Do you incorporate any gags that are famous from years past or associated with past performers?

I use a HUGE guitar or cello case to transport a small ukulele, just like Grock with his gigantic case for his tiny violin. BTW, saw a video clip of him attempting to tune his violin by matching its pitch to that of a balloon with its neck pinched so the air was squealing out! Hilarious!

I'm also developing a trick instrument that will make a bunch of other sounds on command, but never the one it's supposed to make. Got the idea from an old Warner Brothers cartoon.

Would love to know how the great gags of the past are being used as jumping-off points for the creative types around here.

Sometimes, though, I don't know why I go to all the trouble... my dollar store locally has balloons, pumps, paints and even wigs and squirting flowers!

I'm not sure where to start...

Like yourself, much of my humor and character to start was based on vintage gags. Many of mine are derived from Stan Laurel's use of "white magic", those improbable things that he used to do. I have worked out a few ways to blow on my thumb and cause my hat to rise off my head. I am currently learning some rope tricks and escapology to use in a botched magic trick where someone ties me up and I keep inadvertently escaping and then tie up the other person.

I also have in my repertoire where I cross the stage at various times during the act with a vase or flower pot and the flowers get more numerous or grow larger. Or someone chases me off stage and then on the next lap I'm chasing the person, or they go from left to right and I go from right to left.

one of my favorite bit is opening a peanut with a sledge hammer. all kinds of clowns have done tis bit and if you do it right it still gets a laugh.

I do a jacket act inspired by Jeorge Carl and a broom act inspired by Avner

Emily and I are practicing "Dead and Alive."

Unfortunately we have neither the space nor the tumbling mats to do it well in the living room. When winter's over we'll take it to the back yard.

Emily and I are practicing "Dead and Alive."

Unfortunately we have neither the space nor the tumbling mats to do it well in the living room. When winter's over we'll take it to the back yard.

I just did this gag, and it took a lot of work. There is a great Youtube video that I learned from, and after the skit an announcer asks the performers some questions. The advice in this part is invaluable. Make sure for the "handshakes" that there is one person who leads and one who follows. Also, while the dead person is upright, and about to fall backwards, what we did is have the live person tap the dead person on the shoulder, wait for a 2-count, and then the dead person falls backwards.
Also, make sure the dead person's wig is pinned on! I usually don't have a problem, but with this skit my wig fell off when I was "knocked out".
Good luck, though. This is my favorite 2-man skit!