The Spirits of the Comedy Store

Posted: 05.08.2025 | Updated: 05.08.2025

You would think the history of a comedy club would be filled with a lot of laughs and funny incidents. In the case of the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, though, you would be wrong. 

This legendary haunt of iconic comedians like Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, Larry David, Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, Johnny Carson, and countless others has quite a storied past when you dig into it.

It has quite a lot of ghosts wandering the stage and bar area, too. 

Yes, this particular club has more going on in the dark than just laughing customers, and this blog seeks to compile all of the reported ghost activity there. Hopefully, it helps any would-be ghost hunters be prepared when they walk through the doors of the Comedy Store on their next trip to LA. 

After you’re done reading, we’re sure you’ll want to learn even more about haunted Hollywood and the comedy scene of California. One of the best ways to learn more about these ghosts is by booking an in-person ghost tour with us at LA Ghosts.

Is the Comedy Store Haunted? 

Almost certainly. From ghost experts to club staff to visitors to the stand-up comedians themselves, there have been so many eyewitnesses to mysterious events in the Comedy Store that it’s almost impossible to claim that something weird isn’t going on here. 

Comedy Store History

The history of the comedy store doesn’t actually begin with comedians at all. In fact, it has nothing to do with the entertainment world either. No, before achieving legendary status in the comedy world, the Comedy Store started out as a supper club in the 1940s and 1950s and was known to be frequented by mafiosos and gangsters. 

This mob-affiliated supper club was called Ciro’s. Despite its reputation (or perhaps because of it), it achieved a glitzy reputation and drew celebrities and bigwigs from all over California. 

Eventually, however, the Mob would fade in power, and Ciro’s was up for grabs. Comedian Sammy Shore and his wife Mitzi Shore (parents of future movie star Pauly Shore) ended up purchasing the place in 1972 to accommodate the growing comedy scene in LA. However, even though it was technically a joint effort, the Comedy Store was really Mitzi’s baby. 

As a traveling comedian, Sammy Shore was on the road constantly, which meant that the aesthetic, vibe, upkeep, and day-to-day operations of the Store ultimately fell to Mitzi. 

She coined the name “The Comedy Store” and came up with many innovative ideas, like blacking out the walls so that the focus was always on the performer. She was known for nurturing up-and-coming talent and favored honest performers over polished ones. 

Eventually, Sammy and Mitzi would divorce, and Mitzi would retain full ownership of the club. Although she passed away in 2018, her legacy lives on in the Comedy Store and in the countless comedians who owe their success to her giving them a break.

Hauntings at the Comedy Store

However, despite her enduring legacy, not everyone was thrilled with Mitzi Shore’s tenure. In particular, some of the comedians were very disgruntled with her management style. 

Jerry Seinfeld, famously, was no fan of hers. After Mitzi refused to give him more stage time despite him being a big-name draw, Seinfeld refused to continue doing sets at the Comedy Store, and the two never reconciled. 

While Seinfeld and Mitzi’s relationship ended as a petty feud, other relationships ended more dramatically and tragically. Comedian Steve Lubetkin was one of the many performers at the Comedy Store who, in the 70s and 80s, were talking about unionizing. These unionizing efforts came about because, at the time, comedians weren’t actually paid for their sets at the Comedy Store.  

Mitzi shut those unionizing efforts down and refused to let some striking comedians return to perform. Lubetkin was one of these blacklisted performers. That, compounded with the inner demons he, like many comedians before him, was already dealing with, led to him doing something drastic. 

He ended up taking his own life outside the Comedy Store. In his suicide note, he included the line “My name is Steve Lubetkin. I used to work at The Comedy Store.” Apparently, Lubetkin hoped that his death might help resolve the labor dispute and bring better working conditions for the comedians of Los Angeles. 

It’s said that his ghost still lingers around the Store, hoping for a second chance at stardom. Or, maybe he’s just keeping an eye on the next generation of comics. Perhaps, his ghost has had some effect – these days, every club in America pays their regulars for their mic time. 

Other Hauntings 

Lubetkin’s ghost isn’t the only apparition spotted hanging around the Comedy Store either. One woman, who supposedly died from a back-alley medical procedure in an underground basement clinic in the building, is said to still haunt the place. 

Late at night, after the shows have ended, her voice can sometimes be heard crying or moaning in distress. However, if one investigates the source of the noise, there’s no sign of her to be found in the basement. 

Also, there’s a holdover from the Mob days of the building. Back when the Comedy Store was known as Ciro’s, it was rumored that the basement was used for underground activities like gambling, bootlegging, and, some say, even murder. If that’s true, perhaps the angry male ghost that lives within the basement was an old victim, whose spirit never quite left the place. 

Another ghost that haunts the Comedy Store is thought to be the victim of mob violence. He’s always seen hanging around the kitchen and bar area and is always sporting a World War II-era bomber jacket. 

His appearance matches the description of someone killed by the California mob, and he’s known for sneaking up on people behind them. If someone notices this Jacket Ghost behind them, he’ll vanish before their eyes. 

There’s also another ghost, who goes by the name Gus. Unlike the ghost in the bomber jacket, Gus was no victim. He was an enforcer in the Ciro’s-affiliated mob. Apparently, his ghost still keeps an eye on the staff and patrons of the Comedy Store, always in his trademark black suit. 

Gus also has a temper. Once, a comedian joked about the ghosts haunting the Store, and an ashtray levitated and hurled itself at the comedian. 

Haunted Los Angeles

Ashtrays aren’t the only thing known to move on their own at the Comedy Store either. Staff have reported seeing chairs stack up all by themselves or even throw themselves into the air. And comedians thought dodging tomatoes after a bad set was bad! 

If you liked this story and want to learn similar tales, check out our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They spotlight other offbeat ghost stories all over the United States. Checking our blog is another good way to stay up-to-date with all the latest ghost stories and haunted spots in California

If you want to explore Los Angeles ghosts up close, a ghost tour with LA Ghosts is the best way to do that. Our guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and can provide even more information on the area. 

Sources:

• https://thecomedystore.com/history/#:~:text=The%20Store%20was%20founded%20April,opening%20act%20for%20Elvis%20Presley.
• https://hauntedhouses.com/california/the-comedy-store/
• https://www.travelchannel.com/shows