Aunt Lena and her Entire Family Circle, 1979

This series documents stand-up and improvisational comedy, and humorous music from 1955-1988. In addition to the recordings of individual comics such as Morey Amsterdam, Nan Blackstone, Belle Barth, Shelley Berman, Buddy Hackett, the Smothers Brothers, and Jackie Vernon, the series contains compilations featuring the work of Billy DeWolf, and Jane Foray, and Marty Brill. The voices of John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Eugene McCarthy are among the recordings that comprise the political humor genre. Highlights of the series are recordings by Robert Benchley, who was a regular contributor to The New Yorker and Vanity Fair;" Florence Foster Jenkins, whose talent was in her inability to sing; "The Golden Age of Comedy" features a five disc compilation of American comedy From the 1930s to the 1960s; and John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's recording of Thomas Berger's novel The Neighbors. Also included in the series are novelty recordings, some of which are in the shape of footballs and stars. There is duplication of material contained in this series and in Series 2.