Home of the SF & Seattle Stand-Up Competitions
Home of the SF & Seattle Stand-Up Competitions
For fifty years, the San Francisco Comedy Competition has discovered remarkable comedians, launched careers, and entertained audiences throughout the Bay Area. Explore the people, performances, and unforgettable moments that shaped one of America’s longest-running stand-up comedy competitions.
by Jon and Anne Fox, Producers
In 1977, a young couple sat in their Haight Ashbury apartment in San Francisco discussing an offer that had put before them. As Anne Fox rolled one fat joint after another and Jon Fox refilled their glasses from a giant bottle of cheap Cribari Wine, they talked late into the night.
Could they commit $1,000 to partner with an “Emperor Norton” type person they’d met named Frank Kidder who needed backing to continue a crazy concept he’d created the year before: an annual comedy competition.
The thing was, they didn’t have $1,000. They had jobs (Jon as program director for the Press Club and Anne as executive assistant for the Sports & Boat Show). They also had a burning desire to make their mark in a beguiling City they had run off to from their former straight lives in Fremont. Finally, Anne doodled a cartoon with a raccoon saying, “To hell with the chips, raise the stakes.” Thus they committed to a course that would shape the rest of their lives.
Official poster for the 4th Annual San Francisco Comedy Competition (1979), won by Marsha Warfield.
Robin Williams had placed second in Frank’s initial rendition. Dana Carvey would win in 1977. In 1978, a recent UCLA film grad saw a poster that suggested a pitch he could make to a brand new entity called cable TV. In 1979, Marsha Warfield would be filmed taking the crown, shortly before being cast as Roz the Bailiff on “Night Court.” She was followed by runner-up Mike Davis who would go on to become the toast of Broadway in “Sugar Babies”. Dana would return to place third. Michael Winslow would use sound effects to place forth before going on to star in numerous “Police Academy” movies. A. Whitney Brown would place fifth, eventually landing on “Saturday Night Live.”
After the show, the owner of the Old Waldorf where it had been taped told Jon in the dressing room, “This is a nice event you have. Too bad it only happens once a year.”
“Well, there’s this new thing called a comedy club and this space would be perfect for one,” Jon replied. Thus was the Punchline Nightclub created.
In 1981, Jon learned a previous contestant was talking about doing a comedy competition in Seattle. He quickly flew north where a deal was struck with the Comedy Co-op to produce a northwest event as well. Soon thereafter, he was also able to open the Comedy Underground in Pioneer Square which became a legendary spot for 40 years until the Pandemic forced its closure.
These days, Frank Kidder is gone as is the Comedy Co-op. Anne is semi-retired but Jon keeps the flame burning with the help of son, Shane, who handles the reins of talent director in San Francisco.
Over the last 50 years there have been stories, and there have been STORIES. Producer Jon Fox tells some of his favorites.
The talent across the S.F. Comedy Competition stages has been vast! See how many names you recognize in this comedy Hall of Fame.
