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Joey Adams (January 6, 1911 – December 2, 1999), born Joseph Abramowitz, was an American comedian who was inducted into the Friars Club in 1977 and wrote the book Borscht Belt in 1973.

Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York. For many years, he wrote the "Strictly for Laughs" column in the New York Post. His wife, Cindy Adams (to whom he was married from 1952 on Valentine's Day until his death), is still one of the Post's main society and gossip columnists. His career spanned more than 70 years and included appearances in nightclubs and vaudevilles. He also hosted for a while his own radio show and wrote 23 books, including "From Gags to Riches," "Joey Adams Joke Book," "Laugh Your Calories Away", "On the Road with Uncle Sam" and "Encyclopedia of Humor."

Adams made numerous television appearances over the years, including on The Ed Sullivan Show and Howard Stern's 1990s TV shows, and was in the films Singing in the Dark (1956, of which he was also executive producer), Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966), and Silent Prey (1997). For years, he also hosted a radio talk show on WEVD in New York.

He was dubbed the "fastest joke teller in the East" and was known as a man known for his unfailing good cheer, good works and bad puns and he may be best remembered for his one-liners like "A diplomat, is a man who praises marriage but remains single." or " George Washington had it tough when he ran. He couldn't complain about the previous administration.".

He claimed to be the "adopted son" of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. "I have always lived by his words to me when I was 6 years old: 'Don't worry about people knowing you, make yourself worth knowing,' " Adams wrote.

For his civic works, he was honored by Presidents and statesmen, and he held honorary doctorates in comedy from Columbia, New York University, Long Island University and City College, his alma mater. He was active in the Friars Club and was president of the American Guild of Variety Artists AGVA. He had also been appointed as Commissioner of Youth for the City ofNew York by Mayor Robert F. Wagner emulating LaGuardia's civic-mindness in recognition for his efforts in battling juvenile delinquency on behalf of the AGVA Youth Fund. Governor Rockefeller also encouraged him to spread his program throughout the entire state and eventually it moved westward to California.

A Great American and Ambassador of Good Will

On the Road for Uncle Sam was Joey Adams eighth book where he describes his 5 month goodwill tour of the Middle and FarEast in 1961 as part of President John F. Kennedy's Cultural Exchange Program during the Communist uprisings in Southeast Asia.

During that time, Joey Adams and his 24-member troupe, which included his wife Cindy but also famous artists like comedian Chaz Chase, singers the Sylte Sisters, tap dancers the Step Brothers, magician Celeste Evans, singer/songwriter David Lucas and jazz musician Buddy Rich, visited 11 countries leaving behind him the smiles and gratitude of countless thousands of people and was heralded by representatives of the US Government and by officials and other representatives of the countries covered.

During this tour, Joey Adams had close encounters with royalty and senior government officials of countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Iran, India, Laos, Nepal, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Among the most notable names mentioned in his book are lot of recognizable names: King Mohammed Zahir Shah and Queen Humaira of Afghanistan, King Mahendra of Nepal, King Bhumibhol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand as well as nine-year-old Prince Vajiralongkorn, Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, Prime Minister Nehru of India and Her Imperial Majesty, Farah Diba, the Empress of Iran. Among other well known names he met US Ambassadors Kenneth Galbraith, Kenneth Young, Henry Stebbins, Howard Palfrey Jones, Frederick Nolting, Julius C. Holmes as well as high ranking government officials of country visited like Binich Sampatisiri,Viswa Bandhu Thapa, Mr. Ngo Trong Hieu.

He was also decorated by the Queen of Cambodia, showered with gifts by the rulers of Thailand and Afghanistan, and hornored by the Empress of Iran, the Nepalese royal family and a Lao prince.

This author page uses material from the Wikipedia article "Joey Adams", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0