Make ’Em Laugh: 35 Years of the Comic Strip, the Greatest Comedy Club of All Time!

After a short summary of events that led to finding a Manhattan location and opening the Comic Strip in the mid-1970s, more than 30 interviews amplify and fill in gaps on the club’s 35-year history. Noticeably short of funny ladies, the impressive lineup of interview subjects kicks off with Jerry Seinfeld reminiscing about the exhilaration of passing the club’s audition: “It certainly was the last time I auditioned as a comedian for anything. Once you became established here you were golden.... This club really took care of us.” For Chris Rock “it was a magical place.” Susie Essman recalls, “Now in those days all I did was characters. It took me a long time until I spoke in my own voice.” Others interviewed include Lewis Black, Jim Breuer, Billy Crystal, Judah Friedlander, Gilbert Gottfried, Lisa Lampanelli, Colin Quinn, Paul Reiser, Ray Romano, and Jeffrey Ross. Historians will find much valuable documentation on the inner workings of comedy clubs and the creation of standup routines, but some readers might wonder why they find few jokes. Agent: Paul Fedorko and J.L. Stermer, N.S. Bienstock, Inc. (Oct. 1)