National Comedy Hall Of Fame To Bring Laughs Back Into Lives

HOLIDAY, FL — After years in the planning, a museum dedicated to getting the last laugh is now open in Holiday, and its founder believes it's well-placed to become a major tourist attraction for Pasco County.

The 12,000-square-foot National Comedy Hall of Fame has taken up permanent residence at Holiday Tower, 2435 U.S. 19, featuring a museum, rare short comedy films, a theater, a comedy club and comedy school.

Tony Belmont, who now lives in Seminole, was a longtime producer and agent for nationally known comedians. He helped found the National Comedy Hall of Fame and now serves as president of the organization. But Belmont isn't taking all the credit.

In 1991, Belmont said he was approached by comedians Jan Murray, Morey Amsterdam, Sid Caesar and Milton Berle at the L.A. Friar’s Club.

"At the time, there was no official organization that honored the work of comedians or the history of comedy," Belmont said.

The comedians tagged Belmont to remedy that oversight. Belmont didn't take the task lightly.

He drew on his previous experience producing major musical, television and award shows. He earned credentials in museum management, interviewed top comedians across the country, tapped his connections in the entertainment industry and visited more than 100 museums to see their design and operations. He then handled all the paperwork required to set up the hall of fame as a nonprofit organization.

With the support of actors, writers, musicians and comedians, the National Comedy Hall of Fame became an official organization, authorized by the Library of Congress as the official museum of comedy history for the United States and trademarked in the United States, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Canada.

Belmont officially kicked off the National Comedy Hall of Fame with a 90-minute live cable television show at the Grand Ole Opry to induct country comedian Minnie Pearl into the hall of fame. The show was viewed by more than 13 million people.

After a few years of development, the National Comedy Hall of Fame opened a traveling museum, visiting cities all across the United States.

"Our traveling show called, The Comedy Time-Tunnel, continues to perform all over the United States," Belmont said. "The show consists of recorded interviews, rare footage and trivia games that interacts with audience members to teach them about the history of comedy."

In 2007, the museum found a home at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach but, due to capacity limits, had to seek a larger facility.

Realtor David Spezza, manager of EPRE Plantation Plaza LLC, which owns Holiday Tower, had the perfect spot. For Spezza, the assignment became a calling. Now he serves as vice president of the National Comedy Hall of Fame.

"I really fell in love with the cause of preserving history and helping those who have helped us laugh through the years," Spezza said. "You'll see how comedy evolved from the Greeks, how it grew through theater, early vaudeville, into radio, and eventually TV."

Belmont is especially proud of the museum, which includes more than 1,800 pieces of memorabilia donated by comedians, magicians, ventriloquists and fans of comedy. The $3 million inventory features one of the largest ventriloquist puppet collections in the Southeast including Shari Lewis's original Lamp Chop and Howdy Doody puppets, original movie posters, comedy albums,studio photographs and more.

Short films that display rare footage accompany each comedian’s exhibit, like Charlie Chaplin’s slapstick, Jack Benny’s violin dexterity and Phyllis Diller’s wit.

Since its founding, the organization has inducted 23 comedians into the Hall of Fame including Abbott and Costello, Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Charlie Chaplin, Milton Berle, Laurel and Hardy, George Kirby, Jimmy Durante, George Carlin, W.C. Fields, Jackie Gleason, Flip Wilson, Bob Newhart, David Letterman and Richard Pryor.

In addition to honoring comic legends, the Comedy Hall of Fame is committed to supporting up-and-coming comedians and inspiring budding comedians. As the state continues to reopen following the coronavirus shutdowns, the hall of fame will host featured comedians and classes for kids, teens and adults in improvisation acting, professional emcee training, stand-up comedy and the business of comedy.

After officially opening the hall of fame in Holiday in December 2019, the Comedy Hall of Fame, like many area organizations, was waylaid by the coronavirus pandemic. The museum is now back open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. with reservations.

Admission is $10 for senior citizens and military, $12 for adults and $50 for an annual pass.

During October, the Comedy Hall of Fame will host a special showing of Our Gang comedies in its movie theater adhering to all coronavirus safety guidelines.

In the hopes of attracting more tourists to the nonprofit museum, supporters have launched a Change.org petition to purchase two billboards advertising the Comedy Hall of Fame along U.S. 19.

The museum is also raising funds by inviting comedy fans to purchase an engraved brick for $100 to be placed in the museum's entry walkway. Click here for information.

This article originally appeared on the New Port Richey Patch