The Comedy Store turns 50

Variety

"For 50 years, the Comedy Store has been a club in need of comics, and a place for comics in need of a club," the Los Angeles Time' Nate Jackson says of the iconic and influential comedy club that Mitzi Shore famously led for decades. "The relationship is as plain as the writing on the walls of the storied venue, cluttered with the names of its biggest stars dotting its black exterior in white cursive. But that only tells a fraction of the story of a venue that’s anchored itself in comedy history, creating a magnetic pull that brings new stars in and keeps the veterans coming back." Jackson adds: "It’s been a year since the club at 8433 W. Sunset Blvd. reopened its doors after shuttering during the pandemic. Celebrating its 50th anniversary today, the Store and its nightly magic are back, along with many of its traditions. The door person greeting incoming crowds is always likely to be an aspiring stand-up comic charged with watching other comics onstage while waiting for their shot at the spotlight. Walking in through the halls, the club still looks and feels the way it did in 1972, its dark red vibe best suited for a room full of laughs, icy cocktails and body heat."

ALSO:

• Peter Shore, one of Mitzi Shore's sons, has worked to modernize The Comedy Store to ensure it'll be around for another 50 years: “We want to make it feel like a museum,” says Shore. “This is a piece of Americana, and it’s important to maintain the integrity of its history by being consistent with its own history.”
• David Letterman, Howie Mandel, Byron Allen, Iliza Shlesinger and other comedians recall the impact The Comedy Store had on their lives