Hope this helps.
http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/american_journal_of_philology/v127/127.1rusten.pdf
Greece
Slapstick comedy is a type of physical comedy involving exaggerated actions, farce, violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense. Charlie Chaplin was an early pioneer of this comedy technique.
Carrvagio
Dr. Bass
Grand Wizard Theodore
I doubt that they invented it, but Japanese kamikaze pilots used the technique in WWII.
Katherine E. Kelly has written: 'Tom Stoppard and the craft of comedy' -- subject(s): Comedy, Criticism and interpretation, Drama, Technique
Vergil Emery Hiatt has written: 'Eavesdropping in Roman comedy ..' -- subject(s): Drama, Technique, Latin drama (Comedy), History and criticism
Comedy became famous for many reasons. First, comedy invented laughter. Laugher was the greatest invention since sliced bread and whats so funny about that is that sliced bread hadn't even been invented yet. Comedy then went on to invent pathos which was a necessary tool expansion from the bathos it had so long relied upon. Comedy then invented stand up which was important for the mobility of humanity who was inclined to sit down an awful lot. People were couch potatoes long before the advent of television or even the invention of the couch...or even the sowing and reaping of potatoes. Comedy loves potatoes. Look what comedy did with Dan Quayles misspelling of potato. Comedy invented the favorite game one potato, two potato, three potato, four. Comedy is cool.
USC's Ralph Winge, D.D.S.
cutting
Andy Moore