# Iconic comedy props **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2007, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014 "2007-11-28T08:47:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/1 "2007-11-28T08:47:23Z")
What comedy props (including articles of costume, but not bodily features such as facial hair or bandy legs) can we list that would be instantly recognised and understood as belonging to a certain act. There must be loads, but I’m having trouble coming up with even a few. Here’s what I have so far: -A pair of bowler hats (one larger than the other) would be instantly recognised as belonging to Laurel and Hardy -A stuffed parrot (optionally in a cage) - unmistakably Monty Python After that, it starts to get tenuous - a lawyer’s wig _might_ be associated with Peter Cook, A cane and bowler sort of indicates Charlie Chaplin (but you need the moustache and the gait too), a cigar and glasses suggests Groucho Marx (but again, there’s the moustache, and it still isn’t a striking reference without the mannerisms) And that’s all I’ve got. Help me out here. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/2 "2007-11-28T09:06:56Z")
Robin Williams’ old rainbow suspenders Gallagher’s hammer Andrew Dice Clay’s cowhide jacket Michael Palin’s “gumby” glasses, handkerchief and suspenders combo Harpo’s bicycle horn Sung Hee Park’s Korean gown and fan Carmen Miranda’s fruit bouquet hat ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/3 "2007-11-28T09:54:38Z")
Thanks. I’d only instantly recognise a couple of items out of that list though (the horn and the fruity hat). The gumby outfit is memorable, but not distinctive. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/4 "2007-11-28T11:50:26Z")
Stever Martin’s arrow-through-the-head Jim Belushi’s Killer Bee costume ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/5 "2007-11-28T12:10:48Z")
Tommy Cooper’s [fez](http://www.moviemarket.co.uk/Photos/P200389_C63425.html). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/6 "2007-11-28T12:24:25Z")
Oh, that’s a good one - how could I have missed that? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/7 "2007-11-28T12:56:43Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] … Jim Belushi’s Killer Bee costume [/QUOTE] That’s _John_ Belushi. I nominate: **Ruth Buzzi’s Purse.** (which would make a good band name) **Jack Benny’s Violin** **Rod Hull’s Emu** (OK, that one was just for me) **Harold Lloyd’s Glasses** **Will Roger’s Lasso** **Charlie Chaplin’s Cane** I could go on all day, I’ll stop now. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/8 "2007-11-28T12:59:33Z")
Roy “Chubby” Brown’s outfit is kinf of distinctive. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/9 "2007-11-28T13:21:09Z")
Little Titch’s boots recently appeared on _QI_ and were, indeed, instantly recognisable as belonging uniquely to him. If you know who Little Titch was, that is, which none of the panel did. I’m not sure Jack Benny’s violin fits the bill (unless I’ve misunderstood the question) – if you saw a violin, would you immediately think only of Jack Benny? Perhaps we should test them by just naming the props and seeing if anyone can identify the act? • A three-seater bicycle. • A feather duster. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/10 "2007-11-28T13:43:27Z")
Groucho MArx’s glasses and over-heavy eyebrows. Seltzer bottles (pretty much any of the old Vaudeville acts that transitioned to film and television). Carrot Top’s trunk. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/11 "2007-11-28T13:45:52Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] That’s _John_ Belushi. [/QUOTE] :smack: ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/12 "2007-11-28T13:54:03Z")
Henny Youngman also had a violin as a prop. The Amazing Jonathan’s headband. M. Hulot’s pipe and raincoat Bobby Clark’s greasepaint glasses. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/13 "2007-11-28T14:00:05Z")
Lily Tomlin’s switchboard? Or her giant rocking chair? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/14 "2007-11-28T14:06:42Z")
Tracy Ullman’s bathrobe? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/15 "2007-11-28T14:35:58Z")
Nothing from Carrot Top? Oh right, he is not funny. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/16 "2007-11-28T15:13:00Z")
George Formby’s ukelele? ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/17 "2007-11-28T15:29:51Z")
Charlie McCarthy. And any other famous ventriloquist’s dummies. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/18 "2007-11-28T15:35:17Z")
[QUOTE=WotNot] • A three-seater bicycle. • A feather duster. Anyone? [/QUOTE] I’m guessing Carol Burnett for the feather duster, and I’ve got no clue about the 3 seater bike. As for the OP, does a psychologist’s couch and chair suggest Freud, or Dr. Robert Hartley aka Bob Newhart? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/19 "2007-11-28T15:37:24Z")
An inflated surgical glove. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014/20 "2007-11-28T15:40:12Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] I’m guessing Carol Burnett for the feather duster, and I’ve got no clue about the 3 seater bike. [/QUOTE] For Carol Burnett, I’d go with the “GWTW” costume with the curtain rod across the shoulders. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-comedy-props/428014.md?page=2)