The Larry Wilde Treasury of Laughter — 256 pages An all new gaggle of spotless gags! Over 2,000 of the funniest tasteful jokes of all time assembled in this quality softcover special edition. Guaranteed to get guffaws from even the most persnickety audiences. A must for executives, toastmasters, speakers, masters of ceremonies and comedy professionals. Includes a practical guide for story How To Tell Jokes For Fun and Profit — professional pointers to help presenters get bigger laughs. Invaluable tips for those wishing to punch up business presentations and speeches, or simply improve communication skills. Excerpted from Mr. Wilde's humor seminars, these proven techniques are based on his lifelong experience as a professional speaker, comedian, university instructor, actor and author. Certain to be a cherished addition to your humor library.
Larry Wilde, born Herman Wildman, was an American actor, comedian, motivational speaker, university instructor, and publisher, best known as the author of 53 humor books. Once called “America’s Best-Selling Humorist” by The New York Times, he built a career that spanned stand-up comedy, writing, and television. Raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, he was the fourth child of Jewish parents, Gertrude and Selig Wildman. He attended Lincoln High School, excelling in drama, journalism, and swimming, where he became Jersey City’s 100-yard breaststroke champion. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he wrote and performed comedy shows at Camp Lejeune, he studied at the University of Miami while working as a nightclub entertainer. Wilde performed in various clubs and appeared on television programs such as The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. As an author, he gained recognition for his joke books and interviews with legendary comedians. His book Great Comedians Talk About Comedy featured conversations with Woody Allen, Johnny Carson, and George Burns, while How The Great Comedy Writers Create Laughter explored the craft of humor through discussions with figures like Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner. His works have sold over 12 million copies. In 1976, he founded National Humor Month, celebrated annually in April to promote the benefits of laughter. Beyond writing, he was president of PEN Los Angeles from 1981 to 1983, and his interview tapes with comedy legends are now part of The Larry Wilde Collection at the Library of Congress. He passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy in comedy, humor writing, and motivational speaking.