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The Second City - 50 Years of Funny
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Co-founders Bernie Sahlins, Paul Sills and Howard Alk came out of the intellectual world of the University of Chicago, where they'd played in a comedy troupe called the Compass Players. In 1959, they saw an opportunity to break out of the buttoned-down 1950s and capitalize on the growing counterculture movement, and they opened a theater in a storefront on Chicago’s near North Side that used to house a Chinese laundry.
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The Second City brand has expanded far beyond the Windy City. The Second City Toronto has been a fixture for close to 40 years, producing many of the franchise's biggest stars.
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The '80s and '90s proved a fertile ground for Second City types to make the leap into the character-based world of the weekly comedic series, with Cheers (George Wendt, Shelley Long), Fernwood Tonight (Fred Willard) and Everybody Loves Raymond (Peter Boyle).
Where would Seinfeld have been without The Second City providing a training ground for its Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and its Frank Costanza (Jerry Stiller)?
Others chose the path of cinema stardom, hopping from Second City to the silver screen (sometimes via SNL). This would include Mike Meyers (Wayne's World, Austin Powers), Chris Farley (Tommy Boy, Beverly Hills Ninja) and Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
Where would Seinfeld have been without The Second City providing a training ground for its Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and its Frank Costanza (Jerry Stiller)?
Others chose the path of cinema stardom, hopping from Second City to the silver screen (sometimes via SNL). This would include Mike Meyers (Wayne's World, Austin Powers), Chris Farley (Tommy Boy, Beverly Hills Ninja) and Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
And still going strong!! Some more pics ...
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50 years, 50 famous names
Alan Alda: Star of the TV series M*A*S*H as well as numerous plays and films.
Alan Arkin: A 45-year film career; Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine.
Ed Asner: Best known as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Dan Aykroyd: SNL comedian, actor, Canadian, vintner.
Jim Belushi: Star of sitcom According to Jim.
John Belushi: Best remembered for films like The Blues Brothers.
Shelley Berman: Standup comedian noted for telephone routines.
Peter Boyle: Frank Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond.
John Candy: Johnny LaRue on SCTV; movies such as Uncle Buck.
Steve Carell: The Office on TV; The 40 Year Old Virgin on screen.
Dan Castellaneta: The voice of Homer Simpson.
Stephen Colbert: The Colbert Report; say no more.
Andy Dick: NewsRadio, Less Than Perfect, The Andy Dick Show.
Bob Dishy: Stage actor; Liza Minnelli's first leading man in 1965.
Brian Doyle Murray: Brother of Bill; TV comedian and film actor.
Rachel Dratch: SNL regular and stage comedienne.
Jayne Eastwood: Canadian stage and screen actor.
Chris Farley: SNL and films such as Tommy Boy and Black Sheep.
Tina Fey: SNL and creator/star/writer of 30 Rock.
Joe Flaherty: SCTV's Count Floyd and numerous TV and films.
Valerie Harper: Star of Rhoda; stage career in roles such as Golda Meir.
Barbara Harris: Broadway musical star; also in Altman's Nashville.
Peter Keleghan: Star of The Newsroom, Made in Canada and The Red Green Show.
Elvira Kurt: Host of entertainment satire/talk show PopCultured.
Robert Klein: Star of stage (They're Playing our Song) and stand-up.
Linda Lavin: Tony-winning stage actor and star of TV series Alice.
Eugene Levy : SCTV's Bobby Bitman; popular film actor (American Pie).
Shelley Long: Star of sitcom Cheers, where she played Diane.
Andrea Martin: Tony Award-winning stage actor and comedian.
Bob Martin: Tony-winning author/star of The Drowsy Chaperone.
Elaine May: Half of Nichols and May, well-known film director (The Heartbreak Kid)
Paul Mazursky: Director of An Unmarried Woman, Blume in Love.
Tim Meadows: SNL and star of The Ladies' Man. Recurring character on The Colbert Report.
Anne Meara: Partner of Jerry Stiller; popular TV and film actress.
Colin Mochrie: Versatile star and host (Whose Line Is It Anyway?)
Bill Murray: SNL to films such as Groundhog Day and Zombieland.
Mike Myers: SNL; Wayne's World, Austin Powers, The Love Guru.
Mike Nichols: Nichols and May; Tony- & Oscar-winning director. Most recently, Spamalot.
Gilda Radner: SNL; beloved comic and performer.
Harold Ramis: SCTV; writer/director of Caddyshack and Analyze This.
Paul Sand: Improvisational comic and star of Friends and Lovers on TV.
Horatio Sanz: SNL cast member.
Dick Schaal: Appeared in numerous sitcoms in '70s and '80s.
Avery Schreiber: Half of Burns and Schreiber, abrasive comedy team.
Martin Short: Tony Award-winning stage, screen and television star.
David Steinberg: Stand-up comedian, producer, writer, host.
Jerry Stiller: Partner of Anne Meara; regular on Seinfeld.
Dave Thomas: SCTV, one of the McKenzie Brothers.
Nia Vardalos: Writer and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
George Wendt: Best known as Norm on Cheers.
Fred Willard: Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Fernwood Tonight.
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