Editing Comedy club (section)

== History ==

=== Morocco ===
[[File:Royal Palace (Rabat) (5509107458).jpg|thumb|The [[Royal Palace of Rabat|Royal palace of Rabat]], where ''Labsat'' took place. ]]
The documentation of Moroccan comedy spaces traces its roots back to the 17th Century, encompassing rich performance practices like ''Labsat'' and ''Sultan Talba''.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |doi=10.4324/9781003352808-3 |chapter=The History of Moroccan Stand-Up Comedy |title=Punching up in Stand-Up Comedy |date=2022 |last1=Bassou |first1=Mohamed |last2=Krefting |first2=Rebecca |pages=31–48 |isbn=978-1-00-335280-8 }}</ref> The origins of comedy clubs can be traced to ''Labsat'', an extravagant performance arts festival, with the noteworthy milestone of the first show staged within the king's, [[Mohammed ben Abdallah|Sultan Mohammed ibn Abd Allah]], palace. The evolution continued with ''Sultan Tabla'', a theatrical celebration that served as a precursor to more modern ''al-halqa''. [[Halqa|''Al-halqa'']], characterized by storytelling circles infused with elements of humor, played a pivotal role in shaping comedy performance spaces and practices.

The period of French colonization from 1912 to 1956 marked a significant chapter in the history of comedy clubs in Morocco, having heavy influences on artistic practices.<ref name=":0" /> Following the decline of French colonial dominance, comic theaters emerged as distinct spaces, gaining prominence in the 80s as a response to the heightened cultural interest in addressing humorous real-life concerns. The theatrical landscape saw a flourishing of comic theater, employing humor and cultural critique to entertain audiences while fostering a connection with real-life experiences.

The spaces theaters and comedy clubs provided created cultural space for a future of comedy in Morocco. Now, Moroccan comedy clubs function as important spaces for humour and cultural commentary.

=== Japan ===
The emergence of Japanese comedy clubs can be traced back to the 18th century with the establishment of [[Yose]] theatres. These early iterations were constructed for various forms of entertainment, such as [[Kōdan]], [[Rōkyoku]], [[Rakugo]], and other varieties.

Over the years, a notable convergence occurred between [[Yose]] and [[Rakugo]], with the two becoming increasingly intertwined. In contemporary times, the majority of [[Yose]] theatres exclusively feature [[Rakugo]] performances, underscoring the prevalent association between [[Yose]] theatres and this particular form of comedic storytelling.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

[[Rakugo]] is a traditional Japanese storytelling art where a hanashika enacts stories by embodying characters through distinct voices, gestures, and wordplay. The narratives typically conclude with a punch line, referred to as "[[ochi]]," akin to the structure observed in contemporary [[stand-up comedy]], which often utilizes punchlines and wordplay for comedic effect. In this way, Yose were the first comedy clubs hosting stand-up comedians (hanashikas) through the art of [[Rakugo]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brau |first=Lorie |title=Rakugo: performing comedy and cultural heritage in contemporary Tokyo |date=2008 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-0-7391-2245-7 |location=Lanham, Boulder, New York, Tronto, Plymouth, UK |pages=1–2}}</ref>

The first [[Yose]] theatre was organized in 1798 by Karaku Sanshotei 1st at the Shitaya-jinja Shrine in [[Shitaya]], [[Tokyo]]. The stone monument commemorating the birthplace of [[Yose]] is located in this shrine, initially referred to as yoseba before later adopting the term "yose." Towards the end of the [[Edo period]], multiple Yose theatres emerged, providing a primary source of entertainment in towns where options were limited.

The subsequent [[Meiji era|Meiji]] and [[Taishō era|Taisho]] eras witnessed the appearance of large-scale [[Yose]] theatres. However, with the advent of various entertainments like television, the number of visitors to Yose establishments significantly declined, leading to closures. In recent years, the dwindling interest in performance arts within Yose has resulted in the survival of only a few [[Yose]] theatres. Consequently, the overall Yose industry faces challenging business conditions as it contends with changing entertainment preferences.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

=== Contemporary American-style clubs ===
Since the late 1960s and 70s, hundreds of comedy clubs have adopted a similar formula.

The first of these pioneers were [[The Improv]] and [[Dangerfield's]].

[[The Improv]] opened as a coffee house in 1963, within the [[Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan|Hell's Kitchen]] neighborhood of [[New York City]]. While it hosted its first comedian in 1964, 5 years before [[Dangerfield's]] opening in 1969,<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|226558350}} |last1=Robinson |first1=Ray |title=New Club Opens On East Side |newspaper=New York Amsterdam News |date=4 October 1969 |page=19 }}</ref> it only shifted into a comedy club after hours. [[The Improv]] became exclusively a comedy club over the years, before its closing in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=John |title=The godfather of comedy looks back on a lifetime of laughs |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-small-business-celebrity-fcbfab555b594572b06dd995bb5868b9 |work=AP News |date=2 December 2017 }}</ref>

[[Dangerfield's]] was built ground-up as a comedy club on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]]. It closed due to the pandemic in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dangerfield's Comedy Club |url=http://dangerfields.com/CoronaBreakingNews.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=dangerfields.com}}</ref>