Over the years, the company thrived like neither of its predecessors. With White's business sense and Brockie's peculiar
ability to tap into people's needs to humiliate their friends and loved
ones, the team was unstoppable.
The business relationship lasted for several decades, though the
partners did not always get along as well as they had during their
initial encounter. Brockie always tested out new gags on White before
putting them into mass production, and since White was then sobered up,
he was generally less receptive to the gags.
Sheky "Ralph" Brockie died in 1950 of exposure to hazardous
cemicals. The Amalgamated Humor headquarters was housed on the spot of
White's original hazardous chemical factory. A large, leaking tub of
hazardous chemicals was found hidden in Brockie's office, behind one of
the curtains. Over the years it had taken it's toll on his body.
Some have suggested that it was White's final practical joke on the
consummate practical joker. High-priced lawyers convinced the jury that
the tub must have been left there by accident after the factory was
changed to Amalgamated Humor.
White died later that same year when testing out a chinese finger
puzzle and starved to death in his office, unable to free himself, use
the telephone, or open the door.
Even after losing both of its founders, Amalgamated Humor lived
on. By this time, corporate mascot Cap'n Wacky (see related story) was
already more known that the industrialists had been anyway. The
business moved into new areas, as anyone reading this must surely
know.
Amalgamated Humor soon became the name to look for whenever you
wanted to laugh, producing television shows, comic books, newspaper
strips, comedy albums, and robotic monkeys.
Today, thanks to nepotism, the great-grandsons of the company
founders, Roger Harrison "R.J." White and Brodie H. Brockie, are at the
helm of the Amalgamated Humor corporation. They, along with Cap'n Wacky
of course, are bringing the company up to date with the official
Amalgamated Humor website, www.capnwacky.com, your one-stop comedy
destination on the internet.
Remember, Amalgamated Humor- our initials, when backwards, spell
"HA".
Sheky "Ralph" Brockie (left) and Ichabod Lancaster White prepare to shake hands, sealing the deal to merge their two companies into Amalgamated Humor.
The handsake - but what's happened?
Ever the prankster, Brockie reveals the joy buzzer he brought to the ceremony while White writhes in agony.
Amalgamated Humor Archives
