All Jokes Journal - Sept. 3

Chicago businessman Raymond Lambert and I have just under a month to complete the book we're working on and turn it into publisher Agate, also based in Chicago.

The book will tell both Raymond's life story and chronicle the rise and fall of All Jokes Aside, the groundbreaking comedy club he and business partner James Alexander operated in the '90s. The book will tell a more in-depth story than the movie Phunny Business, a documentary about All Jokes that is airing on Showtime.

       Watch the Phunny Business trailer by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ6mJoePHd4

I was recently browsing through the transcripts of the interviews Raymond did for Phunny Business. This box of transcripts is like the Holy Grail of Comedy - no disrespect to Monty Python and gang.

The transcripts include an interview with Chris Gardner, whose life was the basis of the best-selling book and blockbuster movie The Pursuit of Happyness. Before opening All Jokes, Raymond worked as an investment banker at Chris' firm.

I also sorted through transcripts for comedian Steve Harvey and Chicago-based radio host Doug Banks. Harvey did one of his first interviews on Doug's show to promote his first appearance at All Jokes in '91. Of course, Steve went on to host not only his own nationally syndicated radio show, but a television talk show and the Family Feud game show as well.

Going through these transcripts was like touching pieces of show biz history.