Co-Founder of the Comic Strip

Richie Tienken, who co-founded one of New York’s oldest comedy clubs, The Comic Strip, has died at the age of 75.

He was already a bar owner when he set up the venue in 1975 having seen  one of his bartenders, an aspiring comic, perform at the Catch A Rising Star club.

Billy Crystal was the opening act on the first night, Chris Rock used to stack chairs to get stage time there, and Colin Quinn worked behind the bar,

Jerry Seinfeld said the venue ‘gave me my start in comedy,’  and he  returned to the club to record his 2017 Netflix special,  Jerry Before Seinfeld.  Adam Sandler also shot part of his 2018 special 100% Fresh there.

Other comics to have got early breaks there include Eddie  Murphy and  Ray Romano.

Tienken died on February 27, as  announced in a New York Times obituary this weekend.

Published: 9 Mar 2021