Smithsonian Lecture Series: Funny Stuff
Join us for the final installment of a four-part lecture series with the Smithsonian.
Discover how the Smithsonian collects and preserves the nation’s comedy heritage with Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator in the Division of Culture & the Arts at the National Museum of American History.
Lintelman — who has curated exhibitions on children’s television, Jim Henson and the Muppets, The Wizard of Oz, and the landmark Entertainment Nation (which features iconic artifacts like a pair of Fred Rogers’ sneakers) — will share insights from his forthcoming book, “Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shaped American History.”
The book offers a sweeping look at how humor has reflected and influenced the American experience, from 19th-century vaudeville and minstrel shows to modern stand-up, television satire, and internet memes.
Lintelman will also explore why comedy remains such a timely and essential form of expression, reminding us that laughter has always been a platform for debate and a powerful mirror of American values and identity.
Admission
Tickets are $10 for non-members and $5 for members. This is a hybrid program. Attendees can participate in-person at the Heinz History Center or online.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available upon request. Please contact us at [email protected] in advance to request accommodations.
About the Series
The Smithsonian Lecture Series brings experts from the Smithsonian Institution to Pittsburgh, presenting a unique opportunity to hear from the scholars behind the organization’s world-renowned research and museum exhibitions.
While each lecture will focus on a different topic, each expert will offer rare insights into how they preserve, collect, and interpret history at the world’s largest museum, education, and research institution.
As Western Pennsylvania’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, the Heinz History Center proudly brings world-class Smithsonian exhibitions, artifacts, and programs to the region. This special lecture series is part of that ongoing partnership.
About the Speaker
Event, Ruby Slippers display with Curator Ryan Lintelman. 3 West, National Museum of American History. July 10, 2019.
Ryan Lintelman is entertainment curator in the Division of Culture & the Arts at the National Museum of American History. His research interests include American film and television history, comedy, and history of collecting entertainment memorabilia. Ryan has curated exhibitions on children’s television, Jim Henson and the Muppets, The Wizard of Oz, and is one of the curators of the landmark exhibition Entertainment Nation, exploring music, sports, television, theater and film in American history. His book “Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shapes American History” will be published by Rutgers University Press in 2026.