The Smothers Brothers
Tom Smothers
Born February 2, 1937
New York, New York
Dick Smothers
Born November 20, 1939
New York, New York
American actors, comedians, and singers
Tom and Dick Smothers—known as The Smothers Brothers—crafted themselves into a musical comedy team that represented the struggles of the nation in the 1960s. The brothers' variety show reached nearly every household in the United States. Ninety percent of viewers tuned into one of the three major networks that existed in the country at the time. To this large audience, the brothers offered political satire that recognized society's uncertainty about the war in Vietnam (1954–75) and shifting opinions about drugs and sex. Despite the high ratings of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967–70), host network CBS became increasingly uncomfortable with the show's content. The struggle between the Smothers Brothers and CBS helped define the role entertainment, especially television, would play in social change.
The Smothers brothers were born just before the outbreak of World War II (1939–45). Thomas B. Smothers III was born February 2, 1937, and his brother, Richard, was born November 20, 1939, both in New York City. The brothers were the sons of army officer Thomas B. and homemakerRuth Smothers. Their father died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in 1945, and their mother raised them.
This is a free page. This page contains 201 words. This
article contains 2,127 words (approx. 7 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Article with our The Smothers Brothers Access Pass.
