This archive report was first published on 27 October 2021.
Mort Sahl: A Pioneer of Biting Commentary ¶
On May 11, 1927, Mort Sahl was born in Montreal, Canada. His early life was marked by a series of moves, including a stint in Los Angeles, where his father, Harry Sahl, worked as a clerk for the Department of Justice.
At 15, Sahl joined the R.O.T.C. and lied about his age to join the Army, but his mother, Dorothy, intervened after just two weeks. He later enlisted again and served in the Army Air Forces in Alaska, where he began to develop his anti-authoritarian views.
After his discharge, Sahl attended Compton Junior College and the University of Southern California, earning a degree in city management. He then followed a young woman, Sue Babior, to Berkeley, where he was encouraged by her to approach the owner of the hungry i, Enrico Banducci, for a performing gig.
Banducci recalled, 'I didn’t tell anyone, but I didn’t think he was so great. I really looked at him and said, “Poor kid, he looks so skinny.” I thought for 75 bucks a week he can’t hurt the place.'
Despite initial doubts, Sahl's early performances began to gain traction, and he soon started commenting on the national scene. His biting commentary, which targeted figures like Eisenhower and Senator Joseph McCarthy, resonated with audiences and helped establish him as a rising star in the world of stand-up.
