--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a kid my father would read…" description: "\"When I was a kid my father would read Neil Simon plays with me when I was going to bed, as bedtime stories. All of these old plays like The Odd Couple ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/zach-woods-11886_20th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-my-father-would-read-ne_299073.jpg" --- # When I was a kid my father would read Neil Simon plays… ![“When I was a kid my father would read Neil Simon plays with me when I was going to bed, as bedtime stories. All of these old plays like The Odd Couple and Lost in Yonkers - funny but corny plays about Jewish New Yorkers in the mid-20th century.” quote by Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/zach-woods-11886_20th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-my-father-would-read-ne_299073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/zach-woods-11886_20th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-my-father-would-read-ne_299073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c95/zach-woods-11886_20th-century_when-i-was-a-kid-my-father-would-read-ne_299073.jpg) > “When I was a kid my father would read Neil Simon plays with me when I was going to bed, as bedtime stories. All of these old plays like The Odd Couple and Lost in Yonkers - funny but corny plays about Jewish New Yorkers in the mid-20th century.” [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood bedtime reading of Neil Simon plays shaped appreciation for humor and cultural storytelling. **In simple terms:** Reading plays at bedtime fostered love for witty, cultural stories. Key Takeaway Embrace early exposure to diverse narratives. Themes family culture humor storytelling heritage Mood nostalgic warm reflective Type personal cultural inspirational When to use this quote - parent‑child bonding - literary education - cultural preservation Key Concepts Jewish-American identity mid‑20th‑century theater comic timing Questions to Reflect On - How did these stories influence your own creative voice? - What other cultures' stories could enrich your perspective? A Different Perspective May overlook broader literary diversity beyond one author. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [20th century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20th-century/) [Bedtime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedtime/) [Bedtime stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedtime-stories/) [Corny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corny/) [Corny Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corny-plays-2861848/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [New yorkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-yorkers/) [Odd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd/) [Odd couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd-couple/) [Old Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-plays-1344669/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Plays Jewish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays-jewish-2861849/) [Simon Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simon-plays-811726/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a kid, my father would read Neil Simon plays with me, when I was going to bed, as bedtime stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/when-i-was-a-kid-my-father-would-read-neil-simon-plays-with-me-when-i-2/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I didn't want to work on dry, old plays written by the dry, old dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/i-didn-t-want-to-work-on-dry-old-plays-written-by-the-dry-old-dead/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [I saw Hamlet Prince of Denmark played; but now the old plays begin to disgust this refined age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-evelyn/i-saw-hamlet-prince-of-denmark-played-but-now-the-old-plays-begin-to/) [John Evelyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-evelyn/) > [When I was in high school, I read all of Neil Simon's plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-read-all-of-neil-simon-s-plays/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [I'm aware of my old plays and occasionally think about them, but I'm much more anxious about finding the next play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-aware-of-my-old-plays-and-occasionally-think-about-them-but-i-m/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I toured around the country and met all these Broadway producers who put me in all these Neil Simon plays like 'Brighton Beach Memoirs'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-toured-around-the-country-and-met-all-these-broadway-producers-who/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I love dealing with drama. I'm drawn to the painful side of storytelling, more so. I feel like that's where you get the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-williams/i-love-dealing-with-drama-i-m-drawn-to-the-painful-side-of/) [Michael K. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-williams/) > [Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... 'The Odd Couple' was mine. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/every-actor-looks-all-his-life-for-a-part-that-will-combine-his/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [I am like that guy on the 'Odd Couple,' and it is not the neat guy. I go into my room and find pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-majerus/i-am-like-that-guy-on-the-odd-couple-and-it-is-not-the-neat-guy-i-go/) [Rick Majerus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-majerus/) > [There are plenty of odd couple Congressmen who have roomed together on Capitol Hill, but I have never heard of a chief of staff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/there-are-plenty-of-odd-couple-congressmen-who-have-roomed-together/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [Im a huge fan of The Odd Couple, yes, and any comparisons to Tony Randall and or Jack Lemmon are completely welcome. I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/im-a-huge-fan-of-the-odd-couple-yes-and-any-comparisons-to-tony/) [David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/) > [I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-could-play-a-cop-i-could-play-a-crook-i-could-play-a-lawyer-i-could/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [They are two very different people. It's almost a modern-day 'Odd Couple,' if I had to characterize it, with the two of them portraying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-ostroff/they-are-two-very-different-people-it-s-almost-a-modern-day-odd/) [Dawn Ostroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-ostroff/) > [It's Charley's Aunt and The Odd Couple rolled into one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-carr/it-s-charley-s-aunt-and-the-odd-couple-rolled-into-one/) [Allan Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-carr/) > [I really enjoyed Eddie Bracken. He told me a great story. He did The Odd Couple on Broadway, replacing Art Carney, and he said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/i-really-enjoyed-eddie-bracken-he-told-me-a-great-story-he-did-the/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) ## More by Zach Woods > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I think a challenge with every sitcom is, how do you maintain things that people are attached to without becoming so reiterative that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-think-a-challenge-with-every-sitcom-is-how-do-you-maintain-things/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [Sometimes you'll see people give performances in comedy with an ironic detachment where they'll sort of be remarking on the character from outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/sometimes-you-ll-see-people-give-performances-in-comedy-with-an/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I've played a lot of characters who are creeps or weirdos, with a deep darkness underneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-ve-played-a-lot-of-characters-who-are-creeps-or-weirdos-with-a-deep/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [It's funny; I think I'm at a level of recognizability - is that even a word? - where it's just really nice. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/it-s-funny-i-think-i-m-at-a-level-of-recognizability-is-that-even-a/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I don't know anything about tech, but I do know something about slightly socially crippled and overly cerebral guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-don-t-know-anything-about-tech-but-i-do-know-something-about/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [This is going to sound pretentious, but I like comedy that addresses something I find either worrisome or interesting in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/this-is-going-to-sound-pretentious-but-i-like-comedy-that-addresses/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I always think it's hilarious when the stand-ins come in for 'Silicon Valley,' because it's a complete inversion of the attractiveness quotient that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-always-think-it-s-hilarious-when-the-stand-ins-come-in-for-silicon/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [My brother, who's a few years older then me, went to college in New York. He said all of these people from Saturday Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/my-brother-who-s-a-few-years-older-then-me-went-to-college-in-new/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [Your body - or my body - is just kind of stupid. Like, your body doesn't know whether you're acting something because it's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/your-body-or-my-body-is-just-kind-of-stupid-like-your-body-doesn-t/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I remember seeing the first LEGO movie, almost skeptically. People were like, 'You should really see it!' And I was like, 'A LEGO movie?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-remember-seeing-the-first-lego-movie-almost-skeptically-people-were/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I think that if you're improvising on TV, it's a great way to help the dialogue between actors and writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-think-that-if-you-re-improvising-on-tv-it-s-a-great-way-to-help-the/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [I don't think anyone is hiring me because I look like Chris Hemsworth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-don-t-think-anyone-is-hiring-me-because-i-look-like-chris-hemsworth/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [For the first actual comedy-comedy I did, I took a comedy class in New York, which was full of slightly unhinged people. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/for-the-first-actual-comedy-comedy-i-did-i-took-a-comedy-class-in-new/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [The parts of people that are the most lovable is usually the thing they're least willing to share: the tender, vulnerable side of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/the-parts-of-people-that-are-the-most-lovable-is-usually-the-thing/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) [Explore all 57 Zach Woods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) ## More 20th century quotes > [I think the inhabitants of the past are fighting hard to keep the rents they acquired in the 20th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/i-think-the-inhabitants-of-the-past-are-fighting-hard-to-keep-the/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [Corporate America is a 20th-century dinosaur, trembling on the edge of extinction, and the only way for you to have a genuinely secure future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/corporate-america-is-a-20th-century-dinosaur-trembling-on-the-edge-of/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free. We sent a generation to college. We cultivated the most educated workforce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-thrived-in-the-20th-century-because-we-made-high-school-free/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I've studied the lives of the 20th century's great businessmen and concluded self-confidence was instrumental in all their success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-spanos/i-ve-studied-the-lives-of-the-20th-century-s-great-businessmen-and/) [Alex Spanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-spanos/) > [Universal literacy was a 20th-century goal. Before then, reading and writing were skills largely confined to a small, highly educated class of professional people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/universal-literacy-was-a-20th-century-goal-before-then-reading-and/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) > [The great wars of the 20th Century made it into the worst Century ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-great-wars-of-the-20th-century-made-it-into-the-worst-century-ever/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [That is very different from how it used to be in the 20th century. Media was very one way. There's a small little industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/that-is-very-different-from-how-it-used-to-be-in-the-20th-century/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [If you look back on the history of the 20th century, the 19th century or even to the ancien régime of the 18th, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/if-you-look-back-on-the-history-of-the-20th-century-the-19th-century/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Up to the 20th century, we can say that this whole period was an Earth epoch, 'Earth' meaning the riches of the earth, simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/up-to-the-20th-century-we-can-say-that-this-whole-period-was-an-earth/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [I think this century more than any other really has seen the phenomenon of people being uprooted in such numbers, such a degree. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-think-this-century-more-than-any-other-really-has-seen-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [If you look at that incredible burst of fantastic characters that emerged in the late 19th century/early 20th century, you can see so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/if-you-look-at-that-incredible-burst-of-fantastic-characters-that/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/cruel-and-paradoxical-though-it-undoubtedly-is-the-record-shows-that/) [David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/) > [An interesting thing about New Zealand, you know, literature is that it really didn't begin in any real sense until the 20th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/an-interesting-thing-about-new-zealand-you-know-literature-is-that-it/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [The Warmth of Other Suns is a sweeping and yet deeply personal tale of America's hidden 20th century history - the long and difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/the-warmth-of-other-suns-is-a-sweeping-and-yet-deeply-personal-tale/) [Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/) [Browse all 672 20th century quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20th-century/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was a kid my father would read Neil Simon plays with me when I was going to bed, as bedtime stories. 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