Book Description
The legendary television star tells the backstage stories of the classic comedy of Your Show of Shows, Caesar's Hour, and other landmark programs.

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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Pioneer
Here is a man that not only made the world laugh, he could poke fun at himself.Sid Caesar set an example for countless comedians to follow.He makes the history of early television come alive. This is a wonderful way to spend a few hours.

HAIL, CAESAR!...
This is a wonderful memoir that takes the reader down memory lane. As anyone one reading this biography knows, Sid Caesar was one of the foremost comedians of his time. In fact, he was actually ranked the third all time greatcomedian (after Jackie Gleason and Lucille Ball) by a documentary about the greatest comedians of all time, which documentary was featured on the A & E cable television channel.

I know that my parents used to watch Cid Caesar's ground breaking television program, "YourShow of Shows".I myself was too young to have any recollection of it. I do, however, recall that as a young child, together with my family, I watched his subsequent show in the latter half of the nineteen fifties, "Caesar's Hour". Sid Caesar was the then king ofcomedy, and he broke trail for many of the comedians that were to follow him.Many of the greatest comedic writers to ever write for television started out writing for his shows. Greats such as Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Woody Allen were among some of his writers. No wonder that era was heralded as the Golden Age of Television!

In his memoir, Sid Caesar talks only a little about himself on a very personal level. Still, he comes across as an intelligent man who dearly loves his wife of over sixty years. He acknowledges his personal foibles, such as a drinking problem that, at times,threatened to overwhelm him, as well as a never ending quest for creative perfection. This book is not so much about Caesar, the man, but rather about Caesar, the performing artist. Consequently, Sid Caesar the man remains a bit of a mystery. On the other hand, Sid Caesar, the performer, comes vividly to life. This is more of an artistic autobiography rather than a personal one.

He lovingly reminisces about how he got his start on the road to fame and fortune. Born in 1922 in Yonkers, New York, to Jewish immigrants from Poland and Russia, Sid was an accomplished musician who could play the saxophone with the best of them.Having started out asa musician,Sid Caesar would cut hiscomedic teeth in the borscht belt of the Catskill Mountains. It was there that he would also meet Florence, the love of his life. At the onset of World War II, Sid would play with a number of orchestras in Manhattan, before signing up with the Coast Guard in 1942, and in 1943 he married his beloved Florence.

While in the Coast Guard, Sid became part of a successful revue for the troops, which raised his profile. This propelled him to Hollywood after his discharge from the Coast Guard, where he would become involved in the movie industry, starring in a number of comedies. From there, he would go on to perform for the nightclub circuit on the East Coast.Sid was not a stand-up comedian, but rather, a comedic sketch artist. From there it would be a short trip to Broadway, where Sid would achieve tremendous success in a revue called "Make Mine Manhattan", in which he would turn in an award-winning performance. This would lead him right to television, which was still in its nascent stage, and into the homes and hearts of millions of Americans.

This book is chock full of information on the early days of television, which had more in common with theatre and stage work than with film, as it was live television. Undoubtedly, this factor was responsible for much of the frenetic pace and spontaneity which existed. Today, television is more like film rather than stage work, as very little is shot live. Sid Caesar lovingly lays out for the reader many of his comedic sketches that were his special shtick. He meticulously explains how his comedic routines were fashioned and performed.

He speaks glowingly abouthis wonderful professional partnership with the late Imogene Coca, the googly-eyed comedienne, with whom he would be in perfect comedic harmony. They would make beautiful music together with their hilarious sketches that parodied slices of life and the human condition. Together, these two would touch a chord among audiences that would forever enshrine them in television history, making them the golden couple of the Golden Age of Television.

This is an engaging artistic biography that will appeal to fans of Sid Caesar and to those with an interest in the early years of television. Those readers who enjoy memoirs and biographies will likewise find this to be a worthwhile and interesting book.

Tells how his routines were fashioned and performed
Sid Caesar was the star of Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour, two of the most innovative and popular programs in the Age of Television and a creator of some of the greatest comedy writers of his times. This informative autobiography tells how his routines were fashioned and performed, and examines the methods and creations of the writers who made him famous.

A Masterpiece!
I wholeheartedly recommend Caesar's Hours. Not only is this book an autobiography, but also an encyclopedia of sorts. Sid eloquently writes of his early years growing up in New York, his numerous tries at breaking into show business, his service to the country during WWII, and finally, his years on 'Your Show of Shows' and 'Caesar's Hour'. Along the way, Sid shares some of his favorite jokes and sketches that he has used during his reign as TV legend.

What makes Sid even more commendable and the book even more facinating, is how Sid gives credit to all those who helped him along the way. While most entertainers take all the credit, Sid carefully notes his comedy writers and fellow actors who, together, are the reason for his and the shows' great success.

I recommend this book to anyone wishing to read about Sid's life, and all those who want to know just how difficult it was to produce a show a week, in an entertainment medium that was in its infancy.

A magnificant work from the last of the Televion Legends! ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on March 14, 2004. The length of the article is 789 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: On the set of TV's golden age.(Entertainment)(Actors Cabaret stages Neil Simon's play about his days on Sid Caesar's ``This Show of Shows'')
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: March 14, 2004
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: L4

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

To hell and back
Sid Caesar's biography is an excellent book for anyone who is recovering (or trying to recover) from alcoholism and drug abuse.It paints a portrait of a man who was overcome by these problems, but found a way out.It is also very entertaining, and easy to read.This biography has had a tremendous impact on my life, and I have bought copies to share with friends who are recovering alcoholics.

A shattering look at the underside of show business

Not old enough to know Sid Caesar from his 1950's heyday, I first saw him as dentist Melville Crump, with Edie Adams as his wife Monica, in Stanley Kramer's immortal IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD (1963) as a child of 12. Flying in a makeshift plane or trapped in a hardware basement, Mr. Caesar is peerless.Blowing a hole with dynamite in a wall leading to a Chinese laundry, he non-chalantly says in the understatement of the year, "The lock didn't work.The owners will pay for everything."He is fabulously funny in MAD WORLD, which remains my favorite comedy of the sound era.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN, which I read in paperback several years ago, galvanized and overwhelmed me.Its portrait of 1950's live TV and a famous personality addicted to both alcohol and pills and his own fame is dead-on, shattering, and ultimately liberating when Mr. Caesar finally kicks his addictions.The book is truthful and shattering.I read it in one all afternoon and evening sitting.At the end I was crying and wanted to just hug Mr. Caesar and tell him that he is both a brave man and a genius.And, of course, a survivor.

I subsequently had the opportunity--the 1980's?--to see Mr. Csear and Imogene Coca do a live stage revival of YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS in downtown San Francisco.It was in an intimate theater, not one of the giant theaters, and side-splittingly funny, the best of the best.Two fabulous comic actors performing hilarious material.

What I would like to do next is to go back to the 1950's again and see DVD's of CAESAR'S HOUR and YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS for the first time.I am pleased that I have so much to choose from and that the genius behind them is still very much alive to enjoy them with a clear brain.And I want to see MAD WORLD restored to its original 192 minute Cinerama roadshow length; the current DVD only runs 161 minutes, which is the 35mm general release length plus some roadshow music.

I am especially happy that Sid Caesar conquered his alcohol and pill demons to come out into the sunlight and enjoy his past work on DVD.It is great to hear about his swimming daily in his pool and everything else he is doing in the name of good health.He is so very, very funny in the incomparable MAD WORLD.And his book WHERE HAVE I BEEB is an absolute must-read for both its extraordinarily candid portrait of the dark side of alcohol addiction and its authentic behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Golden Age of live TV.Being golden had its price.Sid Caesar is a survivor who should be applauded.

An eye opening look at the not so comic side of Sid Caesar.
What would you do if you earned millions of dollars and were famous throughout the world before the age of thirty? In the 1950's Sid Ceasar's critically acclaimed weekly comedy "Your Show of Shows" ruledSaturday night televison, and brought him world fame and a fortune tomatch. His authentic, true to life and 100% live and unedited comedybrought a never before attempted challenge to televison that has not beenre-created before or since- and people went mad for it.In the eight yearsCaesar had a slot on the air, ratings sky-rocketed and televison sales(then the latest "must have") went through the roof.Thisshould've been the perfect life for any man...but it wasn't.Unable todeal with the tremendous pressures of his high profile career, Caesarturned to alcohol as a "stress reliever".This eventually turnedinto a battle with alcoholism that lasted many years and sent Caesarplunging into what he calls his "dark period," which left himunable to recall or enjoy most of the professional milestones he becamefamous for.After being given drugs to help rid him of his alcoholaddiction, Caesar then took on the role of alcoholic-addict, a well hiddensecret that nearly cost him his job, his family and his life.Near death,and on the verdge of total ruin, Caesar realizes he must make a change. "Where Have I Been?" is the creatively written, dramatic accountof Caesar's own life and times and his rocky journey down the road torecovery. A sure comfort for anyone who has experienced the traumaticrealities of substance abuse, and a great book for anyone with a generalinterest in celebrities.

An eye opening look at the not so comic side of Sid Caesar.
What would you do if you earned millions of dollars and were famous throughout the world before the age of thirty? In the 1950's Sid Ceasar's critically acclaimed weekly comedy "Your Show of Shows" ruledSaturday night televison, and brought him world fame and a fortune tomatch. His authentic, true to life and 100% live and unedited comedybrought a never before attempted challenge to televison that has not beenre-created before or since- and people went mad for it.In the eight yearsCaesar had a slot on the air, ratings sky-rocketed and televison sales(then the latest "must have") went through the roof.Thisshould've been the perfect life for any man...but it wasn't.Unable todeal with the tremendous pressures of his high profile career, Caesarturned to alcohol as a "stress reliever".This eventually turnedinto a battle with alcoholism that lasted many years and sent Caesarplunging into what he calls his "dark period," which left himunable to recall or enjoy most of the professional milestones he becamefamous for.After being given drugs to help rid him of his alcoholaddiction, Caesar then took on the role of alcoholic-addict, a well hiddensecret that nearly cost him his job, his family and his life.Near death,and on the verdge of total ruin, Caesar realizes he must make a change. "Where Have I Been?" is the creatively written, dramatic accountof Caesar's own life and times and his rocky journey down the road torecovery. A sure comfort for anyone who has experienced the traumaticrealities of substance abuse, and a great book for anyone with a generalinterest in celebrities.

*Read this*
I had to read and autobiography for my english class. Well, my dad had the book and he let me read it because i needed a book. It turns out to be an awesome book. I recamend. Besides, where would we be today with out tvcomedy? ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of (Isaac) Sid(ney) Caesar, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1366 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Product Description
A selection from Mad Magazines pre-dating 1960. Intorduction by comedy legend Sid Caesar. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on March 23, 2004. The length of the article is 814 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: At times, there's a bit too much `Laughter'.(Reviews)(Review)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: March 23, 2004
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: C3

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more