Florida Memory presents images of joy and fun from our state's historic records in celebration of World Laughter Day. Dr. Madan Kataria first introduced this day in 1998 to broaden understanding and friendship throughout the world. World Laughter Day takes place annually on the first Sunday of May; it has now spread to 60 countries and led to the creation of thousands of laughter clubs. Whether having fun with politics, expressing the pleasure of work and performance, or simply seeing the humor in everyday life—Floridians have found reason to laugh at it all.
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Image number: FFL1418a
Raul Julia was born in Puerto Rico in 1940 and became a famous actor. His notable roles include appearing as a political prisoner in Kiss of the Spider Woman and as Gomez Addams in The Addams Family. He was also known for his work with Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival. He suffered from cancer and died of a stroke in 1994.
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Image number: DC011983
Included in the picture are Benji, Marsha, and Leslie Davis.
Image number: C018132
From left to right: Randall Courson, Beverly Ann Scott, Michael Courson, and Marion Scott.
Image number: RC09172
Photo by Joe Rimkus.
Riding with the President is U.S. Senator George Smathers. This photograph was taken on November 18, 1963, four days before President Kennedy was assasinated in Dallas, Texas.
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Image number: PT01999
Photo by Donn Dughi.
Representative Dr. Gene Tubbs of Merritt Island laughing with Dr. Dick Hodes of Tampa.
Image number: PT01886
Photo by Donn Dughi.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Pat Neal, Democrat-Brandenton, looks over a proposal from Senator Toni Jennings.
Image number: C820424
Founded in 1938 as Marine Studios, Marineland catered to Hollywood's demand for underwater film footage and is known as the "World's First Oceanarium."
Image number: C021126
Brownie Wise, the vice president of the Tupperware company, started an annual Tupperware Homecoming "Jubilee" in 1954. This four day event brought Tupperware dealers from around the country to the company's headquarters in Kissimmee for motivational events, parties, and classes
Image number: PR25422
Accompanying note: "7. plaiting the stuff from which his hat is made or laughing with Mary Jane at a visitors remark."
In the summer of 1939, Works Projects Administration (WPA) photographer and artist Charles C. Foster was assigned to take photographs for Florida Writers Project (FWP) writer Veronica Huss' profile of the "Conchs" (Bahamian immigrants) of Riviera Beach. Armed with his Reflex-Korelle single-lens camera and four rolls of 12 exposure black and white film, Foster spent the day photographing Veronica and her subjects - immigrants from the Bahamas, who were derisively referred by locals as "Conchs". While the book was never published, the WPA's Florida Art Project used the images for a traveling exhibit titled Conch Town that toured the nation between 1939 and 1943.
Image number: PC0043
Publication information: Jacksonville, Florida, Florida Post Card Co., [1938] Curt Teich
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Image number: FS89354
Stickball is a very old game among Native Americans—some of the earliest sketches by European explorers depict this game being played. The game has elements of a team sport, but also involves individual skill and endurance. The stickball game is one of the social highlights of the Green Corn Dance, but may be played for fun at other times during the year as well.
Image number: SC00288
Seated (L-R): Leander Shaw, Chief Justice Charles Wells, Major Harding. Standing: R. Fred Lewis, Harry Anstead, Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince.
Image number: PT04267
Photographed during the signing of their book, Your Florida Government, 500 Questions and Answers.
Image number: RC04815
Photo by G.W. Romer
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Image number: RF01083
Photo by Robert E. Fisher
Image number: PR12189
Image number: PR21247
Photo by Roy Erickson
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Governor Caldwell with President of State Chamber of Commerce Harlold Colee and a phony fish.
Image number: PT01079
Front Center: Helen Brown Adams and Tom Adams. Behind Adams: Justice and Mrs. Glenn Terrill, Jack and Mary Lou Madigan.
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Image number: DND0721
Photo by Donn Dughi.
Accompanying note: "A bill dealing with car window tinting by Rep. Scott Clemons (center) brought a ribbing by fellow legislators. It was Clemons first bill."
Image number: JB00567
Johnnie Bonds (left) from Live Oak was born on March 17, 1915. He was a member of the Suwannee River Playboys, The Virginia Boys, The Clinch Mountain Boys, and played with The Suwannee River Boys at the 1985 Suwannee River Jamboree. For many years he also performed for the Suwannee River Jamboree radio program broadcast from Live Oak, Florida on local radio station WNER. Johnnie Bonds died on July 9, 2003.
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