The deaths of Shirley Temple and Sid Caesar make me realize how lucky my generation was to remember these special celebrities in their prime.
The child who could dance, sing, cry on cue and flash her dimpled smile brought pleasure to adults and other kids in the 1930s, when our country had record unemployment and strife. The era of Disney films, radio and street games, being able to walk to a nearby playground or to the candy store with pals is over for today’s child.
The manic Sid Caesar and his zany team of writers and actors regaled us on TV in the 1950s and 60s, and we can still laugh when these shows are run on special TV programs.
Humor is known to keep us healthy and help us weather our difficulties. Unfortunately, the current style of humor seems obsessed with bodily functions, vulgar language and sex. Violence in films numbs the senses and may contribute to the violence we see in the media. Perhaps a new generation can reprise the wholesome humor of the past: Bill Cosby, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason and so many others.
R.I.P. Little Shirley and Sid. In the words of Bob Hope, “Thanks for the memories.”
B K Brumberg
Howard Beach
