Tag Archives: Boredom is Anti-Life

Parties • Sometimes, young people don’t appreciate when they are surrounded by genius — although they do appreciate it later. Felia Doubrovska danced in Sergei Diaghilev’s ballet company, where she worked with and was surrounded by people such as Bronislavka Nijinsky, … Continue reading →

Music • Before becoming a famous comedian, Sid Caesar was a jazz saxophonist. He played with Gene Krupa’s band, along with pianist Teddy Napoleon and Teddy’s sister, Josephine, who was the vocalist. One day, Sid, Teddy, and Josephine were driving to … Continue reading →

Music • Oscar Levant went to analysis for years, but he remained an unhappy man. When a friend asked what good psychoanalysis had done for him, Mr. Levant replied, “I’m still unhappy, but at least I have some place to go … Continue reading →

Money • British ballerina Violette Verdy was happy when impresario Paul Szilard managed her financial contracts when she worked as director of the Paris Opera Ballet and then as director of the Boston Ballet. She told him, “I am so happy … Continue reading →

Mishaps • Operatic tenor Leo Slezak was a big man — six-foot-four and 300 pounds. Once, while singing the role of Adolar in Weber’s Euryanthe, he accidentally stepped on a female singer’s toes. She had to stay in bed for a … Continue reading →

Media • Richard Watson, author of The Philosopher’s Diet, suggests that people look at the models in a fashion magazine, then look at the models in Playboy or Playgirl. The exercise should show that people enjoy looking at skinny bodies with … Continue reading →

Language • Alexander Woollcott and Harpo Marx were in a Paris hotel where Harpo upset the management with his shenanigans. Mr. Woollcott tried explaining Harpo to the management, but gave it up, turned to Harpo, and said, “How can I explain … Continue reading →

Illnesses and Injuries • Humor writer Robert Benchley once became ill and summoned a physician, who prescribed a new medication for him, although Mr. Benchley was worried about possible side effects. The next day the physician made a house call (this … Continue reading →

Games • Herbert Ransom was an actor who was a terrible poker player whose face always showed whether he had a good hand or a bad hand. Because Mr. Ransom was so bad, fellow poker player Franklin Pierce Adams once proposed … Continue reading →

Food • George Burns was Jewish, and his wife, Gracie Allen, was Catholic. They raised their adopted children, Ronald and Sandy, Catholic. Every Friday, the Burns family ate fish, as Catholics at that time did. Sandy did not like fish, so … Continue reading →