National Comedy Center

This is a MUST visit. So much to see and do inside the center and I really enjoyed the customized laugh band that lets you scan different areas to get targeted comedy. I plan to go back again and bring my family this time. I bought the two pack to visit the center and the Lucy-Desi museum down the street and recommend doing both. It was a short walk so I didn't have to repark. Also, I read some reviews about parking issues, but I didn't have any problems parking and I was there in the middle of summer! I did have to feed the meter, but it was cheap compared to what I'm used to!

​Surprisingly entertaining! The NCC is larger and far more detailed than I expected. The staff help you set up a wristband that customizes the exhibits based on your favorite comedians and movies, making the experience totally unique (tech built into the band) ​There are three floors to explore, including a lower level with cool memorabilia (Dan Aykroyd, Gabriel Iglesias), an 18+ section (blue level), and a main floor packed with interactive stuff like picking your own stand up comedy show, creating your own cartoon, adding sound effects to a movie, meme-making and history exhibits. There are some fun things to do with a partner or friend, such as recreating some comedy sketches in a green room and playing a game where you pick and read your opponent jokes to try and make them laugh. Six rounds, winner takes all. You might even want to try doing some Karaoke (in a lounge area with food and drinks - yes adult beverages are available! There's also a nice souvenir shop. Very well done - you can easily spend hours here! ​Pro Tip: Buy the combination pass online in advance. It saves you money and gives you two-day access to both this center and the Lucy Desi Museum!

You need a lot of time to enjoy this very high tech museum. We tried to stop by on a travel day and it really deserves hours/full day of time. A great deal of recorded videos to watch and enjoy, but we just didn’t have the time. Favorites were the Joan Rivers exhibit & Rolodex cards from Johnny Carson.

This place was funny, as it should be, I liked how interactive it was with all the different types of comedy, it was also nice it build a comedy profile of you to tell you at the end of your visit what you most common comedy category you like

A very unique experience. Such a great time. Very interactive and interesting. You can easily spend hours here and thoroughly enjoy yourself.

Our family had so much fun (2 adults &2 girls 17 & 16 )staff where very friendly & helpful .start by buying & getting wristband ,then going to computer & picking your favorite comedians each person doing their own. Then Entering the museum You scan your band and your comedians you're interested in will interact with you.lots of hands on interacting .games .we spent 21/2 hrs was not enough time (we had other obligations) we did get through whole museum. Just could not do all the activities which where so much fun! the ones we did do . there's a Cafe , where you can be the stand-up comedian . Clean bathrooms.so many family laughs! We will return !

We came here in a Saturday afternoon after visiting the Lucy/Desi museum. We bought tickets online the night before and we purchased the combo ticket for both the museum and the comedy center. I think it was $43/person for both. I only got one picture. We you check in they give you a wristband and then you can register it with your preferences. There are a lot of interactive exhibits. There is a main floor and then two lower levels you can get to via an elevator. We walked from the hotel but there was plenty of street parking nearby and I am fairly certain that I saw a parking lot across the street. The ticket staff member was friendly. I think we were here for about 2 hours. We had fun and enjoyed the visit.

Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this museum. Lots of interactive exhibits. You could easily spend 3+ hrs here.

Wow. This museum exceeded my expectations by 100%. Insanely interactive and personalized to your unique sense of humor, this museum will have you learning while you laugh. We could have easily spent 3 hours here. The amount of information and history packed into this space is incredible. You use the wristbands to customize your experience by choosing different comedians, movies, and tv shows you like. There are different stations where you scan your wristband to interact. You can even draw your own comic cartoon! There are plenty of hand sanitizer stands and wipes for headphones so you don't have to hesitate using something. Speaking of cleanliness, their restrooms were also nicely kept. Tony in the lounge area was also a true gem. He actually approached us while we were browsing the museum and offered to bring us a drink to enjoy while we walked around (they have a decent variety of options including beer and canned mix drinks). When we finally made it to the lounge area he was happy to serve us, as well as serving up some jokes, and told us a little about the museum and their events. At the end, you scan your wristband to analyze your humor profile. It sends your results to your email! This museum was the perfect way to spend a rainy day while we were on vacation. Highly highly recommend. We went on a weekday around noon so it was pretty quiet aside from a few other people.

It is a very interesting place that goes over the history of comedy in the United States, largely starting from vaudeville and burlesque. There are some good interactive exhibits, with lots of audio and video to keep you entertained. The Staff are friendly and helpful. I noticed them cleaning the interactive exhibit areas periodically after use. It's fun to go to a museum and hear people laughing. It's also fun to be in a group of strangers, all watching the same thing you know you've all watched years earlier (like a scene from a sitcom or movie) and the joy in the group when the punchline comes and people look at each other in recognition of the shared experience. It sounds more profound than it probably is, but it is a very positive human connection that I suppose comes out in certain circumstances, including humor.

What better way to celebrate April Fools Day than to check out the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY, which is about a 2 hour drive from my home. Easy to find in Downtown Jamestown, there are street signs to help find the NCC. They have a dedicated parking lot nearby, small and a bit rough, but free and a couple minutes walk from the center. The Center provides a free coat check at the entrance, which is convenient. I had purchased a ticket online the night before (which provides a bit of a discount) so getting in was quick and efficient. You get a wrist wrap that activates the interactive exhibits and you start by making a profile on one of the kiosks by entering your information and preferences. Once inside you have the choice of watching the video presentation on Laugh-In or The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The theater has screens that surround you and provide a very interesting experience. Outside of the theater are a bunch of exhibits, including costumes, the Tonight Show Curtain and other comedy artifacts. As you move through the Center there are numerous interactive exhibits that show clips of Comedians, TV shows and other pieces of comedy. The Center is set up to be more interactive the further you go with one of the highlights being the huge video wall that allows you to trace the connections between comedy stars. Plenty of individual interactive exhibits and also a good number of group experiences. Especially interesting is the Blue Room which features more adult and challenging humor, of course adults only. There are features on Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Roasts, and a wall of different windows and doors hiding various blue materials. I spent about 5 hours going through the Center and could have spent a lot more time. There is plenty to see and experience here. A lot of fun, a great way to get more knowledge of comedy or to reexperience older comedy. If you are a comedy fan this is a must visit if you are in the area. I will say that the Center leans fairly heavily on Stand-Up, improv and Late Night Comedy but it is well worth your time.

This is quite a showplace for comedy. There are short TV clips and videos of stage performances. There are also videos of comedians talking about other comedians, many of whom are now deceased, but were as inspiration to the comedian making the video. Luckily there are chairs, benches and stools throughout the exhibits which are necessary as it takes 3 or more hours to look and listen to everything. Some exhibits are interactive. After signing in with your wristband you can add items to your profile, including some skits from the "Blue" room. (These are the jokes with the off-color remarks and words generally not considered acceptable in public). The Comedy Center is well put together and educational/informative.

Never met a museum we didn't like and the National Comedy Center delivers! The interactive part of the museum is 5* alone! Make sure you make a reservation. The museum is busy, the city is busy, and there is also The Lucy Museum. Jamestown is her birth town. How Jamestown is the home to two stellar museums must be a great story. Allow some time. We stayed for four hours in the midst of our trip, and we could have taken an entire day. They do have two-day passes that can be purchased. Excellent all-around!!

The National Comedy Center is in Jamestown, the birthplace of Lucille Ball. It is a very interactive museum that takes full use of modern technologies. At the entrance you get a wristband. That is your login at many stations. It activates screens and more. You walk through the history of comedy. Late night shows with a lot of Johnny Carson, cartoons, TV comedies, film for example. With an elevator you can go down to the Blue Room with a lot about roasts and off color language. There are many places to sit, enjoy highlights of shows, comedians talking about other comedians. I think my favorite was the first theater with Johnny Carson highlights. The center is according to US News "25 top family weekend getaways in the US". I totally agree. It was a lot of fun.

Great experience, loved our visit. Highly recommend, you won't walk away without reliving some wonderful memories and great laughs.

It is hard to say more than has already been said in previous reviews about this incredible museum.  Highly interactive, the wristbands help cater to each individual and their likes and preferences.  A wide variety of comedy genres from TV, to movies, to cartoons, to stand up they have a little bit of everything and something for everyone.  I definitely recommend a visit here. Hopefully that is enough to pique your interest, so onto some pragmatics.: They had a free coat check which was nice as we visited during the colder months.   They did sell food, but it was right at the end, you could jump ahead and come back if needed.  Also it didn't appear to be a lot, mainly snacks, think cheesesticks, individual bags of chips, and maybe some premade sandwiches.   The dual ticket with the Lucy/Desi museum did allow us to use on separate days which worked better for our trip.  It would be easy enough to visit both, especially if starting at opening at 10 or 11, but could be spread out to the next day. If you like to laugh, stop on by to this great museum!

This place was amazing. Went with my family on vacation while in the Chautauqua Lake area. When we got there, we signed in at the entrance and was given an interactive wristband to wear. Even my 2 yr old stepson was given one. Then, you went to a kisok and set up a profile that would help you see different things you would enjoy at interactive stations. You picked favorite tv shows, movies, comedians, etc. It was pouring rain when we went, so my profile picture looks like I had water dumped on my head multiple times. As you walk around the museum, you see various memorabilia from different comedies and comedians from the past 100 yrs. It even has information on some comic strips and cartoons. Some of the interactive areas include create memes, copying different poses comedians have done, trivia, games to play against others, creating scenes from movies and a mini comedy club where you can perform a clip from your favorites. There were many other activities as well. The mini club had a few items to buy. We got drinks and some chips/pretzels. It was a slow weekday, so when the 2 yr old took the mic, he had a ball just yaking away. The bartender Tony (Anthony) even asked what his name was, and when he found out it was the same name, he understood why we kept saying it. He was like I was wondering why I kept hearing my name. He was terrific! He clapped and cheered for the 2yr old and said great job. He had no problem with the kid running around - he even played along when we told him he was a good boy too. If Tony is at the bar - you will be treated like gold! Upstairs they have a NSFW area which you could see different things and hear George Carlin jokes in their full glory. They have stations where you can watch every roast! I can't wait to go back again...even after spending hours there, I know I missed things!

What a pleasant surprise to see what an outstanding job and no expense spared in building and outfitting the National Comedy Center. Spent almost 3 hours but could have stayed longer Can't wait to return Thank you

You could spend all day here and it is an incredible gem just a hop, skip and a jump away from Buffalo, NY. This was my second time visiting the comedy center. Last time I was there, was in 2019 with my mom. This time, my boyfriend included this in my birthday surprise day. He got us the combo ticket, which included the I Love Lucy Museum up the street too. We went there first, because I knew that wasn't going to take us that long and then headed back to the National Comedy Center. I wanted to maximize our time at the comedy center. The exhibits are wonderful and so interactive. A couple of them were down, but it didn't put a damper on our experience. I really love that everyone gets a bracelet to make your experience as interactive as possible. I love that aspect and wish more museums did this. It is nice that all your memories are sent to your email that you plug in at the beginning. Check this place out! Also, make sure you spend some time in the gift shop. It is in an old train terminal and absolutely stunning. It is also great that they feature items that are made locally. We got some Schweddy Balls and they were made nearby in Beamus Point. Love that and think all gift shops in museums should source out to the local community more.

Didn't expect how great this interactive museum would be! Easily spent 3 hours laughing the whole time. Great medicine for the soul and body!!!! I would come back again!!!!! They did a great job putting this museum together!!!!

Very interactive a lot of exhibits they have lounge areas they have an example of every type of comedy you can think of all kind of comedy clips and sketches you will need a few hours to see it all 3 to 4 to comfortably walk through all exhibits

This review is for their Saturday night event series that they sponser on a weekly basis over the summer. The Riverside Series offers free entertainment and movies for everyone to enjoy. The location reminded me of Erie County version of Canal Side. This was the second stop along my evening trip with my mom to celebrate the 4th of July weekend. The entertainment before the movie was a Comedy show, with the movie after " Ground Hog Day" Staff and volunteers were on hand for their concession, beer/wine and kids event area. Overall a great evening, and if you find yourself bored and in Chautagua County near Jamestown check it out. Just be careful with parking, the lot close to the musuem I parked in wasnt well lite, and make sure to bring blankets and chairs. For further details on the Riverside Series: Check out the website: ComedyCenter.Org It was great to do something outdoors with a group of people, spaced out enough for everyones personal comfort.

Recently stopped in with a friend to see the Lucy Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center, I highly recommend the combo ticket as you save money. Museum is easy to find, parking is close, and takes about 1-2 hours to go through. Very entertaining and educational to see how comedy has changed over the years. Great exhibits, photos, and videos. It's easy to navigate between 2 floors, and honestly you can see just about everything in 2 hours, not a long day, so highly recommend if you're in the Jamestown area.

The national comedy center represents Lucille Ball's great dream to have a museum devoted to all types of comedy. Located in her hometown of Jamestown, NY the museum operates on a timed entry with "laugh safe" technology to insure sanitization during Co-Vid 19. After temperature checks and paid admission you are given a small kit that includes mini headphones, a wrist band with an RFID chip, and a stylus to use on your experience. You first go to a computer kiosk where you can personalize your visit to suit your comedy tastes. From there, once you enter the main museum, each scan of your wristband will bring back comedians or styles of comedy related to your selections. There are many interactive exhibits on hand and friendly staff located throughout to help you with each section. From outfits and costumes on display from well notables such as Phyllis Diller, Jonathan Winters and Carol Burnett to props including Charlie Chaplin's cane and "the fickle finger of fate" from Rowan and Martin's laugh in, you will find a good selection representing the different eras of comedy. The museum's newest acquisition is the original "Fozzie bear" puppet from the Muppets. Next year they hope to unveil the Carl Reiner archives in memory of the great comedy legend who passed away last year. During your visit you can take a virtual tour of late night TVs sets through a camera lens, see clips of late night shows, read scripts of comedy routines and then compare them to the actual rendition, learn about props, learn the history of comedy, and watch how different comedians with different style comedy branched off into other comedians following their same lead. Don't expect to find every sitcom or comedian here. Many of the shows you might associate as being popular are sadly missing such as the "Beverly Hillbillies,"" the Brady bunch", and "Happy days" to name a few. That is also true of some of the comedians. In addition to TV the museum branches out to movie comedy as well as cartooning where you can try your hand at sketching your very own character and seeing some of the great comic strips and cartoon characters of TV fame surround you. An artist desk is on display to show where characters are drawn. Sit down in their couch potato sofas to watch excerpts of some of your favorite TV shows. Most of the exhibits are on the first floor with the except of the "blue room" which is downstairs via elevator. There you will find more adult oriented comedy. Spend as little time or as long as you want. There is so much to read and so much to entertain yourself with. The different comedy awards are looked at including Kennedy Center honors. The final section where you get to play a role either in a comedy sketch or picture is currently closed due the pandemic. The museum empties out into their gift shop where you can retrieve your coat if you hung it on a coat rack near the entrance. They even put plastic bags over the coats to help slow the spread of CoVid. That is where you can return you laugh safe kit or take it with you if you wish to return to finish the museum later on in the day. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for your visit here. They have their own free parking lot a couple of blocks west of the museum. If you are new to the area then you can buy a combo ticket which will include both this museum and the Lucy Desi museum a few blocks down.

Definitely plan on at least 2 hours or more when visiting to get the full experience. We had a great time visit the comedy center. Very well laid out and fun to see all of your favorite comedians from all generations! We could have spent all day there with all of the things they have to watch, read, and participate in. The wrist bands are a great touch so you can personalize your experience as well.

Let me get this out of the way; there's plenty of free parking in the area, you just have to work a little bit. We have become too entitled. Phew. Off my soapbox. The NCC was incredible. As you enter, the first room was all about Johnny Carson. 36 minutes of the Tonight Show. I forgot how funny he & his guests could be. From there it just got better & better. To be clear; this is a museum of comedy. It is filled with incredible displays of props, sets, costumes, scripts, recordings... My wife and I spent 5 hours soaking it all in. The Blue Room was in your face, but there's no way to tiptoe around the content. It is profane from the second you enter. It's unfortunate that Redd Foxx and Lenny Bruce only exist in the Blue Room. Today's comics are standing on their shoulders. But, from the Rusty Warren & Richard Pryor features, to the "roasts", I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe at times. My only criticism? I don't remember seeing anything about Jackie Gleason. Perhaps I overlooked him, there was so much to take in. There is occasional live entertainment, but this place exists as an archive of comedy. And a darn fine archive. I can't wait to return.

What a fun day at the National Comedy Center! When you buy your tickets, you are given the option to pay $5 more to get into the Lucy & Desi museum which is located a couple of blocks away. I vote, Do it! You are given ear buds, a stylus pen (to use the touch screens in place of using our dirty little fingers) and a wrist band. Your experience first begins by scanning your wrist band into a kiosk and creating a personal profile of your taste in comedy. This profile is used to personalize your experience. Once they know what you like, the computer can show you videos and skits that matches your profile. The comedy center is broken up into section: Comic strip, cartoons, stand-up, late night, television shows, movies and more. All of the attractions are located on one floor except for the adult comedy section. The racy, foul mouth, inappropriate section is located in the basement. It is called the blue room. I would not take your children down there unless you want them to lose their innocents. lol. I was really impressed with this museum and highly recommend a visit. I would suggest doing an overnight as you want to enjoy other things in the area, such as Panama Rocks. (Highly recommend this trail) I would expect your visit at the National Comedy Center to last 3-4 hours. No rush, laughter is good for the soul. Enjoy, have fun and of course laugh, laugh, laugh.

The comedy center was amazing! We had such a great time here and all the interactive exhibits and experiences were super fun! My expectations were blown away and I wish we had planned more time to be here! Highly recommend a visit to Jamestown and the comedy center with plenty of time to experience all of the museum and check out The Lucille Ball home exhibit as well!

It's rare to get a 5 star review out of me, but for The National Comedy Center, it's overwhelmingly deserved. This is one of the greatest museums I have ever been to on all fronts. The exhibits and artifacts are both informative and impressive. The programming and respect for all mediums of comedic entertainment are perfectly balanced. The museum experience is personalized to every guest that visits, with a really impressive electronic wristband system that can be used at several of the exhibits. There's something for everyone here, although I think the experience is best for those 13 and up. The museum does a great job of differentiating between what's appropriate for kids and adults, with a special "Blue Room" in the basement for offensive humor. I don't want to spoil too much of what's here because it really should be experienced for oneself. Make the effort to get to Jamestown and check out The National Comedy Center.

So. Much. Fun. If you've been thinking of visiting or if you haven't even heard of it, go. Just go! As soon as it opens back up post coronavirus put it on your list and go. We visited shortly before things started shutting down and had a great time. I would recommend buying the combo ticket for the Lucy Desi museum and seeing both. This is an interactive museum and you can make as much or as little of it as you want. To start you are given a bracelet and directed to a touch screen where you input your favorite comedians, TV shows, movies, etc. This is all to determine what type of comedy you like and help you discover new comedy along the way. You'll tap your bracelets at different exhibits to collect more information. Don't miss the intro with Jim Gaffigan, they will tell you when the next show is and I highly recommend you make your way back to see it. The museum is packed with memorabilia and interactive exhibits. From Late Night to stand up, to cartoon strips to musical comedy there is something for everyone. We drew our own cartoons, challenged each other to not laugh, imitated famous funny faces and attempted to make memes (will yours go viral?). We did parts of the museum together and separated as well. At the end they analyze your sense of humor based on what you liked during your visit. It's pretty cool. It all ends with an area where you can try performing stand up complete with a large bar. I didn't have the courage even though we were the only ones there besides the bartender. Maybe next time! For those over 18, don't miss the blue room. The best way to describe it is George Carlin's "7 Words You Can't Say on TV." You have to take an elevator to see it, presumably to keep kiddos from wandering in.

I have to say this is my favorite museum ever! Why? Because it is so interactive ! You can have a different experience every time you go. You create a profile by choosing your favorite comedians, movies, tv shows, etc. Then just scan your wrist band at the exhibit and you are on your way to an afternoon of laughs. My favorite parts were the prop room (where you can see which props were used in your favorite comedy scenes) the blue room (off color and controversial comedy located downstairs) and the exhibit where you can star in your own famous comedy scene. (The first time I went, I did the famous SNL sweaty balls scene, it was hilarious! ) When you leave, they analyze your style of humor and print out a "joke to go" ticket. Memorial Day weekend, we got to take advantage of 25% off the gift shop! If you need a day of laughs and fun, the comedy museum is the perfect place to go!

Highly recommended! Classy, trashy, flashy, goofy, funny, informative, fun, interactive, and a great time. I don't want to give too many spoilers, but I can't vrecommend it enough (especially if you're a Carlin fan) and/or interested in history. My fav area was the blue room ;) Give yourself a few hours to check it out! Take your time to fill out your profile before you start so it tailors your interactive experience to your taste! Use your proper email so it sends you your profile and pics from your experience.

We really enjoyed this museum. You choose your favorites and as you walk through you can see a clip from your favorite show or comedians. We could have spent all day here there is a lot to take in. This was so fun and would be great for a day trip. Only about 2 hrs away. The gift shop has some interesting things to buy or even grab a quick snack and drink. This is such a great find for such a small lil town

We were very impressed with the facility . It is very clean and fun to tour. They have much to see and do and is well worth visiting.

I was in Jamestown really to see a youth hockey tournament across the street, but had some time to kill and thought I'd stop in. WOW! Wish I had more time to spend. Even though it was a (very) cold day in February the place had plenty of visitors. Loved that you can personalize the experience by using your admission bracelet to select the comedians, Tv shows, movies, etc... that you love (modern and back to the 1920's). Throughout the center you can use your bracelet to tap in and let that "experience" know who you like. Shows clips from TV shows and movies you'd like. The main floor has more family friendly exhibits, while using the elevator to the upper floor takes you to the "blue room" where you immediately know you are in another place. Will definitely be returning to spend more time. Never got to try my hand at stand up, or create a meme. Tons of opportunities to create in this unique comedy center. (And they have Seinfeld's "puffy shirt"!)

I have been anxiously waiting for the opening of this attraction since I saw the groundbreaking a few years back. Completely worth the wait, and the hype. As soon as you walk in you are greeted not only by friendly staff who are ready to help you customize your comedy experience, but you are also greeted by a video recording of comedian Lewis Black. Pro tip: make sure you take the extra time to fully customize your profile which is synced up to your wrist band, this will give you a fully customized experience at each exhibit according to your taste in comedy. Start your journey off at the hologram theatre. Yes, a hologram theatre. Here you will be greeted by a hologram of a comedian as they welcome you to the center and take you through their career. After you finish, make your way through each exhibit. At each exhibit once you scan your wrist band you will have a fully customizable experience . These exhibits include history of late night television, the stand up cafe, tv room, comedy karaoke, act the part and much much more! There was sooo much to explore and do, I can't wait to come back again. Pro tip: Get there early and walk half the exhibit. Take a lunch break at one of the near by restaurants, then come back and finish the experience. The entire center took us about 6 hours to walk through and we were exhausted at the end! Pro tip: leave the kids at home. The blue room, explores taboo topics, language and sexuality and is not an exhibit to miss. Definitely not suitable for the young ones. In fact as soon as you enter you are greeted by an F-bomb. Pro tip: parking free on the weekends in Jamestown

If you ever wanted to know anything about the world of comedy, this place is the master course. You start by getting a wristband that is registered to you and your base comedy preferences. As you go through the interactive exhibits, you tap your wristband to interact and the information regarding your comedy preferences is built up as you go. At the end of your visit you get a comedy profile unique to you. Also there are plenty of artifacts from the legends of comedy and the center is chock full of info and stories and insights into the world of comedy. If you go through and do and read everything this could easily be an all day visit.

Slam dunk. Though just one year old this place has already earned a reputation as a must see for fans of comedy. It is a 2.5 hour drive from Rochester but it was worth the trip. We brought out of town guests here because we wanted to see this place after seeing the reviews and hearing friends' glowing reviews. We all walked away impressed and laughing. There is so much to watch and do I would allot 3-5 hours for sure. The staff is very friendly and helpful (it is packed with new technology and some is buggier than others). The displays are creative and super interactive. If you can I would recommend going on a weekday and I am guessing that other than summer you will have less crowds to deal with. Two downsides are: the parking - not obvious and the AC - it was freezing inside. Yes it was a hot summer day but we were ready to go back to our car for sweaters... oh wait our car was parked 6 blocks away!

Creative, sophisticated museum filled with videos, interactives, sayings and artifacts from the funniest people who have/are entertaining the world. The designers have created a visual sensation with imaginative exhibits, a small version of the just-closed-in NYC-Caroline's comedy club, the actual tray tables/chairs that Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks used to watch movies, stand-up routines galore, a Blue Room for edgier acts with a focus on the failings and censorship of Lenny Bruce and others, fabulous artifacts and much footage of comics doing their "first Carson." You need two days to see all of this. Located in a former train station with glorious ceilings, plus a large attached building that once housed a trolley repair shop. The excellent Lucy and Desi museum (Jamestown was Lucy's hometown) is just 3 blocks away and is affiliated with the comedy center. Put this on your list ASAP! A stunning gem in an interesting city (try beef on'weck and lingonberry juice) and tour the home of Judge Robert Jackson, who helped save the world by presiding over the Nazi war trials. Also very near the Chautauqua Institute and its (summer) cultural offerings. Free parking 1 block away. Only 90 minutes from Buffalo airport. Worth every mile!!

One of the best tourist attractions I have ever been to, anywhere! There is a reason the reviews are so glowing. I truly have nothing negative to say. It is very easy to spend 3 hours here, pouring over the countless exhibits (cartoons, stand up, television, movies, internet) and watching varied clips from comics old and new. No matter your comedy style, there will be something here that makes you laugh. Which brings me to the best thing about this place: the personalized experience. At the very beginning, you are given a wrist band with a chip that you can scan at exhibits and select the comics, actors, shows, movies that you like. Even as you continue through, there are opportunities to add personalization to further customize your experience. The personalization ultimately leads to clips selected just for you at various exhibits. I laughed too many times to count. While all exhibits are extremely informative, there are a couple where the technology really stands out and makes for an incredibly unique and fun experience. I won't say anymore - just go and try for yourself! You'll have a great time.

I drove down to the National Comedy Center yesterday with a friend. It was about an hour and a half drive from where I live but it was so worth it!!! We parked in a large lot across from the facility. Upon entry, walk to the right and the cashier will give you a badge that you can clip to your shirt. It has a bracelet attached to it and ear phones in a small case. He'll fill you in on the use of those things. Then you'll go to a large display. After tapping my bracelet on the screen, I took a selfie to set up my profile and then chose what comedians and shows I like. As you walk around the museum and tap your bracelet on certain things, it'll create an interactive experience for you based on your likes and dislikes. There were employees walking around sanitizing and wiping things that were touched or sat on. I loved almost every exhibit. My favorite part was the George Carlin display, that was near the front. It was very informative. I liked the Smothers Brothers display, which was just before the George Carlin area. There was a Lenny Bruce area too. I had never heard of him before. He was a comic who used profanity and innuendos, when it wasn't allowed yet and was arrested for that. As you're leaving, before taking off your badge, you can scan your badge for a personalized joke. Once you drop off that badge into a clear box, you'll be taken right into the huge and awesome gift shop. I bought many cool things. I took many pictures here and thoroughly loved my time here. You should definitely take the trip down here.

Really great experience! I highly recommend it on a rainy day where you have no other plans so you can take your time and take in as much as possible. Awesome local addition. My mom came all the way from nj to see it and she already wants to again. Make sure you support the gift shop. Awesome place with hard to find comedy stuff.

Thought there would be more live entertainment?? I am not entertained by a lot of reading and displays.

Funny, interesting, and well worth the trip! With the changing exhibits it's always updated and changing

Run, don't walk to this National Comedy Center - and bring everyone you care about. This is the BEST most organized, & personalized experience I've ever had! Lots of laughs and remembrances- plus it has interactive displays everywhere. Wow! 3 hours flew by. Combine this w/the Lucy/Desi museum for a once in a lifetime fun time to remember! ~ you're welcome!

Do not plan on actually food. Mediocre subs and chips with booze available. Disappointing.

I'll be honest......I'm a little confused as to why the National Comedy Center is located in Jamestown, NY being pretty out of the way from pretty much anything, but i was thrilled to make the drive on Friday and finally visit this place. With no real convenient parking situation other then $8 valet parking out front, I ended up parking in a garage that was only a short walk to the museum. Admission is $25 which might seem steep for a museum but I do believe this is the type of place that you really do get your monies worth. You get a wrist band when you enter and that wrist band customizes the entire museum experience for you. You'll set a photo and even list some of your favourite comedians, movies, television shows, and stand up specials and you'll edit this throughout your walkthrough. From the very start you are presented with so much history, videos, and interactive pieces that a 3-4 hour walkthrough feels like minutes. I'm not going to get into deep detail about the exhibits because I feel that kind of spoils the fun for others. Each room features different things and takes you through different stages of comedic history. You can even give standup a go towards the end of the museum and garner some laughs yourself. Overall, the National Comedy Center is hands down my favourite museum in Western New York. Re-visiting comedy history with the the all-time greats really put a smile on my face and I'll absolutely be back in the future (hopefully for a show)!

Such a cool place to spend a few hours if the day, so much history at the comedy center

We went here for an afternoon, and as it turned out, we needed a lot more time than we thought. We spent a solid four hours and didn't even see half of the museum, and needed to leave as it was closing time. I was so impressed with how smoothly they transitioned to a COVID-appropriate environment. When we arrived for our time slot, we were given a little package with headphones, a wrist band, and a stylus to use in the exhibits. We checked in at kiosks to create our profiles and answer a questionnaire about what we find funny. This helped customize the exhibits to our personal tastes, which was awesome. When we stopped into the mini stand up lounge and scanned our bracelets, it brought up a stand up routine by Jen Kirkman. Impressed! The exhibits were also spaced out appropriately, keeping people socially distanced in the exhibits. There was hand sanitizer available, and disposable gloves provided for exhibits that required handling. The exhibits were so interactive and informative, as well as -- of course -- hilarious. My ONE sadness was that, as a British comedy fan, British comedy was not at all represented. But it's the _National_ Comedy Center, so I get it. We'll definitely be back to view the rest of the museum soon!

Great museum. Interactive exhibits unlike anything Ive ever seen before. Plan on a few hrs to visit. You wont realize the time because its so entertaining.

The National Comedy Center is hands down one of the most advanced and interactive museums I've been to, and I would have never expected anything of the sort... in Jamestown of all places! It's well priced, evolving, and adaptive towards your comic interests via your profile bracelet. The venue is quite large, and for about $20 you can have the ability to explore comedy in various clips, memorabilia, scripts, virtual standup and so much more! I really don't want to spoil too much of what I saw but I'm very much dying to go back!

What a treat, this newly opened comedy center is! I sadly missed the opening week, when some of the best icons in comedy performed: Amy Schumer!, Dan Aykroyd!, Lily Tomlin! - amazing. Jamestown is a charming town in upstate NY that is experiencing a rebirth of sorts. This comedy center, and new local breweries/restaurants and renovated hotels are sure to entice people in the coming months. The building itelf is gorgeous, sparkling & new, with a huge outdoor patio and brightly colored tables & chairs. Part of the building is in an old train station, they utilize some of the wood seating in areas, and you can even look out the windows onto the tracks, where people used to board. Had I planned a longer visit, I'd have totally gotten some snacks from the gift shop & lounged outside. The experience here is very interactive, right from the purchase of your ticket. A friendly face gets you set up with a wristband that is loaded with ever-updating data. 5 steps away are kiosks where you can take your picture or pick an avatar, enter your name, & start personalizing your profile with the kinds of tv, movie, & internet comedy that you like. As you go thru the museum, you swipe your wristband to personalize what you see, & are able to update your info even more. The exhibits were SO COOL. Costumes & props from everyone from Joan Rivers to George Carlin to Jerry Seinfeld! Sketches from cartoons! My favorites: the original Saturday Night Live cast (Gilda Radner, John Belushi!), Lucille Ball, South Park, Ren & Stimpy, Grumpy Cat, Ali Wong, Seinfeld, Sam Kinison, and so many more were represented. Super interesting was video clips of comedians discussing the evolution of subjects addressed in comedy, and the first comics who dared to push boundaries. This was in the "Blue Room" - where 4-letter words are plenty, and imo the comedy is HILARIOUS. There were so many interactive areas that stood out: the couches where clips from Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, South Park clips played, the stand-up lounge where you could sit at club-style tables that give you the option of comedians to watch, the hologram theater where it feels like the comedian is onstage in front of you, the screens where you can watch funny internet videos, the podium where brave people could actually perform themselves. And probably my fave - the George Carlin area, where you could see his detailed notes, daily schedules, video clips, and clothing. This is the first month of their opening, but it was already pretty busy on the weekday I was there. It's definitely worth a return visit, plan to spend more time here! Don't pass up the gift shop either - there are plenty of really fun gifty things to look at, as well as snacks and drinks!

Literally, the most comprehensive, technological advanced and funny museum I have ever been too. Staying in Buffalo I made the easy 90 minute trip to Jamestown. Walking into the museum you get a bracelet which allows you to build a comic profile. First up, the Jerry Seinfeld ("but I don't want to be a pirate!") Puffy Shirt, Lucy's polka dot dress and Archie Bunker's jacket. Then a tribute to stand-up comics and late-night TV. I went to an 11:00 am showing in the theatre where a hologram of Jim Gaffigan showed how his act has changed over the years. Then a celebration of the written word as you compare TV scripts to videos of the final page. Feeling creative, the tribute to comic strips lets you build your own. Then sit in a mock living room and watch sitcom clips based on your comic profile. Then a movie theatre with clips based on your tastes (or the tastes of a consensus of the room). The room knew I wanted to see ""Putting on the Ritz" from "Young Frankenstein." If you ever wanted to explore the history of banana peels or arrow-thru-the-head jokes, there's a prop room with an interactive table. Place a prop on the table and explore its comic history. And a huge wall allowing you to explore comic influences. How Tina Fey was influenced by Mary Tyler Moore and on and on. Then I got to put myself in a scene, stomping grapes with Lucille Ball with a photo emailed to me. I wasn't up for comic karaoke but the opportunity is there - in a club like setting. Taking the elevator to the first floor gets you the "blue room" where you are confronted with George Carlin's "seven dirty words" and some serious, scholarly analysis of how comics cross the line - and how the line keeps shifting. Redd Fox, Moms Mabley, Sarah Silverstein, Andrew Dice Clay . . . The technology worked brilliantly. The museum was comprehensive - 2 1/2 hours later I came away wanting to go to comedy clubs and read more about Lenny Bruce, and watch episodes of "Taxi," and . . . laugh.

Jamestown, New York is located in lovely Western New York and now is home to comedy - thanks to the National Comedy Center. We have visited this attraction TWICE in the past month- that is how much we love it! Why? Interactive. Engaging. Great for most age groups. Super informative. Plus you LAUGH your way through the exhibits! What other "museum" provides laughter as the background "music" to your experience! While in the area - also make time to stop at the I LOVE LUCY museum - just a short distance from the National Comedy Center!

Nice place to visit. Lots of interactive displays. Very cool to see the multiple static displays from Ghostbusters, Seinfeld, Nutty Professor among others. Parking is available but it's a few blocks away. The admission price I felt was a little too expensive. If the museum was twice the size the admission price would then be reasonable.

Great atmosphere good times with family and friends,.would recommend on a weekday I'm the summer

The best interactive museum I have ever been to - bar none! For fans of comedy get to Jamestown and enjoy several hours of state-of-the-art exhibits - all customized to your comedy styles. Even in Covid19, the museum is every bit as interactive as it was before. It has internalized the social distancing guidelines so that they seem inherent to the experience - not at all restrictive.

So... I think the idea was there for the comedy center. However, it's like a one and done thing. You go just to see what it's like then after, you're likely not to go again. For millennials and Gen Z, this museum doesn't include some of the content from comedians like Kat Williams, Dane Cook, Dave Chappelle etc etc. So for me personally and in my opinion, it's kinda missed the mark in that area. But if you haven't visited I do suggest you give it a go.