Things have been quiet at 1118 First Ave. since a club formerly run by comedy legend Rodney Dangerfield shuttered in 2020.
A new owner predicts that 2024, however, will be the year when laughter returns.
On New Years Eve, Dangerfield’s Comedy Club will finally reopen, according to local comic and owner, Mark Yosef, bringing respect — and laughs — back to Lenox Hill.
The club — which will operate under a new to-be-determined name — will host a comedy show and a tribute as the final hours of 2023 ring out.
At a September Community Board 8 meeting, Yosef revealed a few details of what to expect at his new, 200-person club on First Avenue near East 61st Street.
The club will remain open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with shows most likely wrapping up around midnight, and comedy fans will be able to supplement their laughter with hors d’oeuvres and upscale cocktails.
A spokesperson for Yousef said in August that the club will focus on featuring a modern, inclusive comedy scene, showcasing up-and-comers as well as established veterans.
The club would also host open mic hours earlier in the evening in addition to two later headline shows. There would not be a late show during the week, Yosef said.
And with a cannabis shop set to one day open directly across the street, comedians might be able to count on a consistently giggling crowd.
Last spring, another comedy fan applied for a liquor license during his bid to revive the club — and the Dangerfield name — prior to inking a lease, only for the deal to fizzle out in the end, the applicant told Patch.
Dangerfield opened his eponymous club in 1969, providing the neighborhood with 50 years of laughs from stars such as Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Roseanne and Chris Rock.
Iconic scenes from the 2019 film “Joker” were also shot in the groundbreaking club. But the laughter stopped in October 2020, when pandemic restrictions forced the club to close permanently.
Anyone interested in attending the New Year’s Eve show should email him at marklawrencecomic@gmail.com.
