In the years after the Laugh Factory opened its doors and lit up its stage in 1979, owner Jamie Masada passed out complimentary passes for the new club to drum up support and community involvement. While canvassing Fairfax Street in West Hollywood, Masada handed out coupons valid for a free show and complimentary soda to the elderly that lived on the block. A retired married couple accepted the offer and attended the show, but did not look happy about it…. Read more

Jonnae Thompson doesn’t exactly fit the profile of a professional standup comedian. She’s young. She’s a woman. And she’s an English major. Thompson, 22, got her start as a professional comedian a year ago, and now is performing regularly at comedy clubs, such as the Comedy Store on Sunset – where some of the biggest names of comedy have performed, such as Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy. Being in the industry dominated by males, Thompson found that she stands out…. Read more