Mitzi Shore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mitzi Shore
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Shore in the 1980s
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| Born |
Lillian Saidel
July 25, 1930 Marinette, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Died | April 11, 2018 (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Comedy club owner |
| Spouse(s) |
Sammy Shore
(m. 1950; div. 1974) |
| Children | 4, including Pauly Shore |
Mitzi Shore (born Lillian Saidel; July 25, 1930 – April 11, 2018) was an important American businesswoman. She owned The Comedy Store, a famous club where many comedians got their start. Mitzi helped shape the careers of countless rising stars in comedy for decades.
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Early Life
Mitzi Shore was born Lillian Saidel in Marinette, Wisconsin, on July 25, 1930. Her parents were Fanny and Morris Saidel. She grew up near Green Bay, Wisconsin, and went to Green Bay East High School. Later, she studied art at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. However, she left college to marry Sammy Shore in 1950.
Building a Comedy Empire
Mitzi's husband, Sammy Shore, started The Comedy Store in 1972 with Rudy De Luca. When Mitzi and Sammy divorced in 1974, Mitzi took over the club completely. She got a loan from comedian Shecky Greene to keep the club running. Mitzi didn't just manage the club every day; she also found and helped new comedy talent.
Many famous comedians got their start or became well-known at The Comedy Store. These include Roseanne Barr, Jim Carrey, Chevy Chase, Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Joe Rogan, and Robin Williams.
The Comedians' Strike
For a while, Mitzi Shore did not pay the comedians who performed at her club. She believed the club was like a "college of comedy" where performers learned their skills. But in 1979, after the club grew bigger, comedians wanted to be paid for their work. Mitzi refused, which led to a six-week strike.
Comedians like Jay Leno, Tom Dreesen, and David Letterman helped lead the strike. After several months, Mitzi agreed to pay the comedians. She started paying them $15 per set. This decision at The Comedy Store helped set a new standard. Soon, comedy clubs in New York City and across the U.S. also began paying their performers.
A Stage for Everyone
In 1978, Mitzi Shore created a special section upstairs at The Comedy Store called the Belly Room. This small room had seats for 50 people. Mitzi used it to book only female comedians. At that time, it was very hard for women to get chances to perform stand-up comedy.
Mitzi continued to take chances with booking different kinds of talent. In the 1990s, she created special nights for Latino, gay, and lesbian performers. She also played a big part in giving Black American comedians a place to perform in Los Angeles. "Phat Tuesday's" became a very important event for Black comedy. It helped many of today's favorite comedians get their start.
Comedy on Screen
From 1982 until her death, Mitzi Shore owned a company called Comedy Channel Inc. This company was set up to make and sell video tapes of performances from The Comedy Store.
In 1989, HBO launched its own TV service called The Comedy Channel. Mitzi Shore believed this name was too similar to her company's name. She sued HBO for using a name that was too close to her trademark. The HBO channel later joined with another channel called Ha! to become Comedy Central.
In Pop Culture
The character Goldie in the TV show I'm Dying Up Here is partly based on Mitzi Shore.
Comedian Joe Rogan dedicated his 2018 comedy special Strange Times to Mitzi Shore after she passed away that year.
Family Life
Mitzi Shore and her husband Sammy Shore were married in 1950. They divorced in 1974. They had four children: three sons named Peter, Scott, and Pauly Shore, and a daughter named Sandi.
Later Years
Mitzi Shore passed away on April 11, 2018, at the age of 87. She died from a neurological disorder at a hospice in West Hollywood, California. She had been living with Parkinson's disease in her later years.
See also
In Spanish: Mitzi Shore para niños
