All Jokes Aside (comedy club) explained

All Jokes Aside was a comedy club in south-side Chicago which catered almost exclusively to the African-American sector.^[1] It opened in 1992 with 275 seats, and ran for "less than a decade".^[2] The club's success led to a Comedy Central series as well as a second location in Detroit.^[3] In 1994 the company had a turnover of $470,000.

Notable Performers

• Bill Bellamy
• Cedric the Entertainer
• Earthquake
• Mike Epps
• Jamie Foxx
• Adele Givens
• Donald Glover
• Godfrey
• Eddie Griffin
• Kevin Hart
• Steve Harvey
• D.L. Hughley
• Martin Lawrence
• Ali LeRoi
• Luenell
• Bernie Mac
• Henry Spoon
• Carlos Mencia
• Mo'Nique
• Charlie Murphy
• Patrice O'Neal
• Chris Rock
• Craig Robinson
• Sherri Shepherd
• J. B. Smoove
• Robert L. Hines
• Sommore
• Sheryl Underwood
• Thea Vidale
• Katt Williams

Documentary

A 2002 documentary produced by John Davies and Reid Brody and aired on PBS, called "Phunny Business: A Black Comedy," interviewed many of the performers and the management of the club, and documented the club's demise.^[4]

References

Magazines:Books:

Notes and References

1. Book: Need a laugh when you're on the road?. April 1995. Earl G. Graves, Ltd.. Vol. 25 No. 9. 25 February 2012. 130. black comedy clubs around the country.
2. Book: Hicks, Margaret. Chicago comedy : a fairly serious history. 2011. History Press. Charleston, SC. 978-1-60949-211-3. foreword by Mick Napier. 25 February 2012. 103.
3. Book: Who's laughing now?. September 1995. Earl G. Graves, Ltd.. Vol. 26 No. 2. 25 February 2012. 30 & 33.
4. Web site: Phunny Business: A Black Comedy (Trailer) . YouTube . 20 July 2024.