“We are living in the machine age. For the first time in history the comedian has been compelled to supply himself with jokes and comedy material to compete with the machine. Whether he knows it or not, the comedian is on a treadmill to oblivion.”
— Fred Allen
Age
“An actor's popularity is fleeting. His success has the life expectancy of a small boy who is about to look into a gas tank with a lighted match.”
— Fred Allen
Success
“I have just returned from Boston. It is the only thing to do if you find yourself up there.”
— Fred Allen
Funny
“California is a fine place to live - if you happen to be an orange.”
— Fred Allen
Funny
“All I know about humor is that I don't know anything about it.”
— Fred Allen
Humor
“An advertising agency is 85 percent confusion and 15 percent commission.”
— Fred Allen
Business
“The first time I sang in the church choir two hundred people changed their religion.”
— Fred Allen
Funny
“My father never raised his hand to any one of his children, except in self-defense.”
— Fred Allen
Dad
“I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.”
— Fred Allen
Funny
“The last time I saw him he was walking down lover's lane holding his own hand.”
— Fred Allen
Time
“Some movie stars wear their sunglasses even in church. They're afraid God might recognize them and ask for autographs.”
— Fred Allen
Fear
“I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college, won the case, and got my tuition back.”
— Fred Allen
Graduation
“I don't have to look up my family tree, because I know that I'm the sap.”
— Fred Allen
Family
“Most of us spend the first six days of each week sowing wild oats then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure.”
— Fred Allen
Failure
“Television is a medium because anything well done is rare.”
— Fred Allen
Technology