[virgil283]

In the mid 60s Dad bought this giant stereo console and the demonstration record that came with it had one side with sound effects, trains going by, planes, jackhammers etc. On the other side was Jonathan Winters comedy. His stories with him giving sounds, like a crocodile opening its mouth and natives chanting was so funny....well so funny I still remember it...

[llevrok]

My first memory of Jonathan was on the Jack Parr Show (after he had been replaced by Johnny). Jonathan would come on and Jack would just let him “go” and feed him a line now and again. I was all of 12 or so then and tears would be running down my cheeks from laughter.

Then there were the party records (as they were called in those days)...at the Hungry Eye and so forth. Over and over I'd play these. Again, convulsed.

To me, Jonathan's “peak” improv era were his appearances on Dean Martin's show. I recall Dean would give him a “room” full of props and jus let Jon be Jon. They'd let the tape run and play parts of it during the show. I loved his “business man” character (I'm from American Kindling Co.). Years later, in a corporate office, I'd start an internal giggle seeing in real life the Winter's characters sitting across a desk from me.

Thanks for making me a smart ass, Jonathan. I've never regretted a minute of how you shaped my humor.