He is the retired Emeritus Professor of Communication at the University of Michigan, where he also served for ten years as a department chairman. He spent a year in England as a Fulbright scholar, and he has authored or co-authored five books about television and radio.
Video
Watch the Edgar E. Willis interview about his memoir and his video series How to be Funny on Purpose: An Anatomy of Humor
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Edgar E Willis-World War II Memoir Interview-Part 1 of 4
Anthony Weaver interviews his Grandfather, Edgar E. Willis, about his latest book “Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform – A Memoir of World War II,” penned at 96 years old! This four part series covers his the time before and after he served on the USS Alaska in the Pacific Theater, during World War II. Edgar E. Willis is the retired Emeritus Professor of Communication at the University of Michigan, where he also served for ten years as a department chairman. He spent a year in England as a Fulbright scholar, and he has authored or co-authored five books about television and radio. In part one of the interview I ask Edgar about his inspiration for the book, the reason for the title, and why he decided to include his life before and after his service.
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Edgar E Willis-World War II Memoir Interview-Part 2 of 4
Part 2 of Anthony Weaver’s interview with Edgar E. Willis about his memoir of World War II, “Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform.” Part 2 of Anthony’s interview picks up from a previous question in Part 1. Events had happened to Edgar that were either pure luck or just because of the circumstance of the moment. Part 2 starts with Edgar’s second story… his pure luck Navy physical. He also reads from his memoir and as we progressed, I asked about the captains Edgar served under which produced this statement from Edgar, “That’s the way the navy does it!”
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Edgar E Willis-World War II Memoir Interview-Part 3 of 4
Part 3 continues the discussion of the captains Edgar served under, the “Winding path to Peace,” and the fact that bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and yet, the USS Alaska hadn’t suffered it’s only casualty of the war. Also in Part 3, at 96, Edgar reminds us with precision what was happening in the Pacific Theater, and the timing and feelings of where our country was at during World War 2, including the difference between enlisted men and officers.
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Edgar E Willis-World War II Memoir Interview-Part 4 of 4
Part 4, the conclusion of Anthony Weaver’s interview with author Edgar E. Willis. Edgar faced some big decisions that would choose the path for his life. With an education, he had career choices, a wife and children, what was to happen next? Edgar also answers the what he hopes readers will take away from his World War II memoir.
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How to be Funny on Purpose: An Anatomy of Humor, Part 1 of 5
It’s more than how to be funny. Edgar E. Willis breaks down why jokes are funny, what it takes to be funny, and how to set up jokes so they are funny. It’s the anatomy of humor… And Then Some! The How to be Funny series shot in 1995. This video might be a little grainy and old, but the teachings are sound.
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How to be Funny on Purpose: An Anatomy of Humor, Part 2 of 5
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How to be Funny on Purpose: An Anatomy of Humor, Part 3 of 5
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How to be Funny on Purpose: An Anatomy of Humor, Part 4 of 5
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How to be Funny on Purpose: An Anatomy of Humor, Part 5 of 5
