100 Years of Stand-Up Comedy with Nina G

San Francisco, and North Beach in particular, holds a special place in the history of the performing arts—and comedy in particular. From the early days of Beat poetry readings, gatherings which themselves were frequently underground, clandestine activities, to the days of drag shows and the topless revolution, perhaps it’s San Francisco’s “anything goes” reputation that’s motivated several generations of comedians to give it a go here.

In Bay Area Stand-up Comedy: A Humorous History, authors (and comedians themselves) Nina G and OJ Patterson examine the rich, hilarious tradition of stand-up, highlighting some of its most noteworthy and notorious figures, past and present.

Join Nina G at the Beat Museum for
“100 Years of Stand-Up Comedy in North Beach:
How San Francisco Changed Comedy Forever!”
Thursday, February 17th at 7pm

“The comedians of the San Francisco Bay Area changed comedy forever. From visiting acts like Richard Pryor, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg to local favorites who still maintain their following and legacy, the Bay Area has long been a place for comedians to develop their voice and hone their stand-up skills. Popular spots included Cobb’s, The Punch Line, hungry i, the Purple Onion, Tommy T’s, Brainwash and the holy grail of San Francisco comedy during the 1980s boom, the Holy City Zoo. For more than seventy years, these iconic venues and others fostered talents like Mort Sahl, Phyllis Diller, Smothers Brothers, Kevin Meaney, Paula Poundstone, Dana Carvey, W. Kamau Bell, Margaret Cho, Chelsea Peretti, Andy Samberg, Ali Wong, Moshe Kasher and (of course) Robin Williams, introducing them to local crowds and the world beyond. Join comedians Nina G and OJ Patterson on a hilarious and thoughtful tour through the history of Bay Area comedy.” Read more about the book here.

Nina G is a comedian, professional speaker, comedy historical consultant and author of Stutterer Interrupted and Bay Area Stand-Up Comedy: A Humorous History.

She has been featured in/on everything from NPR’s 51%, BBC’s Ouch, Psychology Today, Tedx, KQED radio and multiple day time talk shows and podcasts.

Nina shares her wit and wisdom with corporations, colleges, libraries, conferences, and community events. Her no nonsense approach to disability awareness and acceptance helps to bring institutions, communities and individuals to deepen their understanding of the disability and bring practical approaches to making a more inclusive society.