Antedating of "Situation Comedy"

[Fred Shapiro]

situation comedy (OED 1953)

1921 _Atlanta Constitution_ 5 June 39 (Newspaperarchive.com)  Don't waste
your time writing slap stick farce.  That type of comedy is easy to write,
but difficult to sell. ... Rather try to write a situation comedy of a
refined type.

1925 _Oshkosh_ (Wisconsin) _Daily Northwestern_ 11 Apr. 11
(Newspaperarchive.com)  Depending as it does on putting over farcical
situation comedy rather than broad gags and "hokum," the picture has
called for an excellent cast to play the various roles in a skilful
manner.

1931 _Key West Citizen_ 3 Sept. 4  "Situation comedy is the only
dependable form of screen humor," says Douglas MacLean, associate producer
of Radio Pictures' comedy, "Too Many Cooks."

1936 _Bismarck Tribune_ 28 Nov. 2 (Newspaperarchive.com)  The show will
feature situation comedy, with a thin thread of a plot being carried
forward from week to week.

Fred Shapiro


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