By Darlene Brace
The National Comedy Center, located at 203 West Second in Jamestown, New York, is a one-of-a-kind museum. It is in the hometown of Lucille Ball, and it was her wish that Jamestown would become a destination for the celebration of comedy. Ball’s vision was realized when the National Comedy Center opened in August of 2018. With more than fifty interactive and immersive exhibits using today’s state-of-the-art technology, the Comedy Center is the perfect place to spend the day laughing and having fun.
After paying admission, you are given a wristband called a “LaughBand”. You create your Sense of Humor Profile at a kiosk by sharing some demographic information, your favorite comedians, comedy shows, and movies. Your Sense of Humor profile is saved to your LaughBand, which is scanned at each exhibit. This enables the interactive exhibits to be tailored to your own personalized humor style. Then it’s time to start enjoying all the center has to offer. With so many exhibits, it’s impossible to describe them all. Read on to learn about some of the highlights.
First, you’re greeted by the George and Jolene Brand Schlatter Theater. The theater runs two shows continuously: Johnny Carson: The Immersive Experience and George Schlatter’s work, including Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. Laugh-In was a popular comedy show from the late 60’s to early 70’s. Comedians such as Lily Tomlin, Ruth Buzzy, Goldie Hawn, Robin Williams and many more started on Laugh-In.
Then there’s the Comedy Continuum, which is a highly interactive exhibit. When you scan your LaughBand, a large web of comedians and artists appear on the large touchscreen. You will discover stories of collaboration and influence told through text or videos. Your web builds connections with other guests, where you can unlock further “visitor connections,” connecting your Sense of Humor profiles.
Near the Comedy Continuum, be sure to take a seat on the nearby Prank Bench. We will keep what happens there a surprise, but it sure to cause a few giggles amongst your group. If you have children with you, you will probably have to pry them away from the Prank Bench.
Create a Cartoon is an exhibit that has you create your own comic strip. You select facial and body features to create your own character and write your own punchline or use one of the provided options.
Act the Part is a where you insert yourself into iconic scenes from TV and movie comedies. Your group can join in the fun acting out the I Love Lucy chocolate wrapping scene or from others popular shows.
Comedy Karaoke is for those who want to experience what it’s like to be a stand-up comedian. First, you watch a short video clip of one of your favorite comedians, and then you perform the same bit. You read the words on the teleprompter just like in karaoke but have the added challenge of using your own pauses and expression. You’ll have a newfound appreciation for stand-up comedians.
The Blue Room is an adult-only area located by elevator down one level to a separate gallery. It showcases comedians like Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, and others who incorporated mature humor, language, and themes into their performances.
This is just a sampling of the fun you will find at the National Comedy Center. As you walk throughout the museum, you will also see there are artifacts and wardrobes of famous artists. There are larger exhibits showcasing the history and accomplishments of people such as Joan Rivers, Carl Reiner, and more.
The National Comedy Center is a local treasure with national acclaim. It’s the United States’ cultural institution telling the story of American comedy. People come from all over the world to celebrate the art form of comedy. The National Comedy Center has won several awards and accolades, including being named USA Today’s “Best New Museum” in 2020. If you’ve never been to the National Comedy Center, you should be sure to put it on your calendar of things you must do, as it’s truly an amazing experience.