[Opinion] Great Comedian

Many of the world`s great comedians, in fact, went through unhappy childhood. The King of Comedy Charlie Chaplin lost his father at five. Soon his mother was sent a mental institution and Chaplin himself to an orphanage. Young as he was, he had to work as clerk at a glass store and barber. Without shedding bitter tears, it must be difficult to learn to make people laugh. Bob Hope, American comedian who died at the age of 100 two days ago, led a destitute life, too. He had worked as a newsboy, shoe factory worker, caddie at a golf club and amateur boxer. He was even imprisoned briefly for stealing a tennis ball.

Lee Ju-il, a great Korean comedian who died a year ago, was once too poor to bring home the bacon. Having gone through ups and downs of their lives, comedians must learn how to make people laugh. Still, if they use the same story twice, the audience stops laughing at once. Even a comedy genius, therefore, must have difficulties finding stories as he or she stands on stage every day. Bob Hope is known to have hired some 100 writers at his prime years to create stories that appeal to tastes of the audience.

“When you spend more money buying candles than buying a birthday cake, it means that you are getting very old,” said Bob Hope jokingly at his birthday party a few years ago. Looking into the story of his life, we can find three reasons for his longevity. He was a non-smoker, did exercise a lot and felt great satisfaction with what he did. He did not smoke cigarettes throughout his life so as to protect his vocal cord, which was a lifeline to a comedian like him. He was an avid golfer who rushed into a country could whenever he found time. He, in fact, made a lot of jokes about the game of golf, which are still quoted often by golfers. He was a dancer as well as a comedian, so he did exercise even on stage. Satisfaction he felt as a successful comedian, then, left no room for stress.

Bob Hope was recognized as a comedian who sublimated the act of joking to an art. There were wit, satire and insight in his jests. “I just learned that Sen. George McCarthy would soon announce the list of 200 communists. He must have got the yellow book of Moscow.” (1954) “College students are rebellious in every country of the world. I do not know what they are so rebellious about. I just know that they are rebellious.” (1969) And we just hope that this country will have many great comedians like Bob Hope who can bring the present of laughter to everyday life of people.

Hwang Ho-taek, Editorial Writer, hthwang@donga.com