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Caesar's Hours: My Life In Comedy, With Love and Laughter Paperback – January 3, 2005

by Sid Caesar (Author), Eddy W. Friedfield (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 38 ratings
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It is no exaggeration to say that without Sid Caesar, comedy in America would have been a lot less funny. He was the star and guiding force behind Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour, two of the most innovative programs in the Golden Age of Television, and the writers and stars of those shows went on to create the plays, movies, and sitcoms that we now think of as classic American comedy. So many of our greatest comedy writers -- Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Larry Gelbart, Woody Allen -- were part of Sid Caesar's creative troupe. Sid was a master not only of comedic performance, but also of developing characters that the audience could relate to, finding the humor in ordinary situations rather than through vaudeville-type gags. His was a comedy truly drawn from the human condition.

Caesar's Hours is Sid Caesar 's artistic autobiography, his account of how these great routines were fashioned and performed, and the interactions that gave birth to them. He takes us inside the famed writers' room, the rehearsal studios, and onto the stage itself, where some of the funniest moments in television history came to life. To read his book is to learn why his intelligent and sensitive brand of humor resonates so much with us, even half a century later.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 3, 2005
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.78 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1586482831
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1586482831
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

More than twenty years ago, Caesar delivered a memoir ("Where Have I Been?") that detailed his rise to comic stardom in the fifties and the addiction to alcohol and tranquillizers that obliterated the next two decades. This volume revisits much of the same material, but with greater focus on the sources of Caesar's style—for instance, he learned his trademark "double-talk," a stream of nonsense sounding plausibly like a foreign language, from listening to the immigrant clientele at his father's luncheonette. Some of his influences are more predictable than others. He admires the way Chaplin and Keaton worked "both sides of the street," playing humor off against pathos. Caesar was a professional saxophone player before he moved into comedy, and he feels that that skill "was integral to my performing."
Copyright © 2005 The New Yorker

About the Author

Sid Caesar was born in Yonkers, New York, in 1922 and began his career in comedy while a musician in the Catskills. He was a film and stage star by his mid-twenties, and in 1950 came the debut of Your Show of Shows, followed later in the decade by Caesar's Hour. Caesar has also starred in numerous Broadway shows and Hollywood movies.

Eddy Friedfeld is an entertainment journalist and film critic. He lives in New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs; New edition (January 3, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1586482831
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1586482831
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.78 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 38 ratings

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Sid Caesar

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
38 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sarai
5.0 out of 5 stars To read over and over
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2019
Verified Purchase
Thanks to the vendor, purchased used and arrived in great condition as described! I was lucky enough to receive one of the first copies of this book from the author years ago. Then I lent it out to someone after I read it and never got it back. Recently purchased for my stepson as I knew he would enjoy and feel as though it would get passed around within the family. It's an excellent account of Sid Ceasar's comedy show and a fun read! Highly recommend it.
One person found this helpful
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snow white
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book !
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2014
Verified Purchase
I love Syd Caesar and have since the 60's, so was glad to find this book on amazon. Its terrific, as any fan of his would imagine.
Humor, empathy, keen perception, so much depth as a man as well as a brilliant, innovative comic genius. A must read for any
fan of his.
5 people found this helpful
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Murry Cohen
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Caesar fanatics like me.
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
This autobiography of Sid Caesar's professional life (his personal life is contained in another autobiography) is vital for Caesar fans. He gives a detailed presentation of his career, which, along with Milton Berle and Jackie Gleason, set the bar for TV comedy. Much of what Sid has to say is interesting and relevent. My reservations about giving it 5 stars have to do with repetitiveness and subjectivity, which get one bogged down contemplating "The Great Caesar". The book comes across at times as somewhat self-indulgent and self-aggrandizing, pointing time and time again to how professional Caesar was, how considerate and unselfish he was, how innovative he was, and how brilliant he was (he WAS the latter). He does give credit to those around him who helped him achieve what he did, but it all seems to be filtered through how great HE was to attract, and retain such talent. But, in general, for Caesar fans, for those interested in the early days of TV, and for those interested in the dynamics of comedy, the book is a good read.
2 people found this helpful
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JB
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun to Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2011
Verified Purchase
I wasn't old enough to watch early television, however a special on cable TV got me interested in reading more about Your Show of Shows and other Sid Caesar shows. The authors wrote about a number of sketches with quotes taken from the routines. You get a good idea of how such shows came together and what live TV was like.
4 people found this helpful
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Jeanette Ambrosio
5.0 out of 5 stars I am almost finished and I just love it, What a memory for me
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2014
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I am almost finished and I just love it, What a memory for me, radio and then T.V. Also,insight as to the kind of man he was growing up. His education and backround. Great!
One person found this helpful
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Pete Creelman
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining look into the life and challenges of producing two of Caesar's very entertain TV shows in 1950's
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
Enjoyable and informative read about Sid Caesar and how he came to enter the world of
comedy and become a TV star on the Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour in the 1950's.
4 people found this helpful
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Mama G
3.0 out of 5 stars Sid Caesar book
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
My father worshipped him. I thought he was okay, My taste in comedy is different. The movie "My Favorite Year" was supposed to have been inspired by him and I saw a lot of that in his book. But his reminiscing about his comedy I found dull. Not my taste.
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James D. Rusher
5.0 out of 5 stars The funniest comedy of all times!
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2014
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I saw this comedy years ago when it first came out. It was and still is the best comedy movie filled with the best comedians of all times.
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Top reviews from other countries

Pandora 777
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2016
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Good read!
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paul herriott
5.0 out of 5 stars Sid Caesar
Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2014
Verified Purchase
GREAT man, Great book...I followed all his shows, and the reiteration of the "Haircuts"and Progress Hornsby" created laughter in my soul.
Paul Herriott.
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