Much
American
humor,
since
the
beginnings
of'
our
country,
has
been
based
upon
a
gentle
ridicule
of
authority.
From
King
George
to
our
current
president,
no
person
or
institution
has
been
immune
from
providing
a
laugh.
During
the
20's
one
of
our
most
important
authority
institutions,
the
police
department,
became
victim
through
the
antics
of
Max
Sennett's
Keystone
Cops.
Americans
universally
laughed
at
the
total
ineptness
of
these
guardians
of
law
and
order.
Even
today,
the
name
Keystone
Cops
remains
a
synonym
for
confusion.
We
as
later
day
Cops
have
a
decided
advantage
as
we
emulate
these
old
timers.
There
are
few
people
remaining
today
who
can
remember
precisely
what
the
Cops
did
as
they
romped
through
the
two
reelers.
Since
they
were
so
much
a
part
of
the
silent
picture
era,
the
total
mystic
of
the
silents
has
descended
upon
the
cops.
People
today
expect
us
to
walk
like
Charlie
Chaplin's
famous
tramp
characterization.
They
expect
pie
throwing,
high-speed
chase,
jerky
movements
and
most
important,
no
words;
the
real
Keystone
Cops
as
did
all
movie
stars
of
their
time
relied
upon
the
exonerated
gestures
so
necessary
to
convey
meaning
in
pantomime.
To
be
true
Keystone
Cops,
we
must
understand
the
humor
of
the
silent
era.
Surprise
had
little
place.
Rather,
laughs
were
produced
by
the
audience
Anticipating
what
was,
going
to
happen
and
humor
mounted
as
delay
was
extended.
As
an
example
today,
shooting
the
shotgun
through
the
floorboards
of
the
paddy
wagon
is
not
Keystone
Cop
humor
per
se.
Throwing
a
"stick
of
dynamite
under
the
paddy,
wagon
with
the
total
knowledge
of
the
crowd
and
then
joining
them
in
the
anticipation
of
the
explosion
caused
by
the
shotgun
is
Keystone
Cop
humor.
In
future
issues
we
will
further
examine
ways
in
which
we
can
enhance
our
Keystone
Cop
image
both
as
individuals
and
as
a
group.
If
we
are
going
to
remain
number
one,
we've
got
to
work
at
it
