Groucho Marx? Fred Waring? Ed Gardner? Goodman Ace? Jane Ace? Fred Allen? Ernie Kovacs? Deane Binder? Anonymous?
- Television is a medium where if anything is well done, it’s rare.
- Television: We call it a medium because nothing’s well done.
- Television is called a medium because it is neither rare nor well done.
Would you please explore the provenance of this humor?
Quote Investigator: The earliest match known to QI occurred in the “Chicago Sunday Tribune” of Illinois in May 1949. A concise definition of television appeared in a small box. The singer and show business personality Fred Waring received credit for the wordplay. Emphasis added to excerpts by QI:[1] 1949 May 15, Chicago Sunday Tribune (Chicago Tribune), Definition (Filler item), Part 6, Section 2, Quote Page 2, Column 5, Chicago, Illinois. (ProQuest)
Definition
“Television: A new medium—rare, if well done!”
-Fred Waring.
Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.
Continue reading Television: It’s Called a Medium Because It’s Never Well Done
References
↑1 | 1949 May 15, Chicago Sunday Tribune (Chicago Tribune), Definition (Filler item), Part 6, Section 2, Quote Page 2, Column 5, Chicago, Illinois. (ProQuest) |
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