Jamestown, NY (WBEN) The National Comedy Center is now the nation's official comedy center, thanks to a vote by Congress as part of the Lands Act of 2019.
“Jamestown is now to comedy what Cooperstown is to baseball and Cleveland is to rock and roll,” said Tom Reed. “As the nation’s first state-of-the-art museum and cultural institution dedicated to presenting, preserving and celebrating the art form of comedy, there is no other place more deserving of full backing of the U.S. government as the nation’s home to comedy than the birthplace of Lucille Ball and the National Comedy Center.”
"We are honored that this legislation has been formally passed by Congress, establishing the National Comedy Center as the country's official cultural institution dedicated to presenting and preserving the vital story of comedy in America," said Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center Executive Director. "Comedy is a true art form with an extraordinary heritage, and it deserves this important recognition and high distinction."
The bill, as written, recognizes that the National Comedy Center, located in Jamestown, New York, “exists for the exclusive purpose of celebrating comedy in all its forms” and officially designates the Center as the “National Comedy Center.”
“Ten years ago, we embarked on a mission to create a world class attraction dedicated to the art form of comedy in Jamestown, New York”, said Tom Benson, Project Chairman. “Our dream was realized when the National Comedy Center opened on August 1, 2018 to rave reviews, and now we are thrilled that this important institution will be forever known by law as America’s official home for the celebration of comedy.”
"Comedy is an art form, and it's a part America’s rich cultural history. I’m thrilled that Congress passed legislation designating Jamestown’s Comedy Center as the official National Comedy of the United States, and that, at long last, it has been signed into law. The Comedy Center is a tourism magnet and now, finally, it has the national designation it so clearly deserves," said Senator Chuck Schumer. "As the birthplace of the iconic Lucille Ball, and the home to the Annual Comedy Festival, Jamestown is an epicenter of comedy in the nation, and is the perfect home for the National Comedy Center. I am incredibly proud to have played my part in enacting this legislation, to help this cultural institution continue attracting visitors from far and wide, creating jobs and injecting millions of tourism dollars into the region."
“I am very excited that the Jamestown Comedy Center has just been officially designated as the National Comedy Center. The Jamestown Comedy Center is a celebration of talent and has quickly become a must-see location in New York,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “This museum is a destination for families, tourists, and comedy lovers from all over the country, and it has played an important role in growing the local economy in Jamestown. When I visited the museum, it was clear that the Comedy Center should become a landmark in New York. That’s why I fought to make sure that this year’s Land’s Package would designate the museum as the National Comedy Center, and I’m proud to see this legislation signed into law.”