Dwight MacDonald & Second City Improv Group (1961)

Critic Dwight MacDonald and Legendary “Second City” Improv Group (1961) A fascinating 1961 interview featuring influential cultural critic Dwight MacDonald in conversation with members of Chicago’s groundbreaking Second City improv troupe — including a young Barbara Harris, years before her rise to film and Broadway fame. This rare clip captures Second City at a pivotal moment, when improvisational comedy was redefining American theater and satire. Barbara Harris stands out with her sharp intelligence, warmth, and quick wit—early signs of the brilliance that would later earn her an Academy Award nomination. A must-see snapshot of comedy, criticism, and creative experimentation in the early 1960s. For licensing inquiries please contact Historic Films Archive (historicfilms.com / info@historicfilms.com)