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At 99 years old, what will you be doing...statistically, most of us will be worm food by then.  Well...not Mel Brooks, at 99 years old he's making a second installment to Space Balls!  In June of 2026, he will be 100 years old...wrap your brains around that.  

But, what we learned about Mel Brooks is nothing short of amazing, he was drafted into World War II, in 1944.  He aced his military entrance exams, and became part of the combat engineer crew...yeah he cleared landmines.  He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  After his military career, he found himself in Hollywood and became one movie histories greatest comedy legends.  His movies still resonate today, creating some hilarity and laughter, but on the other side causes consternation among many modern film credits.  

In this episode we dive into some crazy Mel Brooks history, from his movie ledger, to his time in the US Army during WWII, and how he contributed to mocking of Hitler with a song from a foxhole on the battlefield with a bull-horn...truly a comedic genius!  Discussions of the sanitary state of canteens...

If you have never seen a Mel Brooks movie...then get on it!!!  Some of our favorites are Young Frankenstein, Space Balls, History of the World (the original), Blazing Saddles, The Producers!  

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Show Notes:  

Toot Toot Tootsie song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD_YRnuuKyY&list=RDKD_YRnuuKyY&start_radio=1 

https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-hilarious-way-mel-brooks-taunted-nazis-on-the-world-war-ii-battlefield/ 

https://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/good-laughs-and-happy-times-service-in-world-war-ii-and-in-entertainment 

https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/article/2882521/actor-comedian-mel-brooks-served-in-army-in-world-war-ii/ 

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-16/united-states-imposes-the-draft 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks_on_screen_and_stage 

https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14639-mel-brooks 

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