02 Apr National Comedy Center Announces Grand Opening
Visitor Experience to Open During Celebration August 1-5 in Jamestown, NY
JAMESTOWN, NY – The National Comedy Center, the first non-profit cultural institution and national-scale visitor experience dedicated to the art of comedy, announces its opening August 1-5, 2018, coinciding with the organization’s annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, in Jamestown, NY. The new 37,000 square foot, $50 million facility tells the story of comedy from its origins through the present, with more than 50 immersive, interactive exhibits.
“There has never been a national cultural institution that provides comedy the opportunity for appreciation often afforded other art forms. Culture is preserved by meaningful storytelling. What these artists have done is important, and it should be both celebrated and contextualized, drawing connections that make the past relevant to the present. Lucille Ball understood the power of comedy, and had the vision for her hometown to become a destination for its celebration in a way that would educate, foster and inspire. That’s what we’ve set out to do here,” said National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson.
In a special press briefing at the site on Friday, March 30, United States Senator Charles Schumer announced his push for a congressional designation for the Center. The new designation would officially make the National Comedy Center the nation’s cultural institution dedicated to the art of comedy, recognizing it as the only institution of its kind with the mission of preserving, protecting, and showcasing the art of comedy and its role in our culture.
”Comedy is an artform, and it’s a part of our rich cultural history in America. I am proud to stand here today, as the Comedy Center takes shape, and begin my push to officially designate this the National Comedy Center of the United States,” said Senator Schumer.
Each visitor will experience a personalized trip through the Center as exhibits respond to one’s personal comedic sensibilities via use of a wristband fitted with an RFID chip worn throughout the stay. Highlights include George Carlin’s massive personal archives that provide a glimpse into one of comedy’s most prolific minds, a hologram theater that presents performances of some of comedy’s most notable figures, and experiences that allow visitors to step into the shoes of comedic artists. Additionally, the National Comedy Center will feature rare artifacts from some of comedy’s most notable names and bodies of work.
“We are thrilled to announce the opening of this amazing project which was conceptualized and launched more than seven years ago by a group of dedicated and hard-working individuals who have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality,” said Tom Benson, project chairman. “The National Comedy Center will take guests on a journey through all aspects and eras of the art form. It is the repository that has never existed that will respectfully celebrate comedy in a fun and unique way for generations to come. We sincerely thank all of our funding partners who have provided the support to make this happen.”
Funding for the National Comedy Center was provided by state, federal and private philanthropic support. Through the support of I LOVE NY™, more than $9 million has been provided by Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State’s Empire State Development and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The Center is expected to attract more than 100,000 annual visitors and have a $23 million annual stabilized economic impact on the region.
The National Comedy Center embodies Lucille Ball’s vision for her hometown to become a destination for the celebration of the comedic arts — a vision already realized via the programming of the National Comedy Center’s dialogues, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, and its renowned Lucille Ball Comedy Festival for more than 25 years.
Past festival performers and dialogue participants have included: Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Ray Romano, Ellen DeGeneres, Bob Newhart, Jim Gaffigan, Lewis Black, Trevor Noah, W. Kamau Bell, Brian Regan, Kevin James, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Robert Klein, David Steinberg, Peter Farrelly, Martin Short, Alan Zweibel, Joy Behar, The Smothers Brothers, the creative team of David Letterman’s 33-year career, the families of Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Harold Ramis and George Carlin, and more than 100 other comedic artists.
The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum features rare memorabilia from “I Love Lucy”, props, costumes, Lucille Ball’s Emmy awards, and replica studio sets. In conjunction with the National Comedy Center, the Lucy Desi Museum is currently updating its facility and will be unveiling new exhibits in August.
Located in Jamestown, a city in Chautauqua County and Western New York, the National Comedy Center is in the region of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Toronto. For more information, visit NationalComedyCenter.org.