Mad, Mad World — 1969
I have a cherished memory of a wonderful evening I spent with my father. One evening during my high school years (I can’t remember exactly how old I was), Dad invited me to go with him to see a new hit movie, “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”. Jonathan Winters and Ethel Merman had always been favorites of my Dad, and he was excited to see a movie with these two performers playing major roles. Neither one of us realized what a treat was in store for us. From the opening scene with Jimmy Durante kicking the bucket, to Jonathan Winters destroying the gas station, to Ethel Merman slipping on the banana peel at the end, we laughed until we cried and until our ribs ached. I remember that there were very few movie-goers in the theater when we saw the film, so we were quite uninhibited in our uproarious laughter. It was a wonderful evening’s entertainment made all the more enjoyable because I was able to share it with my Dad. I have loved “Mad, Mad World” ever since, not just because of the side-splitting humor, but also because of the fond memories of a carefree evening spent with my wonderful father.
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