During the 1940's and 1950's one of the swankiest hangouts in town was Ciro's. It became popular at a time when many in the entertainment industry were rubbing elbows with many in organized crime. Subsequently, Ciro's was destined to be a popular with one crowd if it was a popular with the other. Popular would be an understatement however, as it became one of the hottest clubs in the area.

It became the Comedy Store in 1972 and subsequently evolved to become a launching pad for many of today's well known comics. It has since hosted such acts as Bette Midler, Robin Williams, John Belushi, Gary Shandling, Michael Keaton and Arsenio Hall to name a few.

It is said to be haunted by the ghost of gangster Mickey Cohen who frequented the club. He is also known to have utilized the club's basement to conduct "mob business". Much paranormal activity appears to be focused on the basement of the club. It is expected that many brutal acts were commited there. As many as five entities are believed to haunt this building. On entity strikes witnesses and paranormal investigators as being deeply evil.

The doorman of The Comedy Store, Blake Clarke has experienced a menicing, hulking 7-foot entity of something not-quite-human in the basement. One night while closing, he witnessed a chair slide from one end of the stage to the other.

A man in a brown calfskin jacket appeared to Mr. Clarke and then vanished before his eyes. Later in the same day a man of the same description appeared to a different individual and then again vanished.

Late comedian Sam Kinison claimed to be heckled by ghosts.

Many believe that the ghosts of Mickey Cohen and his goons still walk among the tables at the Comedy Store although the basement is believed to be the principal area of "hair-raising".

The Comedy Store
8433 W. Sunset Blvd.

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