Comedy Store, Los Angeles

The Comedy Store is an iconic American comedy club that first opened its doors in April 1972. It's situated in the heart of West Hollywood, right on Sunset Boulevard. This renowned establishment was founded by comedians Sammy Shore and Rudy De Luca. Interestingly, the building that houses The Comedy Store has a rich history, having previously been the site of Club Seville in 1935 and later transformed into Ciro's, a popular Hollywood nightclub owned by William Wilkerson from 1940 to 1957. It even went through a rock and roll phase as Ciro's Le Disc, where The Byrds were famously discovered in 1964.

When The Comedy Store relaunched in 1972, it featured a cozy 99-seat theater. However, due to a divorce settlement, Sammy Shore's former spouse, Mitzi Shore, took over the reins of the club in 1973 and eventually acquired the building in 1976. Mitzi wasted no time in revamping and expanding the club, turning it into a sprawling venue with a 450-seat main room.

One noteworthy event that took place at The Comedy Store in 1974 was the wedding reception of the famous newlyweds Liza Minnelli and Jack Haley, Jr. For that special evening, the club's signage was cleverly covered with "Ciro's" signs, harking back to its previous identity. The guest list for this star-studded affair included numerous Hollywood luminaries, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Jr., Cher, Bob Fosse, Johnny Carson, Goldie Hawn, Cesar Romero, Priscilla Presley, and many other past and present stars.