George S. Kaufman - (1889 - 1961)

Apart from being a formidable poker player and notable wit, George S. Kaufman had an impressive career as a playwright, which lasted from 1918 to 1961 and which included: The Bandwagon, The Solid Gold Cadillac, Dinner at Eight, You Can't Take it With You, The Man Who Came to Dinner and Silk Stockings. Most of his plays were a collaborative effort with Edna Ferber, Morrie Ryskind and Moss Hart. His screen credits include the Marx Brothers classic, A Night at the Opera.

In a review of a new Broadway comedy, Kaufman wrote, "There was laughter in the back of the theatre, leading to the belief that someone was telling jokes back there."