I'm with Woolley: Jack Benny was the finest comedian ever. I would add Bob Hope, George Burns and Red Skelton to the list. Their humor was not black or even dark, but their hey day was in times filled with enough drakness, dreariness, toughness that their audiences did not need to be reminded of the seriousness of life.

I would add Shelley Berman to the list as well. Like Benny, Hope and the rest, he had superb timing and delivery bred in vaudeville in front of very tough audiences.

I have certainly enjoyed the humor of all on your list, but I grew up when the older guys were still going strong and the younger generation was starting out.

Speaking of humor, Will Rogers deserves special mention for his gentle wit and his skill with the political dagger.

Bob and Ray also deserve mention, though they were not strictly stand-up comedians.

Jack Benny, though, was the master. He made people laugh by saying nothing at all. Just a look, a glance portraying fear or disgust or astonishment or wonder or shock would do it. And he was often at his funniest when he played the straight man.