Historical clue formulations

• Comedian who'd make a good pyrotechnician? — 2019-10-22
• Bygone comic who would make a lousy baker? — 2014-11-16
• See 17-Across — 2008-09-24
• Man with a 36-Across — 1996-05-01
• Entertainer born 1/20/1896 — 1996-01-19