The United States Now Has an Official Center of Comedy
The National Comedy Center, located in Lucille Ball’s home of Jamestown, NY, was formally designated today as the nation’s official cultural institution dedicated to the art form of comedy.
“Comedy is an art form, and it’s a part America’s rich cultural history. I’m thrilled that Congress passed legislation designating Jamestown’s Comedy Center as the official National Comedy of the United States and been signed into law. The Comedy Center is a tourism magnet and now, finally, it has the national designation it so clearly deserves,” said Senator Charles Schumer. “I am incredibly proud to have played my part in enacting this legislation, to help this cultural institution continue attracting visitors from far and wide.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, about the Bill’s passage, “I am very excited that the Comedy Center has just been officially designated as the National Comedy Center. The National Comedy Center is a celebration of talent and has quickly become a must-see location in New York. This museum is a destination for families, tourists, and comedy lovers from all over the country. “When I visited the museum, it was clear that the Comedy Center should become a landmark in New York. That’s why I fought to make sure that this year’s Land’s Package would designate the museum as the National Comedy Center, and I’m proud to see this legislation signed into law.”
In a tremendous bi-partisan show of support, both the Senate and House of Representatives passed this bill in February, and The President signed it into law today, recognizing the Center as the “Official National Comedy Center of the United States.”
The bill, as written, recognizes that the National Comedy Center, located in Jamestown, New York, “exists for the exclusive purpose of celebrating comedy in all its forms” and officially designates the Center as the “National Comedy Center.” The passage of the National Comedy Center legislation, part of the bipartisan John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, was led by U.S. Senator Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Representative Tom Reed.
Opened in August 2018, the state-of-the-art, $50 million, 37,000 square museum complex is dedicated to presenting the vital story of comedy in America, and preserving its heritage for future generations. Based on the vision of Lucille Ball that her hometown become a destination for comedy; the National Comedy Center showcases comedy’s great minds and unique voices in ways that engage, inspire, educate and entertain.
“Jamestown is now to comedy what Cooperstown is to baseball and Cleveland is to rock and roll,” said Representative Tom Reed. “As the nation’s first state-of-the-art museum and cultural institution dedicated to presenting, preserving and celebrating the art form of comedy, there is no other place more deserving of full backing of the U.S. government as the nation’s home to comedy than the birthplace of Lucille Ball and the National Comedy Center.”
It’s exciting news, and we couldn’t think of a single place more deserving for National recognition in comedy. Read our review of the National Comedy Center here, and visit comedycenter.org for more info.
