The Comedy Store, West Hollywood (1972)
Comedian Sammy Shore and his wife Mitzi opened The Comedy Store in West Hollywood in 1972, turning a former nightclub into the first venue built specifically for stand-up comedy.
The club became a launching pad for comics like Richard Pryor, Robin Williams and David Letterman, who developed their acts there.
The Comedy Store established the model of the dedicated comedy club, where audiences pay for shows and drink minimums. It still operates today.
It shows how a comedian-run venue can anchor a local scene, much as Dude IDK aims to do with a permanent Denver stage.
