Administration for the inspection and grading of jokes as U.S...