Blog Post

Steve Martin: The Origins of a Wild and Crazy Guy

  • By Adam Carston
  • 05 Dec, 2017

Guest Blogger Adam Carston brings us another story of greatness foretold!


By the early 1970s, Steve Martin was a young comedian and writer who had amassed a respectable resume in television. Martin was a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and appeared on talk shows hosted by luminaries, like Steve Allen, Merv Griffin, and Mike Douglas, but he was still unsatisfied. Working as a writer was no longer enough for Martin. He wanted to dedicate himself fulltime to his true passion, stand up comedy.

Steve Martin gave himself an ultimatum in his late twenties: either make it as a stand up by the age of thirty or find a new line or work. Martin did not take this challenge lightly and embarked on a herculean touring schedule that would make or break him. The comedian played virtually every small club and college he could, in an attempt to hone his comedy skills. “For the next few years, I was on the road with an itinerary designed by the Marquis de Sade,” Martin recalls in his memoir, Born Standing Up.

The road would become his proving ground, for better or worse. While on this grueling tour schedule, Steve Martin found himself on Chicago’s Rush Street, playing the legendary club, Mister Kelly’s.   Beginning in mid-August of 1971, Martin played a two-week engagement at the club as an opener for the singer Oliver. Today, Oliver is best remembered for his 1969 cover of “Good Morning Starshine,” from the musical Hair.

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While on this grueling tour schedule, Steve Martin found himself on Chicago’s Rush Street, playing the legendary club, Mister Kelly’s.   Beginning in mid-August of 1971, Martin played a two-week engagement at the club as an opener for the singer Oliver. Today, Oliver is best remembered for his 1969 cover of “Good Morning Starshine,” from the musical Hair

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Martin credits performing at intimate venues, like Mister Kelly’s, with allowing him to experiment with his act. “With no critical eyes watching,” Martin recalls, he could try his “boldest, or dumbest, ideas and put them on stage.” During this period, Martin felt free to try anything. His act consisted of an odd mixture of one-liners, juggling, meta commentary on showbiz, magic, and banjo playing. Nothing was off limits. The hip audience at Mister Kelly’s would became the test subjects and Martin’s comedy laboratory.

Those who saw Martin’s 1971 appearances at Mister Kelly’s, appeared to be struck by two things; his act was quirky but very funny. Mister Kelly’s light operator, Marion Booker, remembers vividly Martin’s experimental stage act. One night, she recalls, Martin went behind the club’s stage curtain, which had nothing but a brick wall behind it, and stayed there for several minutes after his set was over, in order to play with the audience. Booker also remembers the comedian’s impressive music skills on stage: “you could really tell he was a banjo virtuoso even then.”



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Local journalists were also intrigued by Martin’s antics on stage, if not a little perplexed. The Chicago Tribune’s Will Leonard would remark that Steve Martin “was as nutty as peanut brittle” and described the comic as “a thorough surprise.” Martin’s bold choices and willingness to experiment with off-beat humor, was quickly winning him fans in Chicago.

While Martin’s act was zany, it was certainly never haphazard. Steve Martin payed close attention to how audiences responded his act in small venues, like Mister Kelly’s, and this allowed him to hone his raw material into a razor sharp act. “In the smaller venues I was free to gamble with material, and there were a few evenings when crucial mutations affected my developing act,” Martin recalls.

 


 

These gambles would pay off in the following years, as Martin’s refined oddball act would eventually launch him into super stardom. By the end of the decade Steve Martin would no longer be playing 200 seat comedy venues, like Mister Kelly’s. Instead he would be headlining stadium shows, releasing platinum selling comedy records, acting in hit films, and arguably became the biggest comedian of his generation.

Martin’s gambit of hitting the road and working a sadistic schedule, paid off for him tenfold. The constant grind of touring would shape Steve Martin’s once unremarkable comedy act into pearls of comedy perfection. Like those who came before him, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Joan Rivers, Shelley Berman, Martin would utilize the Mister Kelly’s intimate stage as a stepping stone to greatness.


 

By Rick Kogan, CHICAGO TRIBUNE | May 20, 2021 26 May, 2021
From the Chicago Tribune's files: Mister Kelly's was a legendary nightclub on Rush Street in Chicago from 1953 to 1975. The club launched the career for many comedians, jazz musicians and other entertainers. It was owned and operated by brothers Oscar and George Marienthal. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune)
By Laura Washington, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES | May 14, 2021 26 May, 2021
Dick Gregory cracked the place up. Richard Pryor brought the house down. Ella Fitzgerald’s scats hit the ceiling. Sarah Vaughan’s succulent notes made you swoon.
By Rick Kogan, CHICAGO TRIBUNE | Apr. 21, 2017 26 May, 2021

When he was young, David Marienthal wanted nothing to do with the family business, even though his family's business was as hip and successful as a family business could be.

His father, George, and uncle, Oscar, ran three of the most renowned nightclubs in the country. For almost the entire third quarter of the 20th century, Mister Kelly's, the London House and the Happy Medium hosted a parade of a musical and comedic talent that would define American entertainment at the time and influence coming generations.

"I'd been going to the clubs since I was a young boy, getting all dressed up," says Marienthal, who was born in 1951. "And there was some talk of us (he and younger brothers Philip and James) of one day getting in the business. But as a teenager I had long hair, torn jeans and …. Well, that just wasn't going to happen."

So off he went to college here and there, eventually getting a degree and working as an architect and builder in Sante Fe, N.M.; coming back here to open and run for 17 years the successful Blue Mesa restaurant on Halsted Street with brother Philip; studying and getting a teacher certificate at the School of the Art Institute; moving to California to teach and paint. In 2010 he was back, doing arts consulting and managing some real estate.

But three years ago, he did, in a fashion, return to the family business, devoting his time, energy and resources to researching, interviewing and gathering materials about his father and uncle's clubs for what he hopes will be a book or a documentary or both. Or more.

There is already a Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/misterkellyschicago ) and websites ( www.happymediumventures.com  and www.misterkellyschicago.com ) and, says Marienthal, "we are posting two or three things a day on other social media sites (such as Twitter and Instagram) and the response has been not only gratifying but amazing, mostly from the 18-35 year old crowd."

This is how he puts a possible TV series — already with a script being pitched to producers — on his website:

By Joe Alterman 22 Jun, 2018
Millennial pianist Joe Alterman plays with the greats...
By Jeremy Bucher 10 May, 2018
Guest Blogger Jeremy Bucher tells how London House aided and abetted Herbie Hancock's Jazz revolution.
By David Marienthal and Tory Foster 01 Mar, 2018
On Monday, May 21 at Chicago's City Winery, eight outstanding Chicago vocalists recreate the epic recordings of Sarah Vaughan at the legendary Chicago nightclubs, Mister Kelly's and the London House. The January Ella Fitzgerald concert sold out quickly and garnered rave reviews.
Join us to support the legacy of Mister Kelly's and the documentary film being produced by David Marienthal with WTTW Chicago Public Media, directed by Philip Koch.
This two-act concert features Kimberly Gordon, Sophie Grimm, Lynne Jordan, Frieda Lee, LaShera Moore, Daryl Nitz, Jeannie Tanner, and Ellen Winters. Musical direction by Andrew Blendermann, with Joe Policastro on bass, Phil Gratteau on drums. Special guest performance by a Chicago high school student protege from ChiArts.
By David Marienthal and Tory Foster 08 Dec, 2017

Happy Medium Ventures and Daryl Nitz Entertainment present:

Ella Live at Mister Kelly's: a benefit performance and preview for the documentary film, “Mister Kelly’s: Wasn’t It a Time?”

Monday, January 29, 2018  

City Winery Chicago  at 1200 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607

$25-$40

For tickets go to Ella at Mister Kelly’s  

 

Ella Live at Mr. Kelly's

 

On August 10, 1958, Ella Fitzgerald recorded her “Live at Mister Kelly’s” LP. In 2007 the concert was remastered and re-released in its entirety, including the early and late sets.  This Ella centennial celebration concert presents the entire concert, without song duplication, of both sets.  Featuring such songs as "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Summertime," "Witchcraft," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Stardust," and many more from the classic American songbook of Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Porter, and others. Featuring Sophie Grimm, Lynne Jordan, Frieda Lee, Liz Mandeville, LaShera Moore, Daryl Nitz, Alina Taber, and Ellen Winters. Musical direction by Andrew Blendermann, with Joe Policastro on bass, Phil Gratteau on drums.

Mister Kelly’s: Wasn’t It a Time

Mister Kelly’s Once called a “supernova in the local and national night life firmament,” the legendary Mister Kelly’s illuminated legendary Chicago’s Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, Bette Midler, Herbie Hancock, and Richard Pryor. It’s visionary owners George and Oscar Marienthal smashed color and gender barriers to put fresh, irreverent voices on stage and transform entertainment, as America knew it in the 50s, 60s, and ’70s.

Now, with the club long gone, and its star talent reaching its golden years, George’s son David, goes on a quest to collect the memories of the clubs before they are lost. Celebrity interviews now include Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, Dick Gregory, Lainie Kazan, Dick Cavett, Shecky Greene and Ramsey Lewis. Interviews with dozens of local musicians, staff, family, and patrons provide a delightful balance with engaging stories, rich with vintage detail. Discussions are underway to interview Woody Allen, Lilly Tomlin, Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Steve Martin and others.

The film will portray through interviews, live footage, photos, music, and song, the most beloved and famous talent of our time at the decisive moments when they showed up, dug deep, and broke in. How do you change the world with a laugh and a song? Find out in a film that documents the rise and fall of one of American entertainment's great proving grounds.  

 

Check out the hot sizzle reel and read Rick Kogan’s story in the Chicago Tribune and the links below for more about this exciting new film.

•      Chicago Tribune Story: http://trib.in/2pZT07H

•      Website: http://www.misterkellyschicago.com

•      Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/misterkellyschicago

 

 

Happy Medium Ventures is the leading curator and steward of legendary Chicago nightlife venues, London House, Mister Kelly’s, the Happy Medium, and the Rush Street scene, from 1946-1970’s; the epicenter of Chicago’s entertainment scene. Today, Happy Medium Ventures is reviving this bygone era for a new generation of fans through an unprecedented collection of photos, recordings, press clipping. First-person interviews include key players in the Rush Street scene — from celebrity performers at London House, Mister Kelly’s and other Rush Street venues, to the employees behind the scenes, patrons of the nightspots, family and friends. Happy Medium Ventures aims to capture the fun and excitement through a documentary film, a new TV series, vibrant social media and other original content about this captivating chapter of Chicago history.

 

Daryl Nitz Entertainment is an event-concert production company specializing in shows that celebrate cultural anniversaries and historical recreations.  Operating since 2004, with such show as “Judy at Carnegie,” “Voices of Chicago,” “Ladies Sing the Blues: a centennial birthday concert for Billie Holiday,” “It Was a Very Good Year: a centennial birthday concert for Frank Sinatra,” “Above Us Only Sky: John Lennon at 75,” “That’s Amore: a Dean Martin centennial celebration” and many more.

 


By Adam Carston 15 Sep, 2017

 

The Mister Kelly’s team is overwhelmed by the incredibly talented and generous people that we have met, while creating our archive of the Marienthal Brother’s legendary nightlife empire. From colorful Rush St. regulars to famous performers, and everyone in-between, it has been a thrill. One of the most exciting encounters has been working with the renowned photographer, Art Shay. At the age of 95, Art is truly a legend in his own time.

            Shay began his career as a writer and journalist, but after showing a great eye for capturing images, soon transitioned into a career as a photographer. Based out of Chicago, he became one the nation premier photographers, working for major publications such as Life, Time, and Sport Illustrated. Art Shay photographed everything, from historic moments (1968 Democratic Convention) and iconic personalities (Muhammad Ali, The Rat Pack, President Kennedy), to street photography that captured the everyday life of average Americans. In the process he became one of the most celebrated artists of his medium and a Chicago legend.

            In light of this, we were honored when Mr. Shay was kind enough to donate one of his brilliant works to our project recently. The print is a wonderful slice of Chicago’s Rush Street from the 1960s. The photo was taken outside of The Happy Medium and features actor Tom Williams dressed as a child, holding a toy boat.

            Why is a grown man dressed as a child? Why a toy boat? Well, this can be explained. Tom Williams was part of was a comic review, produced by the Marienthal Brothers, called Put it In Writing . In the political satire, Williams plays America’s youngest president (an obvious nod to the newly elected JFK), who still has some childlike features. Put it in Writing would become the biggest play to originate at The Happy Medium and, after a long run in Chicago, it eventually made its way to New York for an off-Broadway production.

            We are humbled to receive this generous gift from such a preeminent artist. The photo is a brilliant image of mid-century Chicago history, from one of the men who documented it best. The photo will be cherished and used in our mission to record this unique piece of Chicago and American history. We wish to give a heartfelt thank you to our friend Art Shay, who contributed this beautiful photo to the Mister Kelly’s archive.



By Sam Fazio 19 Aug, 2017

Guest Blogger Sam Fazio is a popular Chicago vocalist. He  writes about Chicago’s own Mel Tormé, who appeared at Mister Kelly’s many times over the years.


A Kid from the South Side

Born Melvin Howard Tormé in 1925 on the south side to Jewish Russian immigrants, he started singing at a very young age of four with the Coon-Sanders Orchestra, performing at Chicago's Blackhawk restaurant. He continued his early career on radio series, playing drums and writing songs—all before high school graduation.


   

By David Marienthal and Tory Foster 25 May, 2017

Mister Kelly's is excited to welcome our newest young guest-blogger, Historian Adam Carston: Simply put, there is American comedy before Richard Pryor, and American comedy after Richard Pryor. With his combination of fearless honesty, provocative language, streetwise cool, and political savvy, he separated himself from other stand-ups. In the process, he also inspired a generation of comedians and cut a new path for them to travel. But Pryor’s famous, challenging persona was not born overnight.  It took years of hard work and experience, and a good measure of pain and go-to-hell abandon to fully define it. While there are multiple chapters in Richard Pryor’s emergence as a cultural icon, some key moments that would help shape his career, worldview and revolutionary comedic style took place at none other than Chicago’s entertainment hot spot on the forefront of political change: Mister Kelly’s.


   

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