Back when comedy films were first shown at the Pictures, (Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, etc.) was there a certain etiquette as to what could be laughed at? Would they have laughed at certain things back then that we wouldn't now, or vice versa?

by poshjosh1999

I've been watching a lot of L&H on YouTube, and I'm laughing at parts where I think "would they find this particular thing funny back in the 30's?" Also, when were the first dirty jokes in films, and would it have been acceptable to laugh at them?

Georgy_K_Zhukov

While more can always be said, there is a good thread of discussion in this older thread which might be of interest, courtesy of /u/grantimatter and /u/lord_mayor_of_reddit, among others.