A small comedy club that has operated in Old Town since 1978, Zanies books national touring stand-up comedians and local Chicago acts in a 200-seat room on North Wells Street. The club was where Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and a long list of other comedians developed their act before national recognition — it is historically significant to American comedy outside of the Second City improv tradition.
Zanies operates as a traditional comedy club with two-drink minimums and dinner available before shows. The room is small enough that no seat has a bad view. Tickets are reasonably priced relative to equivalent stand-up venues in other American cities. North Wells Street; L Brown Line to Sedgwick.