SMOTHERS BROS. FINISHED

The curtain is coming down on the beloved Smothers Brothers comedy act after 52 years, according to documents filed in bankruptcy court.

Older brother Tommy, 73, is "contemplating a complete cessation of his entertainment work," while straight man Dick is battling "to position himself for his impending retirement from show business," according to the legal papers obtained exclusively by The ENQUIRER.

The not-so-funny demise of the show business duo was revealed when Dick, 70, filed for bankruptcy in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 17.

According to the court filing, the mustachioed brother has just shy of $2 million in assets, but debts of $2.7 million. His $1.1 million canal-front home in Sarasota is for sale.

Dick banked $385,882 last year from the brothers' popular act, but claims his current monthly income of $7,368 comes from social security and pensions.

"The debtor has no stable source of income at the present as his brother, the other half of his comedy act, is contemplating a complete cessation of his entertainment work, and bookings for future shows are inconsistent," say papers filed on Feb. 22 by his attorney, R. John Cole II.

"The debtor is attempting to earn sufficient sums to survive during the downturn."

Dick has also been unable to make mortgage payments on his ex-wife Denby's $780,000 condo, and it's also listed for sale.

But Denby, a real estate agent, says: "Dick still works and has money to pay his mortgages. He just chooses not to." According to the brothers' Web site, they have about 16 concerts booked for the remainder of 2010.

In the '60s, the brothers had their own hugely popular TV show, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."

CBS canceled it in 1969 despite high ratings after their on-air criticism of the Vietnam War.