Club continues comedic tradition with Caravan

By Kelly Lucas
Summer Reporter

Instead of watching the tedious "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" each Tuesday night, watch something that's really supposed to make you laugh, in a good way.

The Knickerbocker Saloon in Downtown Lafayette is continuing the Comedy Caravan throughout the summer. Each Tuesday the Knickerbocker will host a variety of up and rising comedians.

Some of the comedians that have participated in the Comedy Caravan include now-famous entertainment greats, Paula Poundstone, Rosie O'Donnell and Sinbad. Some past performers have also gone on to write for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Arsenio Hall show, Late Night with David Letterman and various situation comedies.

"The summer is always the best time of year as far as the Caravan goes," said Nick Vukas, owner of the Knickerbocker. "The people you see today may be famous tomorrow. I like to say we feature pretty good guarantees and you're sure to get a pretty good laugh."

This summer, the Knickerbocker will feature such comedians as Greg Hahn, from "Make Me Laugh" on Comedy Central; Mark Knope, featured on "Stand-Up, Stand-Up!" and "Night Shift;" and Diane Alaimo, also featured on "Stand-Up, Stand-Up!" and "Showtime Comedy Club."

Vukas said this fall will mark the 18th season of the Comedy Caravan and the sixth year it has been held at the Knickerbocker. The Comedy Caravan started years ago at Nick's Billiard Café, in the Levee, when Nick's was a nightclub.

"The Comedy Caravan at Nick's was the most famous event at Nick's," said Vukas. "If you asked people what they remembered about Nick's, Seven out of 10 people would remember the Comedy Caravan; it was a very identifiable part of Nick's in those days."

Each night the Comedy Caravan was featured, Nick's had a packed house.

"Six years ago we decided to try something different," said Vukas. "I converted Nick's into a billiard café and, in an effort to continue with comedy, I put the Caravan down at the Knickerbocker."

However, the Comedy Caravan wasn't an immediate success at the Knickerbocker. In fact, it did so poorly the first year Vukas contemplated selling the rights to someone else.

Because the Knickerbocker was a much smaller venue and located in Lafayette, the Comedy Caravan wasn't as successful as it once was at Nick's in the Levee. However, by the summer of 1995 the shows were selling out.

Vukas said the majority of people who attend the Comedy Caravan are college students. "I think the reason we retain a lot of business is because the students make it their place to go on Tuesdays," said Vukas.

Now, patrons have to get to the Knickerbocker an hour early just to get a seat. "We start letting people in at 9 p.m. and by 9:15 or 9:30 it's full," said Vukas.

Each show starts at 10 p.m. with an opening comedian and a headlining comedian. Shows typically are 90 minutes long and there is a cover charge of $3.

• For more information, contact the Knickerbocker Saloon at 423-2234.