Marc, Gbus
I am rather disappointed at the flaw in your basic comedy knowledge.
'The chair across the back' is as old as the custard pie in the face and has been synonymous with B movies as well as Vaudeville.
The 17th century Italian Scaramouche did use a chair, but it was replaced with the reusable clacker (For economic reasons and ease of transportation). Whilst the Clacker preformed the same task and was later used by Codman and the likes,for me it failed to have the visual effect of the chair.
The chair (Sadly made of Balsa wood) has featured in films by Chaplin, Lloyd and Keaton,but it was by the late thirties hijacked with the advent of the western where it was used in so many saloon fights that became what is termed 'A dead Horse Trope'.
With Monty Python, The Simpsons even Indiana Jones and WWF the chair across the back could be described as a classic visual statement and will no doubt be enjoyed in years to come for its ability to provide a visually succinct statement of a persons reaction to a given circumstance.
To be blunt in comedic terms a chair across the back speaks volumes, it needs no sub text nor translation and I for one advocate its usage (But not a balsa one)
Timbo it is a tad slapstick but it works on so many levels that it is to my mind a classic and should be used much more.
Also this particular usage of the old gem when taken in context was advocated for use on a Scientology film crew who were following people into public toilets.