Jonathan Winters Interview c. 2001 - Comedians of His Time (And Before) Vs. Now

In 2001, when the Heritage Center museum opened in downtown Springfield, Ohio in the newly restored 1890 city hall/marketplace building, hometown boy Jonathan Winters sat down to record for a promotional video. During that session, he also shared stories about his life and career. In this clip he talks about comedians of the vaudeville era before his time, comedians he liked, and comedians of today.

Recorded by Paul Cronley of Merlin Productions, c. 2001.

[jeffsilverman]

This man was a treasure of comedy, and the best of what I would call Americana. He crossed generational lines better than most, because he DID performed clean. You could watch Jonathon Winters with your grandmother and both have the same laughs. Truly a unique man.

[SedonaMTB]

It's hard to find words to describe the brilliance and compassion of J.W. Because they don't exist. He's after your heart and mind not your tongue.

[donelmore]

I’ve always loved Jonathan Winters. I ran into him once. We were coming out of an antique store in Cambria, CA. I saw him getting into his car with a driver. He didn’t look well. We made eye contact through the car window. I just gave him a thumbs up as I didn’t want to bother him. He gave me a smile in return. It was a nice encounter.

[djmcnerney]

Priceless! One of the all-time comedy greats, up there with Jack Benny, George Carlin, Bob Newhart, Bob & Ray, Dave Chapelle.

[lesliezimmer]

Even though Springfield is near Dayton, Jonathan was born in Dayton. He was one of the most AMAZING

[anonymousbrother]

Yes Mr W’s classic performances on Parr and Carson were possible because these presenters understood talent and creativity. The rest were men in suits asking questions! Worse, they wanted to be the funny one….You just have to sit back and be amazed by the hilarious Mr W, his wonderful delivery, his characterisations and many accents. He took you to places you had no idea existed! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️😆

[geraldjuvejr.]

Funny without being dirty....I miss those days.

[pjhimself]

Was never a Winter’s fan but this snippet reveals some things I didn’t see. Good things.

[klomptphuh]

How prescient were hus thoughts on acceptable and civil verbal communication.

[Jmb-ww]

"There's a lot I don't understand" sums up this interview.

[Tomkarshner]

They didn’t get any better, comedy with class.

[johnwelch]

He worked at CH 10 in Columbus, Ohio and got refused a $1.25 a week raise and left.

[julianmarsh]

It comes down to this: take the bad words out of the joke and see if you still have a joke...if not, then the bad words are the joke...Winters was a gentleman and talented enough not to have to swear to be funny.

[tedphillips]

I always enjoyed Johnny Carson. He was clever and could be naughty, but I never heard him being dirty.

[cdmfs]

He is right. Modern day hosts are crap... trolls...

[richardthelionheart]

I had never seen JW straight talking before. Don't agree w it all but he's a bright guy.

[mattbrown]

He certainly wasn’t impressed by a picture of Leno in a Ferrari. What gall giving a guy with Winters background an autographed picture of yourself.

[vickiehardina]

Great point why do you have to swear to be funny

[chrisfoxwell]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Leno is likely the last person to give anyone a picture of a Ferrari.

If Leno and Letterman didn't engage him the cardboard cut-outs today would put him to sleep.

[vestibulate]

Bruce used profanity in a descriptive way, as opposed to the latter day comics I think Winters is referring to, who employ foul language simply as a form of punctuation. Also, it seems to me that Bruce introduced sexual topics because they were important and worthy of inclusion in monologues about human folly and moral blindness. A comic of our time is more likely to discuss sex because it has no real value or even meaning for him or (he assumes) for his audience. It's a form of trivialization. Bruce never set out to make such things seem small and inconsequential.