Fromthe early 1960's, through the beatnik, folk and hippie eras, to today'scutting edge humor, George Carlin has entertained generations ofAmericans. He starred in several movies, wrote a popular book, "BrainDroppings," appeared in several television series and was a guest 135times on legendary talk show host Johnny Carson's show. ButGeorge Carlin will be best remembered as a wise and witty stand-upcomedian.
George Carlin was born in New York City, theson of newspaper industry parents. His father was an advertising salesrepresentative for several newspapers; his mother was a manager of thePhiladelphia Bulletin's New York office, as well as Good Housekeepingmagazine. During a 1999 visit to the National Press Club inWashington, Mr. Carlin recalled how his "Aunt Aggie," who produced theSunday comics sections, helped him be the first boy to know what was inthe newspaper - and a popular kid in school.
"Here's the greatthing about Aggie's job. Not only did she bring home the funnies everyweek. She brought them home four weeks early," Carlin said. "Are youhearing this? Every week, I had the Sunday funnies a month before theother kids. I guess you can realize the power this gave me in theschool yard -- to be able to predict weeks ahead of time precisely theway 'Mandrake the Magician' would escape from the lost cave. Or to describe in advance the details of whateverwell-deserved catastrophe was next in store for 'Little Orphan Annie.' It doesn't sound like much today. But in the days before television,and when you're eight years old, it was power beyond belief!"
Withthat introduction to comedy, via cartoon strips, George Carlin said hewas blessed with good schoolteachers in his early childhood.
"Inthe 1940s, I attended a school still in existence: Corpus Christi inNew York City. It was not a typical Catholic grammar school education.For one thing, we had boys and girls together. We did not wearuniforms. The desks were all movable. And, there were no report cards- no grades or report cards of any kind. It was a garden; it was aplace that let me flower," Carlin said.
But George Carlin'sfortunes changed in high school. Its harsh disciplinary rules led himto drop out before graduating. He said that experience helped fosterhis contempt for euphemisms and being told what he could or could notsay. In 1973, a monologue by Mr. Carlin that was broadcast on thePacifica radio network was declared indecent by the government'sFederal Communications Commission. The case was ultimately upheld bythe United States Supreme Court. And, George Carlin became foreverknown as the comedian who uttered the "seven dirty words that can't besaid over the air." Reflecting on the incident, more than 25 yearslater, Mr. Carlin wondered what the fuss was all about.
"Therewill always be language taboos in any culture. There are aspects ofour bodies that certain religions have put beyond the pale. I don'tthink it's cheapened our discourse. I think it limits people," hesaid. "I've always said I enjoy using all the language. Human beingsinvented all of this language. When I was a little boy, I was told tolook up to policemen and look up to sports stars, and look up to themilitary. And we all know how they speak. Apparently it hasn'tcorrupted them morally. So. I think these words are overrated fortheir power."
George Carlin's notoriety from the "seven dirtywords" incident helped make him one of the highest-paid comedians inthe 1970's. In the 1990's, Mr. Carlin starred in his own situationcomedy, which lasted one season, and provided the voice of a trainconductor in the children's series "Shining Time." But he told theWashington audience he was, most of all, a comedian - an art form ofwhich he was proud.
"I found it was an honest craft and that artwas involved," Carlin said. " I do like to point out that there is anartistic process involved in observing the world, interpreting it, andthen writing something about it and performing it. It's the low end ofthe scale in art. Perhaps it's not fine art. But it is art. I foundthat out and it gave me a purpose and strength."
Popular American comedian George Carlin, died Sunday at the age of 71.