Today we remember Bob Newhart, the quietly revolutionary comedian who kept Americans laughing over eight decades as a stand-up comic, recording artist, and actor in film and television.
Newhart’s square, mild-mannered persona and genial, stammering delivery concealed an often sly, smart, and subversive form of satire. While perhaps best remembered for his long-running sitcoms The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) and Newhart (1982-1990), Newhart broke new ground for comedy albums. The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart became the first comedy LP ever to hit number one on the Billboard charts, won a remarkable three Grammys, including 1960 Album of the Year, and only Best New Artist Grammy awarded to a comedian.
In 2023, Newhart generously donated his 1960 Best New Album Grammy and the original typescript of his legendary “Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue” routine to the National Museum of American History.
📷: Westbury Music Fair playbill featuring Bob Newhart and Anthony Newley, 1977
📷: Grammy Award trophy for the 1960 Album of the Year award, given to Bob Newhart for his comedy record “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.”
📷: (Photos 3-5) Typescript for the Bob Newhart comedy routine "Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue.”