I would have guessed after age 19.
Quincy Jones said laughter is "the soul saying, 'Ain't that the truth.'" And Mark Twain remarked, "Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." Of the comedians still working today, I find Jon Stewart, Craig Ferguson and Jerry Seinfeld especially brilliant. Going back in time, my family listened to the albums of Mr. Bill Cosby , The Smothers Brothers and the Chad Mitchell Trio. In some ways listening to routines on records is funnier. There are sound effects, and you use your imagination. And of course, we watched reruns of I Love Lucy, Laugh-in, The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Carol Burnett Show to name a few. I vividly remember Flip Wilson. And, Richard Pryor was mesmerizing, depicting his harsh childhood and later life. Have you noticed that the comedy which stands the test of time isn't based on shock value, or mean-spiritedness? Controversial at the time? Yes, sometimes ... and occasionally dark ... but, a cut above, not settling for an easy laugh.
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