Bob Hope lived to 100, Milton Berle was 94, Jack Benny was 80 and George Burns lived to 100. The older comedians didn’t seem to have the issues of the comedians of today.
Hope, Berle, Benny and Burns were from another, mostly dope free, era.
Decent individuals, living in a decent America. Many changes and most for the worse. Evil reigns today.
They were from an era before comedy had an “edge”.
They probably only boozed it up. Drugs are a totally different mind altering scenario.
I heard Milton Berle on an interview say he never even tasted a beer.
Bob Hope, Jack Benny, George Burns and his very very talented wife, Gracie, become famous after years on a grueling traveling circuit. They all were funny without swearing.
Remember Jack Benny’s “Your money or your life! I’m thinking.” routine. It’s very funny.
Or Gracie’s, “Say Goodnight, Gracie.” routine.
You left out Red Skeleton. He loved to laugh and loved to make people laugh.