The Improv

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The original Improv started in 1963 in New York City. Started by Budd Friedman, it was the place to see Richard Pryor, Robert Klein, Steve Landesberg, Bette Midler, Lilly Tomlin, Jay Leno, and others when they were just starting out. Dustin Hoffman played piano there.

Later in the 1970's on any given night one could see Gilbert Gottfried, Joe Piscopo, Bruce Mahler, Steve Wishman, Mark Schiff, Larry David, and many others. Often famous comedians would walk in to "work out" before appearances on the Tonight Show. It was not unusual to find celebrities in the audience.

The Improv in California came later. The Improv is a comedy club at 8162 Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, California.

It was founded in 1974 and may well be the biggest comedy venue in L.A. Just about every big name in show business has played The Improv, including Milton Berle, Drew Carey, George Carlin, Chevy Chase, Bill Cosby, Billy Crystal, Rodney Dangerfield, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Freddie Prinze, Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Lily Tomlin.

Even Liza Minnelli appeared at The Improv, and Jim Carrey bombed on his first appearance at the club.

New and upcoming performers such as Dane Cook and Pablo Francisco, and Sean Kent have performed there as well. Comedy Central's Dave Attell also frequents Improv locations in Tampa and Hollywood.

Well known comedian Eddie Murphy was a regular at The Comic Strip in New York, but in California performed at the Improv when he was only 16 years old, Jeremy Ruder at 18, and Jim Carrey at 19.

The Improv also has a bar and a restaurant named "Hell's Kitchen" that features Italian entrees named for comedy stars, such as Billy Crystal's Gnocchi Alla Bolognese and Tim Allen's Eggplant Parmigiana. Actresses Karen Black and Debra Winger worked there as waitresses before getting their big breaks as movie stars.