The Comedy Store
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Comedy Store is a comedy club located in West Hollywood, California, at 8433 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip.
The Comedy Store was opened in April 1972 by comedians Sammy Shore and Rudy DeLuca. The building was formerly the home of Ciro's, a rock and roll nightclub at which The Byrds were discovered in 1964. Sammy Shore's ex-wife Mitzi Shore gained ownership of the club in a divorce settlement.
Beginning in 1979, The Comedy Store served for many years as the host location for the annual HBO Young Comedians specials.
Also in 1979, stand-up comedians formed a short-lived labor union and demanded to be paid for their appearances at the Comedy Store. For five weeks, several famous comedians staged a protest in front of the club, while others crossed the picket line. After the strike some comedians were no longer allowed to perform at the club, including Steve Lubetkin, who committed suicide in front of the building by jumping off the roof of the Continental Hyatt House next door. His suicide note read: "My name is Steve Lubetkin. I used to work at the Comedy Store."
In 2005, Sammy Shore's son Pauly Shore starred in the TBS reality show Minding the Store. The series followed Shore as he took control of The Comedy Store and attempted to revitalize it.
[edit] Additional Information
The Comedy Store has been featured on many television specials, including an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, for its reputation as being a haunted establishment. Staff members testify that "trickster ghosts" play pranks on them during the off-hours of the club. One incident even depicts a malevolent spirit in the basement of the comedy club.
Some believe that the "spirits" whom haunt The Comedy Store were victims left over from the days the building was a mafia run club in the 1940's.
[edit] Alumni
Famous Comedy Store alumni include Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr, John Belushi, Billy Braver, Jim Carrey, George Carlin, Dave Chappelle, Chevy Chase, Andrew Dice Clay, Rodney Dangerfield, Brian Figarol, Redd Foxx, Gallagher, Whoopi Goldberg, Joel Hodgson, Bill Hicks, Dom Irrera, Ralphie May, Andy Kaufman, Bobby Lee, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Sam Kinison, Jay London, Thomas F. Wilson, Rik Mayall, Edie McClurg, Carlos Mencia, Dennis Miller, Paul Mooney, Eddie Murphy, Bob Oschack, Russell Peters, Dat Phan, Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld, Gary Shandling, Joe Rogan, Freddy Soto, The Unknown Comic, Jimmie Walker, Damon Wayans, Robin Williams, Ari Shaffir, and Gaylord Dingler.
The Comedy Store has a sister comedy club in La Jolla, San Diego, California. [1]
