How The Ice House comedy club in Pasadena reopened with a Lakers connection

Table Of Content

• The differences — and similarities — between the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals
• Legendary Room
• Heidi Gardner of ‘SNL’ says ‘anxiety set in’ after giggly ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ sketch
• The Ice House reopens in Pasadena with newly renovated inside
• Comedians Who Have Performed Here
• ‘Duplex’ law allowing 4 homes on a lot struck down for California’s charter cities

Sitting in his designated booth at the back of the Legendary Room, Buss says he can’t wait to enjoy a show with the spirit of his favorite comedy fan right beside him. His father’s notoriously outside-the-box methods of running a team made him a genius and impossible to predict. Mentor Ave., hasn’t changed, but walking through its new glass doors is like entering a place that’s transformed from a dusty piece of coal into a frosty diamond. “You know, my father and I used to talk about (opening up a comedy club) all the time.

The differences — and similarities — between the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals

The iconic Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, California, announced it will celebrate its grand re-opening on Friday, March 24 after being closed for almost three years due to the pandemic. While some facilities underwent upgrades, Johnny said he tried to keep the club looking like the old Ice House, that’s why he did not touch some parts of the building including the floor and the fireplace. The VIP room, which can also view the main showroom, can hold up to 20 people. “First of all, we’re shooting for a grand opening, a public grand opening of February 9th. The reason for that is we want to make sure that everything is finished.

Legendary Room

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Former Pasadena Comedy Cub Owner Reflects on Tom Smothers' Legacy, Recalls Historic Live Albums – Pasadena ....

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Though Buss and Toler believe that the entertainment business is all about the fans, it’s also the club’s duty to take care of the comics. Throughout the brick building in downtown Pasadena, vintage and modern flourishes demand attention like stylistic punchlines. The glowing stalactite chandeliers, electric neon art of cacti, waves and sun punctuate the walls of the California Room, the venue’s second stage. Guests pass through the red-brick walls of the revamped bar and patio area into the revived main room. Despite the club’s new mainstage set up, dubbed the Legendary Room, it still retains an intimate vibe where stand-up idols and up-and-comers have thrived on the raw energy and laughter of a working class clientele. Once again the building is outfitted with mics in the ceiling to capture the roar of one of L.A.’s loudest laughing crowds.

Heidi Gardner of ‘SNL’ says ‘anxiety set in’ after giggly ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ sketch

Cobb’s Comedy Club is one of two dedicated comedy clubs in San Francisco. Comedians that appear are often recognizable from their comedy specials or cracking jokes with Late Night TV show hosts or appearing in roles in movies and TV shows. Though it's always served its purpose as a training ground, the Ice House is also going to be a place where stars can mingle while they watch famous funny people perform.

After more than three years of renovations designed to bring a great venue for classy entertainment, the Ice House comedy club is set to have its grand re-opening on Feb. 16. One of the oldest comedy clubs in the United States, Ice House Comedy Club closed in 2019 after Los Angeles Lakers co-owner Johnny Buss, son of Dr. Jerry Buss bought it for an undisclosed amount from longtime owner Bob Fisher. Punchline is the other San Francisco comedy club and has everyone from famous headliners like Dave Chappelle to other famous comedians of the big and small screen. Buss has had a long and distinguished career in professional sports, serving as president of the Los Angeles Sparks, the team that won back-to-back WNBA Championships. He was also president of Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League, and hopes to bring his decades of business experience to America’s longest-running comedy club with the intention of giving it another 60 vibrant years of life.

Comedians Who Have Performed Here

Finally, burnt out on sports and other ventures before the pandemic, Buss decided to revive the comedy club dream, buying the Ice House in 2019 from longtime owner Bob Fisher, who was retiring. The club sat in limbo until recently — during which time Buss' mother, JoAnn Mueller, also passed away, before the club reopened. But over the last several months, the club has finally finished its long-awaited reshaping and is ready to turn the lights back on. Sparks in 2006 — a team he'd helped build into a winning franchise in the WNBA — Jerry's health had already started declining. After his father’s death, Buss said he didn’t want to think about opening a club anymore. He shifted away from sports, bought race cars and trucks and started getting into the business of off-road racing.

So, when the opportunity came to purchase the Ice House from Bob Fisher, I jumped at the chance,” Buss said. PASADENA, Calif. — The Ice House, regarded as the oldest comedy club in the country, has been given a new lease on life under the new ownership of Johnny Buss. Superstar Brad Williams – whose diminutive stature inspired his self-proclaimed nickname “Mr. Big” will headline the mainstage on Friday Feb. 17, while the California Room features a four-comic show with Arsenio Hall and much-loved “Ted Lasso” co-star Brett Goldstein among the talent.

That’s where the club’s secret crown jewel, the newly built VIP lounge, comes into play. The club sat in limbo until recently — during which time Buss’ mother, JoAnn Mueller, also passed away, before the club reopened. Sparks in 2006 — a team he’d helped build into a winning franchise in the WNBA — Jerry’s health had already started declining.

The Ice House Comedy Club reopens in Pasadena - Spectrum News 1

The Ice House Comedy Club reopens in Pasadena.

Posted: Thu, 06 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

“We might actually start doing some afternoon things there,” Buss said. The bar has the same design but it was extended to serve more people. “I truly remodeled this one to have the young comics in there where they can really hone their craft,” said Johnny.

When the lights hit the stage and he was finally able to open the doors to the legendary Ice House comedy club in Pasadena on Feb. 16, new owner Johnny Buss admitted that while the audience was laughing, he was getting a little emotional. To mark the special occasion, a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the Pasadena Chamber will take place followed by a weekend of sold-out shows featuring headliner Gabriel Iglesias. The festivities will also include tours of the entire venue, food samplings from The Ice House menu, and a bartender demo showcasing some of the club’s signature cocktails.

The walls of The Ice House are adorned with photos of comedians who have graced its stage, and the venue boasts a new menu and updated bar offerings. With its rich history and commitment to nurturing new talent, The Ice House is officially open with a full schedule of shows. The upgrades include new glass doors and relocating the club’s main entrance from the alley to the front of the building. It also features what’s sure to be a popular photo opportunity for fans as a huge polar bear statue is situated just inside the club. After looking into several spaces, Buss decided to purchase the 63-year-old Pasadena venue, which is dubbed as the oldest comedy club in the country, from longtime owner Bob Fisher.

His father's notoriously outside-the-box methods of running a team made him a genius and impossible to predict. A regular at the Comedy Store, the Improv and the Laugh Factory, Johnny said he and his dad always talked about opening their own club together before Jerry’s death in 2013 at 80. Mentor Ave., hasn't changed, but walking through its new glass doors is like entering a place that’s transformed from a dusty piece of coal into a frosty diamond. Also greeting guests is a neon sign of the smiling bear spotting a red hat and holding a mic.