Chicago's Official Sense of Humor: An Interview with Elaine Haydock

“The humanities help us make sense of our world and I always wanted my world to be full of humor and laughter.” —Elaine Haydock

The Chicago Humanities Festival proudly presents the Haydock Humor Series, with generous support from Elaine and Roger Haydock. Inspired by the Haydock’s favorite festival theme Laughter (2009), the series spotlights big names in comedy from Julia Louis-Dreyfus to Trevor Noah. CHF asked Elaine Haydock about her love of humor, Chicago’s comedy scene, and her favorite behind-the-scenes memories from past Haydock presenters.

CHF: Why do you choose to support a humor program at CHF? Is a sense of humor important in the humanities?

Haydock: I was a fan of CHF for many years and loved the mental challenges and aha! moments that so many of the events delivered. Then came the Year of Laughter, which was, for obvious reasons, my favorite festival of all. I honestly don't think I ever laughed as hard as I did that fall. When I found out that Bob Mankoff, [Haydock presenter and] former cartoon editor at The New Yorker, had a PhD in the psychology of laughter, new worlds opened! His event, along with the New Yorker cartoonists panel, were revelations...with belly laughs!

It got me thinking...I knew I wanted to sponsor a program or a series and I had long pondered what my 'theme' might be; The Year of Laughter provided the easy answer. My experience of the entirety of Thorne Auditorium and, later, the Pritzker Auditorium at the Chicago Public Library, convulsed in laughter—almost a single, organic laughing entity—made a deep impression. People exited with huge smiles on their faces after a single, affordable hour of listening and laughing—I knew I wanted to be a part of that!

The humanities help us make sense of our world and I always wanted my world to be full of humor and laughter. I think finding the light side of things releases the "steam valve" of our existence; it keeps many of us from imploding. If I can get an entire room full of people laughing, their lives have been lightened, at least for a moment, but probably longer.

CHF: What is comedy like in Chicago and is it unique from other cities?

Haydock: Modern comedy was invented in Chicago! Well, that might be a tiny exaggeration, but beginning with Del Close and then evolving to The Second City, iO Theater, etc. Chicago’s improvisational comedy troupes have produced some of last (and this) century’s great comedians. I don’t know of any other city that is associated with the same quality and quantity of comedic genius as Chicago. And that element of humor (almost as elemental as air in Chicago) has permeated nearly every facet of life here. Sports (Da Bears) to dining (“Cheezeborger,” “cheezeborger”), politics (The Boss) to art (our iconic sculpture known as The Bean) are the teensiest examples of our Official Sense of Humor. Living in a city that smells like chocolate when the wind is right is deliciously funny. Really, there should be some reference to it on our city’s flag.

CHF: Why do you personally love comedy?

Haydock: I grew up in an hilarious extended Polish family. My grandfather (and then my uncle) had a corner grocery store in a solidly Polish neighborhood (in Detroit—sorry!) and these stand-up men were beloved for their giant hearts and non-stop jokes—but never at anyone’s expense. Sunday dinners were all about tables groaning with Polish food and hours of laughing. I grew up in a family full of comics. I guess when your earliest feelings of family and safety are imbued with laughter, it sets the stage for the rest of your life. And I’m forever grateful.

CHF: Is there a comedian working today that you think is just really different or interesting?

Haydock: Roger and I differ on the kinds of comedy we like. His favorite comedians are people like Dennis Miller, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno. The performers I find interesting are Tig Notaro, Jim Gaffigan, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Hannah Gadsby, Kathy Griffin, Kate McKinnon and Amy Schumer. We both love Paula Poundstone and Mo Rocca.

CHF: Are there any memorable behind-the-scenes moments you’ve had with Haydock presenters at CHF?

Haydock: It’s quite interesting to be backstage with people who are very funny onstage. Delia Ephron was lovely and as she and Amy Dickinson traded stories, I felt like I was eavesdropping on a live version of “Ask Amy”. James Rebanks, author of A Shepherd’s Life, while not a comedian but a very, very funny shepherd, embraced us like long-lost friends and invited us to visit him and his family at their sheep farm in the Lake District in England. He was so surprised when we turned up! Lena Dunham was at the height of her fame and treated like a rock star. The night after her appearance, I found an envelope waiting for me at home containing a bracelet she’d been wearing that I admired and a hand-written note thanking us for sponsoring her. Nearly every presenter has been warm and generous and funny!

CHF: What are some ways to bring humor into our everyday lives during this challenging moment that we’re all going through together, but separately?

Haydock: One doesn’t have to look far to find humor in our challenging lives today. There are so many memes, jokes, cartoons, etc. circulating the web, that a daily laugh break is easy to take. We take many. It’s the only thing that keeps us sane. Our absolute favorite—John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” network, on YouTube, is must see TV!

[Image description: The banner image along the top of the web page is a photograph of Elaine Haydock, a white woman with long strawberry blonde hair. She is on stage introducing CHF’s event with Mo Rocca, a Haydock Humor series sponsored program. In the photograph Haydock is smiling and speaking into a microphone.]