by Ken Vincent, Featured Contributor
Back in 1950, if memory serves, Frank Sinatra did a song called “Send In The Clowns”. It wasn’t really about clowns, but having heard it again lately, I got to wondering what ever happened to all the great comedians and clowns of past eras? Those like Red 
Skelton, Martha Raye, Danny Kaye, Phil Silvers, and dozens of other men and women that made us laugh. A stand up routine, or a TV show that let us forget our troubles for a few minutes or an hour. They poked fun at themselves, our political leaders, and even at us. We loved it and the escapism it provided.
Of course all the clowns of the past have either retired or passed away now. But there doesn’t seem to be many replacements. Why is that? Are there just no funny people any more? Or perhaps there is no audience for them. Have we lost the inclination, or even the ability to laugh? Maybe our problems like a bankrupt country, uncontrolled boarders, school shootings, terrorists, the ACA, and so many others are just too overwhelming. Maybe it is the high tech era where a smiley face or an “LOL” has to be enough? I don’t know, but LOL just doesn’t cut it for me.
What do you think? Are we losing our sense of humor or are we just buried by so much bad news that we can’t cope? Or, maybe an occasional LOL does it for you?
