At Igby’s, Laughs Are Loudest on Saturdays

Saturday nights are lively at Igby’s.

Picture it two weekends ago: A capacity audience--mostly well-heeled, upwardly mobile people--settles down in anticipatory silence as the lights dim and an ebullient voice over the loudspeaker introduces the night’s emcee/warm-up act, Robert Lee.

Polite applause. A curl of blue drifts through the spotlight beam from the smokers’ side of the room. Glasses tinkle.

It doesn’t take long for the crowd to warm to Lee’s bawdy humor. Saturday night is Igby’s “L.A. Comic Strip” broadcast night, and the mood is electric--even for the early show. Channel 11 cameras mounted at the back of the room are aimed at the stage. By the time the first performer, comedian Dennis Wolfberg, takes the stage to regale the now “warmed-up” crowd with tales from his school-teaching days, the laughter is loud and continuous.

Igby’s seats 180 people at small, parlor-style tables and comfortably upholstered wall benches. It is tastefully decorated in the most approved L.A.-New Wave style, yet preserves a feeling of little-theater intimacy.

Pride of Ownership

“I’ve heard comics call this the jewel of rooms,” Igby’s owner Jan Smith says. “It can be a difficult room. Some acts just don’t work here. This crowd tends to like more intellectual humor. But you get the right comic, this place really gets going.”

Smith, a genuine born-and-bred Hollywood native (he attended Hollywood High), founded Igby’s almost four years ago. Formerly, he was part owner of the Ice House in Pasadena.

Smith’s interest in the performing arts dates back to when he studied drama at Cal State Northridge (when it was still called Valley State University) and film making at UCLA, before getting interested in marketing. The marketing experience paid off in terms of getting Igby’s off to a rousing start, though he now finds it less interesting than managing what has become one of the area’s most important showcases for young talent.

The idea of broadcasting Saturday night late shows came from Bob Morris, then-general manager of KTTV, who suggested it to Smith earlier this year. To Smith’s surprise and delight, even though Morris had subsequently left Fox Broadcasting, the station carried through with the idea a month ago, signing a contract for 13 weeks--depending on ratings, of course.

Some Tough Calls

Broadcasts begin at 11 p.m. and are produced by KTTV’s Joe Revello, who decides what material gets aired and what doesn’t--a tough call to make with some comics.

But even before Igby’s made it to TV, it was garnering attention for its featured comics in other ways. Comedian Bob (Bobcat) Goldthwait’s album “Meat Bob,” released this year, was recorded at Igby’s in October.

And Dana Carvey, who plays the Church Lady character on “Saturday Night Live,” was discovered at Igby’s by NBC chief Brandon Tartikoff and “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels. Igby’s has also participated in cable television’s “Showtime’s Comedy Club Network” shows.

Igby’s serves light meals and a variety of beverages including non-alcoholic drinks. The cover charge varies nightly between $6 and $8 per show plus a two-drink minimum. Evening entertainment frequently includes two comedians plus a surprise guest. Doors open at 7:30 nightly, first show at 8.

Igby’s Comedy Cabaret, 11637 Tennessee Place (north of Pico Boulevard), West Los Angeles; (213) 477-3553 .