Did you know there is a National Comedy Center? It is the most incredible museum you will visit!
Updated: Nov 14, 2018
An absolute must see! It is fully interactive, and yet so easy my 2 year old could use everything. Hidden away in Jamestown, NY and conveniently with in walking distance of the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum the driving force behind this massive undertaking. I have never experienced such an immersive museum. All ages and comedic tastes will appreciate the work that went into creating this comedic masterpiece. We were lucky enough to get to check it out twice before the grand open and we fell in love with it. This will be an annual family trip if not more because they are constantly growing the collections and getting permissions released. I laughed, I cried and I said oh my! Don't fear the technology it is so easy to use for all ages and capabilities to adapt to. Be ready to lose a day or two trying experience all they have to offer.
You start by creating a profile of your comedic tastes to help cater the experience to your sense of humor. After setting up your profile your move on to view some of the most iconic pieces of comedy history
From Seinfeld's infamous puffy shirt, a beautiful tribute to Andy Kaufman, to an entire enclave dedicated to an endless archive of George Carlin's works, notes, arrests and more.
Then you can go to the left for the hologram theater to catch a show or go to the right and stop by the stand-up cafe. One of our favorite spots and very easy to spend more time then you intended to at. Behind it not to be missed is TV viewing stations with infamous skits. A spot that's so easy to walk by with a glance yet it hid some of our hardest laughs rewatching old clips. I will never see enough Robin Williams. Both exhibits are well worth investing the extra time to become fully engulfed in them.
Further on is another area that you could walk by and not even process how much there in to it. It looks like a bunch of light tables and a giant wall screen but this spot was a highlight for my toddler and the wall was hypnotic. The tables have different icon pieces that you place on them and treat like a choose your own adventure board. The wall much the same concept but on a far larger scale. You sign in and it brings up some favorite actors, comedians, actresses, movies ect and you can keep tapping across the screen of the whole room to find out how they are connected to other favorite characters, people, and films. There's just something about the continuous exploration into comedy that is easy to get lost in.
The next room is a series of rooms with listening stations, a place to create your own comic strip, a theater, social media interaction, listening stations and so much more.
There is this mind blowing game they have where they ask you a series of questions leading you to guess the answer which will be projected on an incredible bust that will throw your brain for a loop. The real winner in this corner is the TV viewing area that will captivate even the biggest grump in your group... seriously just leave them there. You log in and they play a mix of clips pertaining to the selected comedies of those who are signed in which can be up to about a dozen people.
The lower level is 18 and over and has a bar. It's where you will find all the NSFW stuff. From movies, to the friars club, to swear words in other languages. Leave the kids watching TV and sneak down here for some adult time and a drink or two.
*Pro tip* make sure you're camera ready when you walk in the podium at the entrance has a photo making spot behind it and they're using the face you made when you walked in.
After you've had a drink and learned to say motherf*cker in Latin head back upstairs to give out some awards and try your hand at some stand-up don't worry there's a bar there too!
After catching some amateur stand up head into the next room and go head to head against your group to see who gets the last laugh. Don't miss your chance to be Lucy and Ethel in some classic I love Lucy scenes.
Last but not least find out how your comedic taste breaks down as they analyze your likes and dislikes. You even get a joke for the road at the kiosk before the gift shop. Which was fairly priced and had a fun variety of souvenirs in all price ranges. Perks of being in a small town that can't afford big city prices is the gift shop has to be somewhat affordable if they want to sell anything around here.
*ADDED BONUS* If you get hungry they also have food and a gorgeous outdoor seating area for a nice afternoon lunch.
This is a must see, especially if you love comedy!