Funny Thing About Minnesota . . .

The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of the Twin Cities Comedy Scene Author Patrick Strait Minnesota Historical Society Press (February 2, 2021) An insiders’ look at the land of ten thousand laughs—how Minneapolis became a hot spot for comedy. A lively look back at the wild eighties scene and the creative legacy it wrought. Description Before the Twin Cities established themselves as a hotbed for stand-up comedy, producing some of the biggest names in comedy history, the local scene consisted of five guys in a basement bar doing their best to make people laugh. The birth of Minnesota stand-up traces back to the 1970s and five people who paved the way: Scott Hansen, Louie Anderson, “Wild Bill” Bauer, Alex Cole, and Jeff Gerbino. The “original five” got their start performing in a Minneapolis dive bar called Mickey Finn’s, and together they led the charge in establishing one of the most vital and vibrant comedy scenes in the country. They opened clubs and comedy stages across the Cities, brought