"I thought comedians had to have black on their faces or red beards"

Dorothy Gish's quote is a recommendation to the traditional style of comical performance in the 19th century. Throughout this time, many comics would use blackface makeup or have a red beard to signify their comical character. This was a popular form of home entertainment, and it was seen as a way to minimize the battles of daily life. The quote recommends that Gish was familiar with this style of funny and was surprised to see that it was no longer the norm. It likewise suggests that she was sentimental for the old style of comedy and the pleasure it gave audiences. Gish's quote is a pointer of the value of funny in our lives and how it can bring us together in laughter. It also functions as a pointer of the power of comedy to challenge the status quo and to bring about social change.