Bar hosts weekly comedy acts

By Kyle Boggs
Senior Writer

On Tuesday night, the atmosphere at The Knickerbocker Saloon was filled with cigarette smoke, crowded conversation and laughter.

However, unlike many area bars, laughter was the main focus of attention, as it is every Tuesday night at the Knickerbocker.

Nearly 100 people came to the Knickerbocker not just to drink, smoke and laugh with friends, but also to enjoy the weekly comedy shows that take place at 10:30 p.m. every Tuesday.

Backstage, drinking domestic light beers, the featured comedians of the night, Joe Morrison; who formerly won an award for "best comedy act" at the University of Texas, and Steve Gregg, who always enjoys coming back to the Knickerbocker, enjoyed each other's company as they read over their notes to prepare for their coming sets.

"It’s a great crowd here, I usually do pretty well," said Gregg. "Of course, it usually depends on how much they’ve ‘purchased’ (at the bar)."

Topics of conversation included the latest McDonald’s monopoly scam and other comedians "in the business" that they like and dislike.

"He’s great, I’d love to work with him, said Gregg about one comedian. "Oh, he’s a hack, not funny at all," said Morrison about another.

Nick Vukas, the owner of both Nick’s and The Knickerbocker Saloon, is in his 18th year hosting the weekly comedy show, "Comedy Caravan."

"For a bar that’s not strictly a comedy club, ‘Comedy Caravan’ is the second longest running comedy act in the country," said Vukas. "We’ve done over 900 shows."

"Comedy Caravan" originally started at Nick’s, and wasn’t as popular as it is today according to Vukas.

"It took a while for the word to get out; now it’s pretty big and profitable," he said. "We get a lot of college-aged students that come back every week."

Through the years, "Comedy Caravan" has been the host to such comedians as Sinbad, Mark Cline, Tommy Davidson, Ellen DeGeneres and many writers for late night talk shows; such as those hosted by David Lettermen, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brian.

Vukas locates his featured comedians through an agency called "Funny Business." He has worked with Tom Sobel, one of the top producers in the country, since 1983. He just recently began "doing funny business" with John Yodder, another successful producer.

Vukas encourages everyone to check out the saloon’s web site at www.Knickerbockersaloon.com for a schedule of events. The Knickerbocker Saloon is located at 113 North Fifth Street in downtown Lafayette.

FEATURES DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 256

Features editor:
Megan Finnerty

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org