Many might remember Mike Nichols in earlier times in some very funny skits with Elaine May. Here's a classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0vSLIO7m20
Many thanks for the link!
Check this out as well:
http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2014/11/mike_nichols_married_diane_saw.html (http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2014/11/mike_nichols_married_diane_saw.html)
Note the recording has "Directed by Arthur Penn." I assume that he is the same Arthur Penn who became a movie director (Bonnie and Clyde).
I thought this would appeal to your keen sense of humour, Cato!!
It does provide more tangible evidence that humour in the USA was (and, to a less obvious extent, still is) actually far more intelligent and sophisticated than farting, pratfalls, foul language and dirty jokes. (I can tolerate the foul language, eg. "South Park", if there's wit/satire front and centre.)