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Get ready to laugh

 A museum uses comedic proportions to salute the history of funny stuff.

By NICOLE BARDO-COLON
Published June 20, 2007

Tony Belmont says he got the idea for a National Comedy Hall of Fame in 1992 from famous comic Morey Amsterdam.

Sixteen years later Belmont's museum, a nonprofit, has opened in Madeira Beach at John's Pass.

The first thing that greets a visitor is a gift shop. Betty Boop figurines, gag gifts, comedy knickknacks and the like. Earnings from the shop help pay expenses, Belmont says.

Once the shop is left behind, the visitor enters the actual Hall of Fame - a large room filled with exhibits, artifacts and audio-visual performances by comedians, some famous and some lesser-known.

A board of celebrities and entertainers votes on the inductees, said Dean Doulou, vice president and comptroller of the museum.

"It goes out on a ballot and they vote annually, " he said. The number of voting celebrities "varies each year. Some years it's in the hundreds and other years it's 130." Doulou said most of the board consists of members of the New York Friars Club and the Friars Club of Beverley Hills, a social organization of comedians and entertainers.

Inductees include William "Bud" Abbott, Lou Costello, Richard Pryor, Jackie "Moms" Mabley, Lucille Ball and Red Skelton.

Seventeen cameras spread throughout the room show clips of routines by famous comedians. Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" is there.

There are short features on the history of comedy produced by Belmont. The room is wall to wall with facts and memorabilia, and Belmont said he has letters and correspondence to authenticate the items.

He hopes that the museum will entertain as well as educate people about the "six areas of comedy:" vaudeville, radio, stand-up, theater, film and television. He said he will expand when he gets more sponsors.

Belmont said he would have a comprehensive library of comedy history in the form of books, audio and video if the city would give him a building to display it in.

"We have always been limited in our financial contributions for non-profits because Madeira Beach has limited resources, " said City Manager Jill Silverboard. "We are even more strained financially now after property tax reform."

Silverboard said they plan to acknowledge the museum in their community newsletter and provide a link from the city's Web site.

"It is not a direct financial contribution but there is certainly a sense of appreciation , " she said.

Belmont grew up in the Bronx, but said he has been in Florida for many years. He acknowledges he has cleared a few obstacles over the years, including people trying to use the name Comedy Hall of Fame.

"I've sued over 14 companies over the years, " he said.

Although his federal trademark was suspended in March - Belmont said he fell ill and was unable to get his paperwork in on time - the museum is still trademarked in Florida. Belmont said he has trademarks in all other 49 states as well as Canada and England.

"We are the Comedy Hall of Fame, " he said. "This is the real McCoy."

The museum had a soft opening in May.

"We want to get all the nuts and bolts right before we have a grand opening, " Belmont said.

Nicole Bardo-Colon can be reached at 893-8779 or nbardo-colon@sptimes.com.

IF YOU GO:

The National Comedy Hall of Fame Museum

Where: 154 129th Ave. W

Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays

For more information: 398-5761

What you'll find:

- The original Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smith dummies

- Minnie Pearl's hat and dress

- The original Our Gang scrapbook

[Last modified June 20, 2007, 01:46:45]