CringeHumor

On Sunset Boulevard, there is a building where the greatest names in the history of comedy are written on its walls. It is a vortex. A dark, menacing place that can suck you in if you let it. There is so much history you can feel it as soon as you walk in the door. It’s claimed to be haunted by the ghost of criminals, artists and the broken dreams of those who never made it. It was once called Ciro’s and was owned/operated by the mafia and frequented by Sinatra, Dean Martin, Humphrey Bogart, Sam Davis, Jr., Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Nat King Cole and so many others it will blow your mind. Hell, even JFK ate dinner there. This space has been a mecca for aspiring comics ever since a lady named Mitzi changed its name and in doing so, the history of comedy. We now know it as The Comedy Store.

Sure, it’s seen better times and some people believe the place will get turned into a parking lot once Mitzi gets the light, but it will always be an amazing piece of entertainment history. For the past 40 years it’s been Comedy College. Almost every comedian you have ever heard of has performed there and the walls are painted with the names of legends and doormen alike. By the way, some of those doormen have since become legends. How can you get your name on that wall? How can you become a part of that history? Well, no one really fucking knows anymore. It used to be Mitzi would like you and that was that. Now it’s become a strange mind fuck of a thing with hoops to jump through, asses to be nuzzled and time to be spent hanging out.

Please, don’t get me wrong. The Store is one of my favorite places in Los Angeles, maybe the world. The people there are like family. I have spent holidays there. Hours upon hours spent soaking up its atmosphere, learning its lessons and growing as a comic. You see at The Store, no one cares what you look like, who you’re wearing or what kind of car you drive. If you have ever been to LA you can understand what a relief that is. It truly is an oasis of insanity that helps keep everyone there sane… most of the time. It’s beautiful thing and I am thankful for it.

There is a guy named Tommy who is The Store’s talent coordinator, he’s the closest thing we have to Mitzi. He kinda looks like an older Shaggy from Scooby Doo, plays a mean guitar and enjoys talking in riddles like he’s the Sphinx. He talks of Mitzi, always with love, and tries to emulate her actions. I sat down with him in his office as he departed some knowledge and words of wisdom that may help you one day find your name on the wall.  Of course, it may not help at all. It might confuse you… but at least it’s interesting.

I’m not even going to pretend I can capture the intricacies and oddities of Tommy, so I’ve included a link to the interview. The camera is facing the phone in the office. The room has a poster of Sam Kinison from his Outlaw days, a keystone cop poster behind the door, signed by all the former phone guys, a PlayStation and Shawn Halpin’s old TV. Tommy is leaning back in his chair as he answers my questions.

The photos are courtesy of The Comedy Store’s long time pianist and historian Jeff Scott.

If you need and or want more information from Tommy about The Comedy Store and why you should stay there late at night as a comic, check out this video I put together. Yes, it is a bit trippy, but I promise it is like talking to the man.

John Clark is a stand up comedian who lives in Los Angeles and is originally from the east coast. He is a regular at The Laugh Factory and performs all over the country in colleges, clubs and any place they will hand him a microphone. He can be seen on “Walker, Texas Ranger” with the acting tour de force, Chuck Norris amongst other television and film appearances.

Visit his website today, JohnClarkComedy.com