Events @ AMUSEum
Comedy Celebration
AKA • Comedy Day in the Park, • Comedy Celebration • Chronicle Comedy Celebration Day
on the benches set up for the show
where he'll be performing soon
Femprov creates a sequential Story
1st Comedy Day • July 11, 1981 • …before Noon.
for the growing crowd in the Grove
create a scene from an audience suggestion
First Five Years
Proclamation · Newspaper Coverage • Programs • Growing Audiences
WHEREAS,
Freedom of speech is recognized as an unalienable human right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America; and
WHEREAS,
the expression of humor is one of the most pleasurable forms of free speech; and
WHEREAS,
the City of San Francisco has produced a great number of comedians and entertainers who have great wit and view that something of mercy amongst all people; and
WHEREAS,
these entertainers would now like to take the opportunity to publicly, thank you, thank the people of San Francisco, who have given their support through all the years and contributed to their success; and
WHEREAS,
the city of San Francisco would like to acknowledge the many gifted entertainers whose successful careers, came into existence in San Francisco; and
WHEREAS,
the nation and the media should be afforded the opportunity to see one at the most positive aspects of the city that has promoted the growth and development of the many gifted entertainers;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Dianne Feinstein, Mayor of the city and county of San Francisco, do hereby urge all San Franciscans to reflect on their sense of humor and come help us celebrate the job of comedy in the Golden Gate Park band show from 12 noon until 6:00 p.m. on July 11, 1981, hereafter known as “COMEDY DAY”. Free entertainment from local comedians and improvisational groups, along with name entertainers who have returned to say “Thank you” to you and the City.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, of have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City and County of San Francisco to be affixed this 30th day of September, nineteen hundred and eighty.
Diane Feinstein
Mayor
Year One • 1981
Comedy On the Green
Saturday • July 11
Band Shell, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA Purpose: Free comedy extravaganza from comics, improv groups to say thank you to the city that has nurtured so many comedic artists. John Cantu, Producer, Holy City Zoo, 408 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94118
Flyer
for the Day
Flyers were posted on telephone poles around town, handed out to people on the street and placed in clubs and merchant windows to advertise.
First Show
First Crowd
There was no way of knowing if an audience would show up, but by all accounts at the end of the day there were 3000 'Comedy Aficianados' who witnessed and were entertained by 45 different comedians for 6 full hours.
CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS
First Performers:
Timothy Barron, Bob Barry, A. W. Brown, Marty Cohen, Jim Cranna, Gil Christner, Tony DePaul, Jane Dornacker, Will Duerst, Femprov, Jin Giovanni, Dr. Gonzo, Hazzard Brothers., Hurley & Zee, Billy Jaye, Doug Kehoe, Jeremy Kramer, Lorenzo, Bill Lucas, Mann and Vittorio, Rich Maria, Papaya Juice, Murphy St. Paul, Steven Pearl, Chris Pray, Michael Pritchard, Jeff Ross, Bob Sarlatte, David Scheuber, Joe Sharkey, Rodney Sheriff, Jose Simon, Barry Sobel, Spaghetti Jam, Warren Spottswood, Johnathan Szeles
without an Official Program
SF Comedy Celebration Day Facts
After Party
July 11, 1981
3,000 Comedy Aficionados • 45 Comics • 7 Sets
FUNDING: COMEDY CLUBS AND INDIVIDUALS
The Gang
The initial 1981 success was to be an unforgettable high for all that performed… and the San Franciscans that witnessed the phenomenon. Both performers and citizens gather every year to re-capture the buzz of that first landmark day. Folks lingered, feeling the love and hearing the echoes of laughter still ringing in their ears.
- Jane Dornacker
- Steve Wechsler
- Chris Pray
- Tony DePaul
- Jim Giovanni
- Joe Campiola
- David Scheuber
- Barry Sobel
- Billy Jaye
- Lorenzo Matawaren
- Jose Simon
- Joe Sharkey
- Bob Sarlatte
- Jim Cranna
- John Cantu
- Marty Cohen
- Billy Lucas
- Michael Pritchard
- Jeremy Kramer
- Rich Marks
- Steven Pearl
- Dr. Gonzo
- Rodney Sheriff
- Ed Hazzard
- Norm Hazzard
[The Hazzard Brothers]
Normal? • Just Pure San Francisco!
July 10, 1982
4,500 People • 52 Comics • 8 Sets
LUMINARIES. JIM MORRIS. KEVIN POLLAK. PAULA POUNDSTONE. ROBIN WILLIAMS.
Comedy Scene: The second annual Comedy Day will present a five-and-a-half-hour free concert July 10 at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell, presenting 45 acts, according to producer-comic Jose Simon, featuring the best of the local comedy scene such as Mike Pritchard, Bill Rafferty, Bob Sarlatte, Dr. Gonzo, Jim Samuels, Carrie Snow, Jeremy Kramer, among others. Some even bigger names, surprise guests, have told Simon they’ll be there, too. Among the unusual offerings will be. the High Wire Radio Choir in a musical set, backed by pianist. Righteous Raoul of. Rick and Ruby and Cyril Jordan of Flamin’ Groovies. Simon hopes to eventually, make Comedy Day a national holiday. “To have the whole country laughing on the same day.” he said, “that’s my dream.”
FUNDING. DONATIONS FROM COMEDY CLUBS, INDIVIDUALS.
FILED AND RECEIVED NON PROFIT STATUS.
PURPOSE. A COMEDY EXTRAVAGANZA FROM LOCAL AND NATIONALLY KNOWN COMICS TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY THAT’S NURTURED SO MANY COMEDIC ARTISTS.’
July 16, 1983
10,000 Comedy Aficionados • 48 Comics • 10 Sets
LUMINARIES. DANA CARVEY. KEVIN POLLAK. BOB SARLATTE. PAULA POUNDSTONE, RICK REYNOLDS. BARRY SOBEL. JOE SPANO. ROBIN WILLIAMS.
FUNDING: COMEDY CLUBS AND INDIVIDUALS
PURPOSE COMICS SAY THANKS IO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY THAT HAS SUPPORTED THEM THROUGH THE YEARS.
July 15, 1984
12,000 Comedy Fans • 58 Comics • 9 Sets
LUMINARIES. ELLEN DEGENERES. GARY SHANDLING. BOB SAGET. BOBBY SLAYTON. ROBIN WILLIAMS.
Last month in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. On a sunny summer afternoon 30.000 people gathered with picnic baskets and blankets. coolers and kids. They might have been there to hear an old-fashioned concert in the park or even some speech-making in advance of the Democratic Conven-tion. But they weren’t. The attraction was a seven-hour marathon of 70 stand-up comics, topped off with an appearance by Robin Williams. San Francisco’s fourth annual Comedy Celebration Day” was jolly, joyous— and just what comedy should be. ~People Magazine
FUNDING: COMEDY CLUBS AND INDIVIDUALS
PURPOSE. TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY AND PROMOTE THE ART OF STAND-UP COMEDY.
July 20, 1985
20,000 Comedy Aficianados • 63 Comics • 10 Sets
LUMINARIES-TOM AMMIANO. DANA CARVEY. BOB GOLDTHWAIT. JAKE JOHANNSEN. WHOOPI GOLDBERG. ROBIN WILLIAMS.
What do you get when you combine five dozen comedians with an estimated 40,000 people?
A traffic jam with good vibes.”Everybody is in an exceptionally good mood,” said San Francisco police Officer Jim Hennessy as he tagged illegally parked cars near the Fifth Annual Comedy Celebration in the band shell at Golden Gate Park yesterday. “Traffic is at a standstill, but people are accepting their (parking) tickets with a smile,” he said. ~By Stephanie Salter, SF Examiner
FUNDING. THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE CORPORATE SPONSOR. ROBIN WILLIAMS
PURPOSE. LOCAL AND NATIONALLY KNOWN COMICS SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY THAT’S NURTURED SO MANY COMEDIC ARTISTS.
Publicity, Press & Programs
I’ll be at Chronicle Comedy Celebration Day. It’s the one day of the year that I get to see all of my comedy pals. It’s amazing how different they look in daylight.”
~ Dr. Gonzo • Comedian
It’s a day the whole family CELEBRATION will enjoy. This year we hope to attract more people than normal. Or is it more normal people? Or is it… Oh well, why be normal? Come and have fun!”
~ Michael Pritchard • Comedian
“Ill Be At Chronicle Comedy Celebration Day. For us comedians, it’s like our class reunion, company picnic, senior prom, fashion show, homecoming rally, debutante ball, demolition derby, grand jury hearing, and credit check, all rolled into one! Or maybe four.”
~ Jim Samuels • Comedian
1975-1981 • The Genesis
First Annual Comedy Day on the Green
Collaborations
1984 • Headliner
Robin WIlliams brings it on home at the Bandshell
Gail Simon Visits the GG Park Bench<br>dedicated to Jose Simon
website
Handpicked
Heir apparent
Never did a young, inherently funny improviser with Spaghetti Jam named Debi Pickell imagine she would inherit the responsibility of running the event 27 years later at the request of Jose Simon.