The Comedy and Magic Club program offers an entertaining and unforgettable night out. This well-established venue, located in Hermosa Beach, California, has been hosting comedy and magic acts for over four decades. Each week, the club showcases a lineup of talented comedians and magicians who aim to captivate and entertain the audience with their unique and hilarious performances. From up-and-coming acts to well-known veterans in the industry, there is always a diverse range of talent to enjoy. The Comedy and Magic Club prides itself on its intimate and cozy atmosphere, making every show feel personal and engaging. With a seating capacity of around 300, the audience has the opportunity to get close to the stage and experience the magic and laughter up close.
The seating is temporarily restricted to allow the new kitchen and server staff to learn the club’s procedures, owner Mike Lacey said.
Gabriel Fluffy Iglesias right , who performed a sold out show at the Dodger Stadium last month, performs at the Comedy and Magic during its annual birthday celebration in 2004. The same Easy Reader story reports, City officials said that despite the mistake of reducing the seating Lacey must live with the smaller occupancy unless he remodels.
With a seating capacity of around 300, the audience has the opportunity to get close to the stage and experience the magic and laughter up close. The club's program includes a mix of comedy and magic acts, ensuring that there is something for everyone. Whether you prefer the quick wit and observational humor of stand-up comedy or the mesmerizing tricks and illusions of magic, you'll find it all at the Comedy and Magic Club.
Comedy and magic club program
The iconic Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach — where comedy legends such as Jay Leno, George Carlin and Jerry Seinfeld once performed — could soon be filled will laughter once again.
The iconic club, which has been shuttered for nearly two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, recently received unanimous approval from the city’s Planning Commission for substantial renovations.
The beloved club, which has hosted comics and magicians since 1978, will add 100 seats to its main showroom — for 350 total — and enclose a patio at an adjacent lounge area.
But it’s too early to determine when construction will start, how long the project will take or when the club might reopen, said founder and owner Mike Lacey.
Lacey, when reached by phone on Monday, Feb. 21, declined to provide details about the club’s plans because the Planning Commission’s decision was so recent, happening last week.
“I’m just reviewing my options,” Lacey said. “I have to sort out what the next step is.”
Lacey, at the Tuesday, Feb. 15, commission meeting, said many people contacted him to ask when the club, 1018 Hermosa Ave., would reopen.
Representatives from nonprofits the club has supported over the years and Leno himself reached out, Lacey said at the meeting. Leno was once a Sunday regular at the club, where he tried out new material when he hosted “The Tonight Show.”
“’We want to come back to work, we missed the salmon,’” Lacey quoted comics who have reached out as saying. “‘Can we come in again?’”
To expand the showroom area, the plan calls for removing employee offices that are behind the main stage. The main stage will then be moved north to accommodate the extra 100 seats.
The famed green room, where the comics chat and wait until they hit the stage, will remain as is, Lacey said at the meeting. For decades, performers have left their mark in ink on the green room’s walls.
“The green room will always remain untouched,” Lacey said. “It’s really a very special place with all the signatures.”
Comedian Jay Leno backstage at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach in this undated file photo. Leno performed many of his stand-up routines at the club over the years, some of them on Sunday when he’d try out new material for his host job on the “The Tonight Show.” Behind Leno are signatures on a cinder block wall of comedians who performed at the club. (Photo by Steve McCrank)
The Lounge, another performance space with an adjacent restaurant, will have its patio enclosed as part of the renovation.
Lacey also received approval to expand what the club can be used for.
The club had operated under a conditional use permit that dictated comedy or theatrical productions comprise “50% of the operating time of the main showroom,” according to the staff report. The Planning Commission approved removing that permit.
Lacey and city staff, in a report, agreed the condition was “overly restrictive.”
Removing that restriction will allow business people staying at local hotels to use the club for meeting space.
“Hermosa Beach hotels have limited conference and meeting rooms needed for group sales,” a staff report said. “Added flexibility will allow activation of the space during non-peak hours and also help attract new hotel business to the City.”
While the application Lacey submitted to the Planning Commission did not ask for extended hours, he did bring up the possibility during Tuesday’s meeting.
The club, under current rules, must close at 1 a.m.
Officials seemed open to the idea — though the club’s California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control license bans dancing on the premises after 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday — while also expressing some reservations about later hours.
Since a number of bars on Pier and Hermosa avenues start closing around 1:45 a.m., Hermosa Beach Police Chief Paul LeBaron said, there was a concern about the club closing around the same time.
But, he added, that concern wasn’t directed at Lacey’s business, since it has had no calls for service since it opened more than four decades ago.
“I want to stress this has nothing to do specifically with his business, but it is a concern that we have, it’s something that we will certainly try to address,” LeBaron said. “But I also look into the future, and I’m always concerned that we have too many places letting out after any type of alcohol consumption, where there might be potential for problems.”
One of the highlights of the club's program is its open mic nights, where aspiring comedians and magicians can take the stage and showcase their skills. This gives emerging talent the chance to perform in front of a live audience and potentially catch the attention of industry professionals. Additionally, the Comedy and Magic Club often features special guest performers, including some of the biggest names in the business. Past guests have included comedy legends like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Ellen DeGeneres, as well as renowned magicians like Penn & Teller. Overall, the Comedy and Magic Club program provides a night of laughter and astonishment for audiences of all ages. Whether you're a comedy enthusiast or a magic fan, this club is the perfect place to unwind, have a few laughs, and witness unforgettable performances..
Reviews for "Experience the Magic of Laughter at the Club's Comedy and Magic Program"
1. Jake - 1 out of 5 stars
I had high hopes for the Comedy and Magic Club program, but unfortunately, I was left feeling disappointed. The comedians were not funny at all and their jokes fell flat. The magic acts were also underwhelming and lacked any sort of wow factor. Overall, I found the program to be boring and a waste of time. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh or impressive magic tricks.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
I attended the Comedy and Magic Club program with a group of friends and we were all left unimpressed. The comedians seemed to rely heavily on crude and offensive humor, which was not my cup of tea. Additionally, the magic acts felt outdated and predictable. The overall atmosphere of the club was also lackluster and didn't contribute to an enjoyable experience. I wouldn't go back or recommend it to others.
3. Brian - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really excited to see the Comedy and Magic Club program, but it failed to meet my expectations. The comedians were hit or miss, and unfortunately, most of them missed the mark. The jokes felt forced and the delivery was lackluster. As for the magic acts, they lacked originality and didn't leave me in awe. The venue itself was also cramped and uncomfortable. I left feeling unimpressed and wouldn't go back in the future.
4. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars
I was highly disappointed with the Comedy and Magic Club program. The comedians were not funny and the magic acts were far from impressive. The whole show lacked energy and enthusiasm; it felt like the performers were just going through the motions. The ticket prices were also quite high for the subpar entertainment provided. Overall, I would not recommend this program to anyone looking for a fun night out.