21st Century: Query 188 (Fred Allen)
“I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” ~ Fred Allen , born John Florence Sullivan, was an American comedian. His absurdist, topically pointed radio program The Fred Allen Show (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the Golden Age of American radio . Using humor, how does Allen twist a virtue into a quasi-negative activity? What does this form of wit reveal about Allen? Allen passed away in 1956, long before the boon in formal exercise became a “thing.” How does the overall fitness of the average 1950’s adult compare to that of a 2020 adult? Do you see a dissonance in this comparison? Why or why not?