Lucy Y.
Yelp
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!