YIVO’s New Exhibition on Jewish Comedians of the 20th Century

New York, NY (February 11, 2016) – The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research's newest exhibition, Professional Jokers: Jewish Jesters from the Golden Age of American Comedy. Professional Jokers opens at 6:00 pm on Monday, February 29, at YIVO (located at 15 West 16th Street).

Throughout the 20th century, a generation of Jewish comedians made their way from vaudeville theaters to nightclubs in Manhattan, Miami, the Catskills, and beyond. Dozens of legendary Jewish comics from Henny Youngman to Milton Berle to Jerry Lewis to Mel Brooks to Joan Rivers, among many others, have earned a place in the pantheon of American comedy. As humorists and social commentators, their celebrity status helped Jews assimilate into American culture. As such, their place in American and Jewish life has been significant.

Combining archival material from YIVO’s collections with Old Jewish Comedians artist Drew Friedman’s “Comedy Jewseum,” Professional Jokers presents photographs, posters, records, and other rare ephemera on the history of Jewish comedians in America.

The exhibition opening features a star-studded panel discussion on Jews and comedy, featuring comedian Robert Klein, comedy writer Alan Zweibel, Old Jewish Comedians artist Drew Friedman, The Comedians author Kliph Nesteroff, comedian and writer Judy Gold, Jewish popular culture scholar Dr. Eddy Portnoy, and a special surprise guest. This stellar panel will be moderated by comedy writer Frank Santopadre. Professional Jokers will be on view at YIVO from March 1 – May 1, 2016.

For press inquiries, contact:

Dr. Eddy Portnoy
Senior Academic Advisor & Director of Exhibitions
(212) 294-6139