The Improv facts for kids

The Improv club in Los Angeles on Melrose Avenue

The Improv club in Irvine, California

The Improv is a famous place where people go to watch live comedy shows. It started as one small club in New York City in 1963. Later, in the late 1970s, it grew into many clubs across the country.

The Improv's Story

How It All Started

The very first Improv opened on April 20, 1963, in New York City. It was a small place with only 50 seats. A man named Budd Friedman and his future wife, Silver, started it.

At first, The Improv was a coffee house where actors from Broadway shows could relax after work. They had an open mic where people could sing or play music without planning it.

From Music to Comedy

In 1964, the first comedian, Dave Astor, performed there. Slowly, more and more comedians started using The Improv to try out new jokes. People who looked for new talent for TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson began visiting the club often.

By the 1970s, The Improv became mostly a place for stand-up comedy.

Growing Across the Country

In 1974, a second Improv club opened in Los Angeles, California. In 1979, Mark Lonow joined Budd Friedman, and they helped the single club become a successful chain.

In 1982, the Los Angeles Improv became famous for the TV show An Evening at the Improv. This show ran from 1982 to 1996 and featured many comedians. Over the years, more Improv locations opened in places like Tampa, Florida and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In 2014, Budd Friedman sold the Improv chain to a company called Levity Entertainment Group, which is now known as Levity Live.

Famous Performers at The Improv

Comedy Stars Who Started Here

The Improv was a key place to see many famous comedians when they were just beginning their careers. Imagine seeing future stars like Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, and Jay Leno on stage!

Even Dustin Hoffman, a famous actor, played the piano there. In the late 1970s, you might have seen comedians like Robin Williams and Larry David performing. Often, very famous comedians would drop by to practice their jokes before appearing on The Tonight Show.

Many Big Names in Comedy

Almost every big name in comedy has performed at The Improv. This includes stars like George Carlin, Billy Crystal, Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Seinfeld, Drew Carey, Bill Maher, and Steve Martin.

Some comedians even performed there when they were very young. Eddie Murphy performed at the Los Angeles Improv when he was only 15 years old! Jim Carrey performed there when he was 19.

Other Famous People Who Worked Here

Before they became famous, some well-known actors and musicians worked at The Improv. For example, Karen Black, Debra Winger, and Barry Manilow worked there as waiters, waitresses, hosts, or musicians.

New and rising comedians still perform at The Improv clubs today.

Improv Locations

Current Locations

Here are some of the Improv locations open as of May 2020:

Former Locations

Here are some places where The Improv used to have clubs:

See also

In Spanish: The Improv para niños

• List of New York Improv comedians
• Traffic School by Improv