By Judy Shuler
Jet to the coast to interview a comedy legend for an upcoming exhibit. Respond to an email from a small-town reporter while still on the plane. Return home to an equally hectic, unpredictable work schedule. Answer emails long after most people have called it a day. Board another jet to another destination. Multitasking required.
For Gary Hahn, Vice-President of Marketing and Communications for the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, a peripatetic life has raised the profile of what was named Best New Museum in the Country by USA Today and one of its World’s Greatest Places by Time Magazine.
Marketing awards keep coming for the Comedy Center. It just received the New York State Excellence Award for their 2021 public relations campaign, which included coverage of acquisition of Carl Reiner archives on the Today Show in March; CBS Saturday Morning spotlight on the Comedy Center with its 70th anniversary celebration of I Love Lucy in October; and a feature segment on Lucy and Desi on CBS Sunday Morning–highest rated network morning show in the country–in December.
“Each of these stories shined a national spotlight on the National Comedy Center, Jamestown and Chautauqua County as wonderful destinations to visit,” Hahn says.
And they recently won four Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television across all screens, winning in every category they submitted. Hahn’s love of classic television began at five or six years of age. “I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Carol Burnett Show were all a vital part of my ‘education’.”
He made his first pilgrimage to Jamestown and the Lucy Desi Museum with his family 15 years ago “because I wanted to see Lucy’s hometown–well before I knew that I would be living and working here.”
“I’m also a very big comedy fan–from stand-up to sketch and improv to classic television, so I could not resist the opportunity to help build the National Comedy Center’s brand and bring visitors from around the country to Jamestown.”
Prior to joining the Comedy Center in 2018, Hahn served as vice president, chief marketing officer for Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis, TN. There he oversaw re-branding for the $137 million expansion of Graceland in 2016-2017 and marketing and production of major events.
With Graceland the number one tourism destination in Memphis and one of the top three attractions in Tennessee, “I learned a tremendous amount on how drive attendance for a national-scale attraction and how to build an audience with cost-effective marketing and public relations initiatives.”
His first jobs were at major advertising agencies in Los Angeles and New York, followed by five years at Warner Bros. Television and nine years at XM Satellite Radio in Washington, D.C. Just over a year after coming to the Comedy Center, Hahn faced a whole new challenge.
He was instrumental in navigating the National Comedy Center through the COVID era, finding new and innovative ways to stay connected to comedy fans across the county as the team transformed one of the most interactive museums in the world into a safe, touch-free and worry-free visitor experience through its award-winning LaughSafe health and safety program.
Hahn says it was modeled after programs developed by Hilton Hotels and United Airlines, which partnered with medical institutions.
“We were very pleased to partner with UMPC, including health and safety protocol reviews with UMPC epidemiologists and an on-site inspection with local UPMC Chautauqua professionals.”
Post-visit research confirms “99% of National Comedy Center guests feel comfortable and safe during their visit, and report that their museum experience had been worry-free, stress-free and touch-free,” he says.
During the early days of the pandemic, Hahn was also a key member of the team that launched the Comedy Center’s new online platform National Comedy Center Anywhere (anywhere.comedycenter.org), and reimagined its annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival as a virtual experience featuring comedy conversations with over 30 major artists.
Anticipating a big summer, staff are preparing two new multimedia exhibits. One, marking the centennial of Carl Reiner, opens in late July. Another, opening in late June, marks the 60th anniversary year of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show and the 30th anniversary year of his final show.
Their Lucille Ball Comedy Festival takes place August 3-7, live and in person for the first time in three years. Featured comedians are Margaret Cho and Jeff Foxworthy, along with SNL legends David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin Nealon and 50 live events.
Local residents–you perhaps? –have a tendency not to visit local attractions, Hahn acknowledges.
“But they are really missing out. You have an incredible, award-winning national attraction in your backyard that gets rave reviews from visitors and the press. If you haven’t been yet–what are you waiting for? Just go. I promise that you will have an amazing time. It’s a day filled with laughter for the entire family.”
Advance reservations are recommended; tickets and further information are at comedycenter.org.
Chautauqua County residents can get a discounted rate for both the National Comedy Center and Lucy Desi Museum. Take proof of residency to show upon entry.