National Comedy Center

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National Comedy Center The non-profit National Comedy Center is the nation's museum and cultural institution dedicated to Comedy Plan your visit at ComedyCenter.org.
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USA Today named the National Comedy Center the “Best New Museum" in the country in 2020, TIME magazine selected it as one of its “World’s Greatest Places,” Condé Nast Traveler called it “one of the best museums in the country” and People magazine named it one of “100 Reasons to Love America.” Visitors from all 50 states and eighteen countries have given the Comedy Center a rare 5/5 rating on TripAdvisor, ranking among the highest in the attraction and tourism industry. The National Comedy Center's new LaughSafe health and safety program, developed in consultation with health professionals and epidemiologists at UPMC Pittsburgh and UPMC Chautauqua, ensures a safe, worry-free and touch-free visitor experience. Enjoy a fun, socially-distanced experience in our expansive 37,000-square-foot museum space. The Comedy Center offers a visitor experience filled with laughter -- featuring state-of-the-art technology, interactivity and personalization to create a one-of-a-kind, immersive museum environment perfect for the entire family. Based on the vision of Jamestown, NY native Lucille Ball for her hometown to become a destination for comedy, the non-profit National Comedy Center showcases comedy’s great minds and unique voices in ways that engage, inspire, educate and entertain. Featuring exclusive collections, world-class exhibits and cutting-edge technology, the Comedy Center presents an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes- look at the time-honed creative processes that have elevated comedy to an art form. Over 50 immersive exhibits enable visitors to take a laugh-filled journey through comedy history, from early vaudeville to the latest viral memes.

Hundreds of rediscovered photographs are bringing "I Love Lucy" history into focus.In celebration of the series’ 75th an...
10/15/2026

Hundreds of rediscovered photographs are bringing "I Love Lucy" history into focus.

In celebration of the series’ 75th anniversary, the National Comedy Center is preserving remarkable behind-the-scenes photography, a rare early "I Love Lucy" pilot script, and 35mm film prints of the series personally owned by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and used for private screenings with family and friends.

Selections from this collection will be unveiled publicly in a new 2027 exhibition at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown, New York—Lucille Ball’s hometown.

Discover the full story: ComedyCenter.org/Lucy-75

Join us for our free, Award-winning Memory Café at the National Comedy Center on Monday, October 5, 2026. Designed for i...
10/02/2026

Join us for our free, Award-winning Memory Café at the National Comedy Center on Monday, October 5, 2026. Designed for individuals living with memory loss and their caregivers, this welcoming monthly event offers connection, joy, and a chance to revisit unforgettable comedy moments.
Always on the first Monday of every month, always free!
Next Event: Monday, Oct. 5
10 AM museum exploration
11 AM social time + interactive program
Register now — space is limited: ComedyCenter.org/MemoryCafe

On this day in 1962, “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” premiered, kicking off an extraordinary 30-year run that ...
10/01/2026

On this day in 1962, “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” premiered, kicking off an extraordinary 30-year run that defined late-night TV. The National Comedy Center is proud to feature “Johnny Carson: The Immersive Experience,” with hologram host Jimmy Fallon, and interviews with Steve Martin, Bette Midler, Mel Brooks, Martin Short, Byron Allen, Jay Leno, Paula Poundstone, and many more.

Discover iconic moments from Carson’s “Tonight Show” in Jamestown, NY.
Costumes on display are courtesy of the Elkhorn Valley Museum and Bette Midler. Rainbow curtain on display courtesy of NBCUniversal Archives.

Congratulations to Taylor Tomlinson on the release of her book, “Actually, Nevermind!” We loved welcoming Taylor to Jame...
09/30/2026

Congratulations to Taylor Tomlinson on the release of her book, “Actually, Nevermind!”
We loved welcoming Taylor to Jamestown, NY as a headliner of our 2023 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival – and having her explore the National Comedy Center while she was here.
Now she’s bringing her unmistakable voice and point of view from the stage to the page. We can’t wait to read “Actually, Nevermind.”
Order your copy from the National Comedy Center’s Comedy Shop – and support the nation’s official cultural institution dedicated to comedy while you’re at it!

https://bit.ly/3VmMlIJ

On this day in 1929, comedian, actor, and writer Anne Meara was born. Alongside her husband, Jerry Stiller, she formed t...
09/20/2026

On this day in 1929, comedian, actor, and writer Anne Meara was born. Alongside her husband, Jerry Stiller, she formed the legendary comedy team Stiller and Meara, becoming a familiar face on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and other variety programs of the 1960s.

Meara went on to build an accomplished career in television, film, and theater, earning recognition for both her comedic and dramatic work. Today, we celebrate Anne Meara and her lasting contribution to American comedy. Photographs courtesy of the estate of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.

Last night’s Emmy Awards brought another reminder of the remarkable contributions Rob Reiner and his father, Carl Reiner...
09/15/2026

Last night’s Emmy Awards brought another reminder of the remarkable contributions Rob Reiner and his father, Carl Reiner, made to comedy.

At last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, Rob received a posthumous Emmy for “The Bear” – his third Emmy and his first since “All in the Family” 48 years ago.

With the win, Rob set a new record for the longest span between acting Emmy wins – 48 years – breaking the previous record held by his father, 12-time Emmy winner Carl Reiner, at 37 years.

The National Comedy Center is honored to preserve Carl Reiner’s archives, including all 12 of his Emmy Awards, and in 2021 named our Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation in his honor. We’re proud to help preserve and share the extraordinary Reiner legacy in comedy.

The National Comedy Center mourns the loss of legendary costume designer Bob Mackie, whose remarkable career helped defi...
09/14/2026

The National Comedy Center mourns the loss of legendary costume designer Bob Mackie, whose remarkable career helped define the visual language of American comedy.

For all 11 seasons of The Carol Burnett Show, Mackie’s costumes were an essential part of the comedy. His designs helped establish character, support performance and, at times, provide the joke itself.

Among the most enduring examples is Carol Burnett’s “Went with the Wind” sketch, for which Mackie transformed a set of curtains — curtain rod included — into one of the most recognizable costumes in television history. His elaborate designs for Burnett’s “Nora Desmond” offered another memorable example of Mackie’s ability to use costume to heighten character and comedy.

The National Comedy Center has been honored to exhibit original Mackie costumes worn by Burnett as “Nora Desmond” and the beloved “Charwoman,” preserving examples of the artistry behind some of television comedy’s most memorable characters.

Mackie’s contributions to comedy extended far beyond The Carol Burnett Show. His work with Cher, beginning with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, as well as Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Bette Midler and many others, helped shape memorable moments across television and the stage.

Mackie possessed a rare understanding of both the performer and the character. His designs could be glamorous, extravagant and beautiful — but, as he recognized himself, they could also be funny.

Bob Mackie leaves an extraordinary body of work and an enduring influence on comedy, costume design and American entertainment. The National Comedy Center celebrates his life, his artistry and his lasting contribution to the art form.

The National Comedy Center remembers the legendary Bob Mackie.“Throughout his extraordinary body of work, Bob Mackie und...
09/14/2026

The National Comedy Center remembers the legendary Bob Mackie.

“Throughout his extraordinary body of work, Bob Mackie understood the unique power of costume in comedy – to help create a character and become part of the creative energy that drove the comedy itself. His work with Carol Burnett and the ensemble of 'The Carol Burnett Show,' with Cher starting with 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,' as well as with Joan Rivers, Bette Midler and Lucille Ball, helped shape some of comedy’s most memorable moments on television and stage.” – National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson

09/11/2026

On this day in 1967, “The Carol Burnett Show” premiered. The show received twenty-five Emmy awards during its eleven seasons. Pages from the 1973 sketch “The Firemen” are now on display at the National Comedy Center, courtesy of Arnold Kogen.

On this day sixty years ago, sitcom “That Girl” starring Marlo Thomas premiered, introducing audiences to Ann Marie, an ...
09/08/2026

On this day sixty years ago, sitcom “That Girl” starring Marlo Thomas premiered, introducing audiences to Ann Marie, an aspiring actress navigating life, work, and independence in New York City. The series became one of television’s most memorable portrayals of a young woman determined to build a life and career on her own terms.
Nearly six decades later, Ann Marie remains a landmark character in television history. This photograph of Marlo Thomas with director of numerous episodes, John Rich, is part of the National Comedy Center’s permanent collections.

Address

203 W. 2nd Street
Jamestown, NY
14701

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(716) 484-2222

Website

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