• Laughs Unlimited • 1980-Present | 1984-1994
Old Sacto • 1124 Firehouse Alley
Pictured: Scott Edwards celebrates with "Clancy", a clown who opened all shows for over 5 years
In August 1980, R. Scott Edwards opened Laughs Unlimited All Comedy Showroom, one of the pioneering venues of America’s emerging comedy-club era. At the time, Laughs Unlimited was only the 12th full-time comedy club in the United States. What began as a bold new entertainment concept became part of stand-up comedy history, providing a stage for both established performers and rising young comics—many of whom would go on to become some of the biggest names in comedy.
Citrus Heights
• Birdcage Walk • Greenback Lane •
In 1984, Laughs Unlimited expanded with a sister club in Citrus Heights, about 22 miles east of the original showroom. The smaller venue became part of a three-club comedy circuit that also included Stockton, giving comedians multiple stages to perform throughout the region. In 1989, the Citrus Heights club moved to a new location on Greenback Lane, where it expanded to include a full kitchen, offering dinner and live stand-up comedy. After a decade of laughs, the Citrus Heights location closed in 1994.
• & Stockton •
Sacramento Discovers Stand-up Comedy @ Laughs Unlimited
The early success of Laughs Unlimited quickly outgrew its original home in a restaurant banquet room, leading to a move into a 200+ seat comedy theater on Firehouse Alley. The new showroom helped bring a fresh entertainment scene to what was then considered sleepy, government-town Sacramento. Before long, the Laughs Unlimited stage was attracting nationally known stars including Soupy Sales, Pat Paulsen, Graham Chapman, Harry Anderson, Jerry Seinfeld, Yakov Smirnoff, Garry Shandling, Paul Reiser, Bob Saget, and even Robin Williams—putting Sacramento firmly on the comedy map.
Staying Connected with Sacramento
From the beginning, Laughs Unlimited stayed closely connected to the local audience through an active presence in Sacramento media. The clubs were regularly featured in newspaper articles and advertising, while visiting comedians made entertaining drop-in appearances on local radio shows to promote their performances. Radio advertising, special promotions, and creative press events kept Laughs Unlimited—and stand-up comedy—in front of Sacramento audiences and helped make the club an important part of the city’s entertainment scene.
• Quotable •
“The comedy leader in town is undoubtedly Laughs Unlimited. Begun in August 1980 in a banquet room at the Delta Queen restaurant, Laughs has slowly grown into a legitimate, recognized comedy club.”
~byline • Sacramento Union • February 1984
“Leno’s performance brought the crowd to its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation when he finally did quit the stage — the first, and hottest, such demonstration a semi-regular has ever seen here.”
~ by John V. Hurst • Sacramento Bee • July 1983
One of Yakov’s favorite clubs is Laughs Unlimited here. (in Sacramento)
‘The crowds here are clever, better than in most cities. I think it’s because it’s the capital. I trust the audiences here. I know from one take here whether a new joke is good or not.”
~ Yakov Smirnoff • Sacramento Union • January 1984
Old Sacto
Where it All Began
The original Laughs Unlimited All Comedy Showroom opened in the heart of historic Old Sacramento, surrounded by the area’s Gold Rush-era buildings, restaurants, shops, and nightlife. The unique setting provided the perfect backdrop for something completely new to Sacramento—a nightclub devoted entirely to live stand-up comedy—and became the starting point for the Laughs Unlimited story.
Opening Night Review
WHEN STAND-UP COMEDY
Was the Hot Ticket
In the early 1980s,stand-up comedy was exploding in popularity, and this was before comedians were everywhere on television and cable. Our weekend shows were regularly sold out, and for special events the demand was so strong we would simply add more shows! Weeknights stayed lively too, thanks to creative promotions like “T-Shirt Tuesdays,” $2 Open Mic Nights, and other fun specials designed to keep audiences coming through the doors. It was an exciting time when seeing live comedy was still something new—and Laughs Unlimited was right in the middle of it.
Bay Area Comedy Gold Rush
From Comedy to Music To Magic
Paula Poundstone
& Everything in Between
Laughs Unlimited was never just about stand-up. Our stages featured an incredible variety of Bay Area talent, from comedy favorites, like Andy Kindler and Kevin Meaney to magicians Harry Anderson and Larry Wilson comics including Will Durst, Steve Bruner, Dana Carvey, and Bobby Slayton and world-class ventriloquists Jay Johnson and David Strassman. We even welcomed jugglers like Fred Anderson and Chris Barnes, along with musical entertainers Dick Bright and Sam Guttman. If it could make an audience laugh, smile, or say “How did they do that?”—there was a good chance it found its way onto a Laughs Unlimited stage.
At Laughs Unltd.
Dana Carvey - onstage
& backstage
Laughs Unlimited was never limited to traditional stand-up comedy.If you could entertain an audience, we wanted you on our stage! Along with great comics, we showcased talented Bay Area magicians, ventriloquists, jugglers, musicians, and other specialty performers. We even featured a comedy tap dancer! That mix of talent kept every show fresh, unpredictable, and fun—and helped make a night at our clubs more than just another comedy show.
VARIETY WAS KING!
Amazing Johnathan
Local mother lode
During the 1980s and ’90s, the Bay Area was a gold mine of comedy talent, producing an amazing collection of performers who regularly made their way to our clubs. Comics like Dana Carvey, Bobby Slayton, Tony Camin, Johnny Steele, Tim Bedore, Moe Betterman, Arj Barker, Del Van Dyke, Matt Weinhold, Jerry Miller, and many more helped make Northern California one of the most exciting comedy scenes in the country. Some went on to national fame, while others became longtime club favorites—but they all helped create an unforgettable era of live stand-up comedy.
Promotions & Ideas UnlimiTed
Comedy Was Simply
One Thing on the Menu
We served up plenty of laughs—but we had some fun with the food and drinks, too! Our famous “Not-So-Macho Nachos” were made with real cheddar cheese—none of that canned cheese slurry—along with sandwiches, quesadillas, and even “Worms” on the menu as a joke. At the bar, you could order everything from champagne and a variety of beers to Thunderbird Wine served in a brown paper bag. And, of course, it was the ’80s, so the Long Island Iced Tea was all the rage, our $5 Beer Mug, had our logo... buy once and get free refills the rest of the evening, Good food, strong drinks, and great comedy—it was all part of a night at Laughs Unlimited.
Building an Audience
One Laugh at a Time
There were plenty of creative promotions to keep audiences coming back night after night. T-shirts, hats, buttons, giveaways, contests, special events, and promotional merchandise helped turn the club into more than just a place to see comedy—it became a recognizable local brand. These promotions created excitement, rewarded loyal customers, and helped spread the Laughs Unlimited name throughout the community.
by Offering more
Simple! "Tee-Shirt" Tuesday …buy a shirt, wear it to get in FREE on Tuesdays, impress your friends with the fashionable wardrobe the rest of the week. $5 Beer Mug promotion, put our logo'd mug on your kitchen shelf... after all those free refills that night at Laughs. One year we let loose 500 helium balloons... each tagged with a free pass … about 45 made it back, booked bands during "Jazz Festival", a Western Show for "Gold Rush Days", and even Bay Area native Pat Paulsen of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ran for Mayor on the steps of our State Capitol.
for stage and screen
Almost Live Tv Show
A rewind to a classic 80s stand up comedy set being taped for Almost Live. Comedian Mike Moto, from the Bay Area who was a regular at comedy clubs during that era. This segment is pure nostalgia, offering a glimpse into the comedic style of the 1980s.
INNOVATIONS • Big Events, Bigger Venues
Annual GNC Comedy Competition
February-March X
Comedy Competition
TELEVISION PRODUCTION
Bob Saget helping create a TV commercial for the club… circa 1981
Concert Venue for 13 Year Anniversary
A massive "thank you" to the Sacramento community for supporting Laughs Unlimited from the beginning. The 1993 audience of 2000+ comedy fans saw Harry Anderson • Bob Saget • Yakov Smirnoff • Dennis Miller •
That was then, This is Since then
continuing comedy
@ Scott's Club
After the sale of the 2 clubs, had a room for open mikes, running Wenesdays through Saturdays in 2005, downstairs by LoMo Grill on 106 K Street in Old Sac.
Podcasting
Sit back and listen to “How Laughs Unlimited Started And Why It Lasted 40 Years”
Explore the large collection of audio podcasts (300+ and counting) to understand there are many forms of comedy…
X-panding to video
A video podcast sharing the Variety Arts (Juggling, comedy, magic, ventriloquism, impressions, and more) through short and entertaining videos. The main Host. R. Scott Edwards has over 40 years of experience in entertainment production and there are several co-hosts to keep things lively.
Publishing
Kindle Editions @ Amazon
20 Questions Answered About Being A Stand-Up Comic • with Bob Strobener • 2021
Paperback Books @
