A few days ago, my old friend Alan Bursky, who goes back with me 40 years ago to the days of comedian Freddie Prinze, posted this. As we begin to realize some of the many unintended consequences of the business failures in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bursky sounded an entertainment alarm, and I’m happy to share it.:
How long will it take before the Los Angeles area comedy clubs are back in full business? Could this actually be the end of these businesses? For decades the United States had the greatest most successful night clubs in the country. From the Copa Cabana to Ciro’s. Every major city had a few of the greatest night clubs in the world. All had the biggest stars appearing. All of them out of business. Even the great clubs that were smaller, but hipper like the Village Gate, The Bonsoir. The Cellar Door. The Hungry I, The Tidelands Club. From the great Catskills Hotels, and Miami Beach. The Playboy Clubs, the Latin Casino, the Latin Quarter, Mister Kelly’s, the Crescendo, all gone. All the great hotels in Puerto Rico all with big star headliners with opening acts. Headline singer, opening act comedian. Headline comedian, opening act singer. The great lounges in Las Vegas that had up and coming entertainers that were not yet in the hotel’s major showrooms, but were packing the lounges and soon would be the headliner in the major showrooms. That also disappeared. I don’t have any answers. Even some of the great comedy clubs like The Improv, and Catch A Rising Star in New York City, that not only had comedians, but singers like Bette Midler, and Pat Benatar are gone.
There was also those great private clubs in the Los Angeles area. The Factory, The Daisy, Club John, Pips, and the Candy Store. I almost forgot about The Horn in Santa Monica where many performers such as Jim Nabors were discovered no longer in business. Other popular entertainment venues are almost extinct. In the early 1970s within 25 miles of Van Nuys California there was about a dozen drive in movie theaters. I remember as a kid all your neighborhood movie theaters had two features that changed every week. For some reason back then they would change on Wednesday.
In the mid 1960s, I lived in Far Rockaway in Queens, New York City. Within six blocks there were three movie theaters, two of them on Central Ave were right across the street from each other. I know I am on a rant right now, but the idea of losing the Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, The Ice House will be a tremendous loss. How new talent will develop, I have no answer. Will it be open mic nights in the corner of Denny’s restaurants? God I hope not. What will happen to Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago? The Punchline in Atlanta? As of right now I heard the Punchline in Atlanta can now open, but only with 25% capacity. How does a night club, or restaurant even pay just their basic monthly nut like that?
The 1918 Spanish Flu killed 675,000 Americans. Four years later, the the roaring 20s was in full bloom, and things were back to normal except for prohibition, but that didn’t stop night clubs such as the Cotton Club, and many others from doing big business. Vaudeville and Broadway shows were at their zenith. After the worst pandemic of modern times, not to mention the First World War. Even with the depression vaudeville, burlesque, movies were booming. So after this incredibly long venting rant of mine I believe things will be very tough for a while. But I believe we will get through this, and things will be back, and even better than before. After the greatest plague ever in the mid 1300s, the Renaissance happened.
To all my friends, and even my foes in live entertainment. Performers, club owners, agents , and managers. Be strong, have faith in your talent. Through out the ages after every major disaster, plagues, and wars civilization moved forward and overcame the horror and improved. I wish all of you the very best. Even those of you that don’t like me, and those that I don’t like. Except for two people. But that is not a story for now.
