FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2009
Further Information:
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First Annual Al Boasberg Comedy Award at Buffalo International Film Festival: 2009
Buffalo, New York Named for the greatest comedy writer of the early 20th Century, The Al Boasberg Comedy Award was given to a Who's Who of extraordinary comedy writers and performers (including Larry Gelbart (M*A*S*H), Joseph Stein ("Fiddler on the Roof") and Kathleen Howard (Man on the Flying Trapeze).
The Buffalo International Film Festival presented te first annual award on the evening of October 11, 2009 at the ComedySportz Arena in Buffalo, NY.
Recipients were:
Larry Gelbart (1926-2009): Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Writing (Sid Caesar Show, M*A*S*H, Tootsie and more). Joseph Stein (1912- : Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Writing (Sid Caesar Show, Enter Laughing, Fiddler on the Roof and more) Everett Greenbaum (1919-1999): Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Writing.(Mr. Peepers, M*A*S*H, and more), a native of Buffalo, NY Kathleen Howard (1884-1956): Lifetime Achievement in Comedy Performance (Man on the Flying Trapeze, It's a Gift, You're Telling Me - with W.C. Fields).a native of Buffalo, NY Harvey Kurzman (1924-1993): Lifetime Achievement in Comic Graphic Art and Writing (Co-Creator Mad Magazine, Trump, Help, Humbug, Little Annie Fanny and more)
Hosted by Buffalo Film Festival organizer Edward Summer, members of the Buffalo Comedy Sportz troupe, Richard Satterwhite, Deb Spragge, Drew Ludwig, and Fred Scheck, read biographies of the recipients.
"In these troubled times, we wanted not only to acknowledge one of the great, under-appreciated geniuses of comedy, but also to bring a smile and perhaps a fresh laugh to a world that could certainly use a couple of smiles," said Edward Summer, founder of the award.
Al Boasberg was born in Buffalo, NY in 1891. The most prolific comedy writer of his generation, he created the modern "stand-up comedian" through the classic personalities of Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Burns and Allen, Wheeler and Woolsey and contributed material to The Three Stooges, MIlton Berle, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and countless others. He wrote the famous state room scene for A Night at The Opera and most of the screenplay for A Day at the Races, but had his name removed from both films because of a dispute with the studio. The night before his death, he created the enduring character of Rochester for the Jack Benny Show. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetary in Buffalo after his premature passing in 1937 at the age of 44.
Artist Drew Friedman, the award winning artist of wonderful New Yorker Covers, Mad Magazine spoofs, and the portrait collection Old Jewish Comedians is designing the "Boasie," the actual award that will be given to honorees.
The next awards will be presented in October 2010 during Buffalo International Film Festival 2010.
The Buffalo International Film Festival is a 501c3 not-for-profit charity that depends upon tax-deductible donations to support its screenings which highlight the cooperation of the international community through film and videos. One of its mottos is "Cultural Patriotism," the celebration of one's country throught cultural achievement.
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