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We Had a Little Real Estate Problem
We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy | Kliph Nesteroff
16 posts | 9 read | 16 to read
From Kliph Nesteroff, the human encyclopedia of comedy (VICE), comes the important and underappreciated story of Native Americans and comedy. It was one of the most reliable jokes in Charlie Hills stand-up routine: My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem. In We Had a Little Real Estate Problem, acclaimed comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff focuses on one of comedys most significant and little-known stories: how, despite having been denied representation in the entertainment industry, Native Americans have influenced and advanced the art form. The account begins in the late 1880s, when Native Americans were forced to tour in wild west shows as an alternative to prison. (One modern comedian said it was as if a Guantanamo detainee suddenly had to appear on X-Factor.) This is followed by a detailed look at the life and work of seminal figures such as Cherokee humorist Will Rogers and Hill, who in the 1970s was the first Native American comedian to appear The Tonight Show. Also profiled are several contemporary comedians, including Jonny Roberts, a social worker from the Red Lake Nation who drives five hours to the closest comedy club to pursue his stand-up dreams; Kiowa-Apache comic Adrianne Chalepah, who formed the touring group the Native Ladies of Comedy; and the 1491s, a sketch troupe whose satire is smashing stereotypes to critical acclaim. As Ryan Red Corn, the Osage member of the 1491s, says: The American narrative dictates that Indians are supposed to be sad. Its not really true and its not indicative of the community experience itselfLaughter and joy is very much a part of Native culture. Featuring dozens of original interviews and the exhaustive research that is Nesteroffs trademark, We Had a Little Real Estate Problem is a powerful tribute to a neglected legacy.
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review
Soubhiville
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Bailedbailed

I did really want to read this for bookclub. But I feel like the words are just bouncing off my brain, I‘m not absorbing any of it. The subject matter could be so interesting, but the delivery is dry and it‘s just not doing anything for me.

It looks like Venkman is “facepalm”ing. Lol. But he‘s just cleaning himself.

#hailthebail (saw this tag earlier today and it fits!)

TheBookHippie I‘ve felt this way about many books lately #hailthebail 8mo
5feet.of.fury What a cute baby 8mo
dabbe Or Venkman could be saying “Bail, Mom, bail!“ What a cutie. 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
ShelleyBooksie I love this picture!!! Venkman ♡♡♡ 8mo
Hooked_on_books He‘s totally facepalming! 😂 Bummer about this one. I love the title and it‘s on my radar, but I‘ll adjust my expectations if I decide to give it a try. 8mo
79 likes5 comments
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Soubhiville
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Quite a few of my August #bookspin list are for bookclubs, buddyreads, or #camplitsy. Currently reading Romantic Comedy, Demon Copperhead, and The Overstory and enjoying all 3!

Photo pulled from FB, credit to Lucie Johnson. Of The Bodeian Libraries.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 9mo
49 likes1 comment
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Bookwormjillk
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#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

1) I just finished the tagged book yesterday
2) I have not. Maybe someday when I finish all the books I have now 😂
3) I have a book of short stories about Christmas and Thanksgiving by Truman Capote that I plan on reading this weekend. It‘s an every year read for me.

Eggs Thank you for playing 💙❄️💙 1y
47 likes1 comment
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

This history of Native American comedians was so interesting. I meant to read this last year, and am so glad I finally got to it this year. This was heavier than you might expect a book about comedy to be, but so informative.

TheBookDream How was the audio version? I have a credit I‘m not sure what to do with. 1y
Bookwormjillk @TheBookDream good but not one of those where I think “You have got to listen to this.” if you know what I mean. 1y
melissajayne I‘m feeling like I have no friends on this site to do swaps with. I really wanted to do the Winter Wonderland Swap but I was kicked out of it. Could we do something together? I feel like I have no friends here and that people would rather see me gone from the app permanently. 1y
Bookwormjillk @melissajayne I‘m on a tight budget this year so haven‘t been doing any swaps. I hope you can find a swap to do. 1y
melissajayne @Bookwormjillk I got kicked out of the #wws swap 1y
57 likes3 stack adds5 comments
review
Cinfhen
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Pickpick

This was a recent #AudibleDeal, not what I was expecting but a pleasant surprise. This was an overview of vaudeville & comedy in regard to Native Americans. Full of interesting information about Native American history & experiences, as well as their contribution to the entertainment industry. A great companion to the book I recently read, The Night Watchman. #BorrowNotBuy

Bookwormjillk Thanks for your review. I checked this out of the library earlier this week. 2y
Cinfhen I was expecting something more lighthearted& “entertaining” but the history lesson was really worthwhile. Hope you enjoy it as well @Bookwormjillk 2y
79 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Cinfhen
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Today‘s current listen 🎧 Not what I was expecting but definitely engaging.

squirrelbrain Sounds interesting! 2y
59 likes1 comment
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Shievad
Pickpick

I‘d tell someone I‘m reading a book on Native American comedians and get shock and some form of “didn‘t know there were any”. I was in that boat too until I walked past this book. In addition to learning about NA comedians, I learned a lot about NA history, various tribal cultures, and more about the horrible things the US has done (and continues to do). However, I didn‘t like how the chapters jumped btwn present day and older comedians.

DrexEdit Great review! I loved this book. 3y
Shievad @DrexEdit thanks! 3y
3 likes2 comments
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DrexEdit
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I wanted to get my May #bookreport posted tonight too before we get too much further into June.
My top book was definitely the tagged title. I loved The Wee Free Men & the Henry & Beezus re-read. The Kevin Wilson stories were delightful & weird & kept me guessing. Foster also was a nice surprise. Barely a novella at less than 100 pages; more like a long short story; a masterclass in saying everything by hardly saying anything.

@Cinfhen

DrexEdit I got lucky in that I enjoyed all of these books! 3y
Cinfhen Yay!!! So glad you enjoyed your reads this month!! I read the Wilson collection ~ he‘s super imaginative 3y
38 likes2 comments
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keithmalek

The expansion of offshore drilling and fracking have meant a massive increase in pipeline and railway traffic. Increased traffic means more accidents. Oil spills jumped 17 percent between 2010 and 2012, with an average of sixteen new oil spills every day. Oil shipments by train increased 4,000 percent between 2008 and 2013, and there were more railway oil spills in 2013 than in the previous forty years combined.

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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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Native American John Trudell.

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keithmalek
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Suet624 😳😳🥴🥴☹️☹️😭😭 3y
4 likes1 comment
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keithmalek
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Suet624 Just awful. Barbaric. 3y
mandarchy I am always astounded by what humans have come up with in order to torture our punish other humans. It boggles my mind that anyone is capable of that. And yet it happens. 3y
4 likes2 comments
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DrexEdit
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“My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem.“ --Charlie Hill, Oneida comedian and only Native Indian comedian to ever appear on the Tonight Show.

Amazing book! Starting in the 1840s it's not just about Native comics, although there is plenty on contemporary Native comedians, but a 150 years of social justice history of Indians and representation in pop culture.

Only half-way thru but 5⭐already.

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belacat
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Who would have thought a book about comedy would be so educational?!! My history classes in school were certainly lacking.

DrexEdit I have this on hold at my library. Really looking forward to reading it! 3y
56 likes6 stack adds1 comment