Zanies Comedy Club facts for kids
Zanies Comedy Club is a famous place where people go to watch stand-up comedy shows. It first opened in Chicago, Illinois, in November 1978. Since then, Zanies has grown and opened three more locations. These are in Nashville, Tennessee, and in St. Charles and Rosemont, Illinois.
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Who Started Zanies?
Rick Uchwat was the person who founded Zanies Comedy Club. He was born in Austria in 1947. When he was four years old, he came to Chicago with his family. They arrived through refugee camps and Ellis Island, a famous entry point for immigrants.
Rick attended DePaul University for a short time. Later, he joined the United States Marines. In 1968, he served in Vietnam. Rick Uchwat married Barbara Monahan in 1977. He passed away on May 12, 2011, at the age of 64.
Zanies' Story
Zanies Comedy Club has a rich history of making people laugh. Famous comedian Jay Leno once called Zanies "the perfect comedy club." He said playing there in the 1970s was like playing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, a famous music venue.
By 1985, Zanies was known as one of the top comedy clubs in Chicago. Comedy shows became very popular during those years. In 1998, Zanies was proud to host the Chicago Comedy Festival.
In July 2012, a new Zanies location opened in Rosemont, Illinois. The club celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008. Later, in August 2014, Zanies Comedy Club held a special tribute show for the beloved comedian Robin Williams.
Today, Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago continues to be a popular spot. It celebrates its 40th Anniversary and brings in famous comedians every night of the week.
Famous Comedians at Zanies
Many well-known comedians started or performed at Zanies Comedy Club. The club helped shape the careers of many funny people. Some of these include:
- Jay Leno
- Lewis Black
- Annie Rauwerda
- Emo Philips
- Richard Lewis
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Frank Caliendo
- Kathy Griffin
- Larry Reeb
- John Caponera
- Hal Sparks
- Bobby Slayton
- Roseanne Barr
Other famous performers who have graced the Zanies stage include:
- Sebastian Maniscalco
- Colin Jost
- Tiffany Haddish
- Kevin Hart
- Hannibal Buress
- Bill Burr
- Jimmy Fallon
- Jimmy Pardo
- John Mulaney
- Sarah Silverman
- Aziz Ansari
- Tim Allen
- Jeff Garlin
- Jim Gaffigan
- Chelsea Handler
- David Cross
- Chris Rock
- Dave Chappelle
- Daniel Tosh
- Gilbert Gottfried
- Kyle Kinane
- Erik Griffin
- Big Jay Oakerson
- Pat McGann
- Mark Normand
- Jared Freid
- Andrew Schulz
- Jermaine Fowler
- David Koechner
- Maz Jobrani
- Vir Das
- Ronny Chieng
- Al Madrigal
- Marc Maron
- Tony Hinchcliffe
- Dave Attell
Zanies Locations
Zanies has four main locations. Three of these clubs are in Illinois. The clubs are usually open every night. Most locations require guests to be 21 years or older to attend. However, the Nashville club has a younger age limit of 18 years old.
- Chicago, Illinois, opened in 1978
- St. Charles, Illinois, opened in 1989 and can seat 250 people
- Rosemont, Illinois, opened in 2012 and can seat 250 people
- Nashville, Tennessee, opened in 1983 and can seat about 300 people
Zanies Nashville was even named a Comedy Central Certified Club in 2013.
Past Locations
Zanies has had other locations that are now closed.
- Vernon Hills, Illinois, closed in 2011.
- The St. Charles location closed on November 30, 2019.
- A Mount Prospect location at 2200 Elmhurst Road closed in 1998. Before it closed, Jay Leno hosted two free shows there on February 14, 1992.
