Laff Trax Comedy Theatre
Encyclopedia
Laff Trax Comedy Theatre is a comedy production house established in Edmonton, Alberta in 1990. The goal was to provide another outlet for comedians to hone their craft.
The first ever production featured Dez Reed and Bob Angeli at Bonnie's Lounge in The Bonnie Doon Mall, Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
.
, Canada
, Dez Reed was quite busy performing stand up at the many existing venues in the Greater Toronto Area
and Laff Trax Comedy Theatre sat in limbo.
It was not until 1991 that an idea came of producing another show. Kelsey's restaurant in North Toronto was the location of the first Toronto show. It featured Dez Reed and long time Toronto comedy legend Frenchie McFarlane. The second Laff Trax show at Kelsey's featured Stu Francis. The rest built from there.
In 1992, Dez Reed partnered with Grant Zane to open The Comedy Spot in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
. The venture was short lived and the duo moved to Toronto.
Later that year the two opened Laff Trax Comedy Theatre (the first Laff Trax club) in Toronto's Airliner Hotel, at the same time they opened Chaplin's Comedy Club in The Hilton, Downtown Toronto. There was a modicum of success at both clubs, but ultimately both clubs shut their doors.
One nighters continued for a couple more years until Dez Reed accepted a position at Yuk Yuk's, which absorbed all of Laff Trax contacts. Seemingly, Laff Trax Comedy Theatre was dead and buried.
Dez returned to Saskatoon and made perhaps the worst business union of his life. He partnered with Satan
. The outset was successful, however, soon Dez Reed became disillusioned with the ethics of his new partners. He was right not to be trusting, his partner had attempted to sign Dez Reed to perform a three week gig in the second circle of Hell
for various groups of damned souls. After a brief legal battle, Dez regained total control of his company and Satan returned to rule Inferno
.
Though considerable damage had been done to the Laff Trax Comedy Theatre franchise by Satan's questionable business practices, Dez Reed and Laff Trax Comedy Theatre was once again resurrected (pun most certainly intended).
By 2003, Dez had built the Saskatoon scene into one of the hottest dog fighting scenes in Canada. Pitbulls from across North America were traveling in hoardes to perform for Laff Trax.
was founded. With Laff Trax Comedy Theatre as the official booking agency, more credibility than ever had been attributed to the franchise.
The ultimate was when comedy legend Steven Wright
came to Saskatoon and Dez Reed was tapped to open for him and Laff Trax Comedy Theatre was included as a junior partner in the promotion of the event.
The following year, another legend was booked by Laff Trax, and that was Emo Philips
.
Though a full time successful comedy club has continued to be elusive, Laff Trax is the only legitimate comedy producer in Saskatchewan, producing the lion's share of the corporate comedy events as well as weekly and monthly shows and the annual Great Plains Comedy Festival.
have performed on Laff Trax Comedy Theatre stages, but more importantly Laff Trax has helped such comedians as Russell Peters
, Stuart Francis, Brent Butt
, and Leland Klassen continue their dream. Laff Trax Comedy Theatre has also given many comedians their actual start, these include Shaun Majumder
, Kelly Taylor, Myles Morrison, and Chip the Pit Bull (undefeated 6-0 dog fighting record).
Beginning
Comedian Dez Reed founded Laff Trax Comedy Theatre. With its hand drawn logo and two comedians on its roster, the going was slow.The first ever production featured Dez Reed and Bob Angeli at Bonnie's Lounge in The Bonnie Doon Mall, Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The Toronto Years
After moving to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Dez Reed was quite busy performing stand up at the many existing venues in the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
and Laff Trax Comedy Theatre sat in limbo.
It was not until 1991 that an idea came of producing another show. Kelsey's restaurant in North Toronto was the location of the first Toronto show. It featured Dez Reed and long time Toronto comedy legend Frenchie McFarlane. The second Laff Trax show at Kelsey's featured Stu Francis. The rest built from there.
In 1992, Dez Reed partnered with Grant Zane to open The Comedy Spot in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The venture was short lived and the duo moved to Toronto.
Later that year the two opened Laff Trax Comedy Theatre (the first Laff Trax club) in Toronto's Airliner Hotel, at the same time they opened Chaplin's Comedy Club in The Hilton, Downtown Toronto. There was a modicum of success at both clubs, but ultimately both clubs shut their doors.
One nighters continued for a couple more years until Dez Reed accepted a position at Yuk Yuk's, which absorbed all of Laff Trax contacts. Seemingly, Laff Trax Comedy Theatre was dead and buried.
The Saskatchewan Years
After Dez Reed and Yuk Yuk's parted ways. Dez began touring North America working for one nighter agencies and "b" list clubs. The idea of booking one nighters became appealing once again. His home town of Saskatoon had just had its one nighter booking agent Bryan Cox decide to give up booking, there was an opening.Dez returned to Saskatoon and made perhaps the worst business union of his life. He partnered with Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
. The outset was successful, however, soon Dez Reed became disillusioned with the ethics of his new partners. He was right not to be trusting, his partner had attempted to sign Dez Reed to perform a three week gig in the second circle of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
for various groups of damned souls. After a brief legal battle, Dez regained total control of his company and Satan returned to rule Inferno
Inferno
Inferno means "Hell" in both Italian and Portuguese, so this word may refer to:*Hell*Conflagration, a large uncontrolled fire.-Literature:* Inferno , the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy...
.
Though considerable damage had been done to the Laff Trax Comedy Theatre franchise by Satan's questionable business practices, Dez Reed and Laff Trax Comedy Theatre was once again resurrected (pun most certainly intended).
By 2003, Dez had built the Saskatoon scene into one of the hottest dog fighting scenes in Canada. Pitbulls from across North America were traveling in hoardes to perform for Laff Trax.
The Great Plains Comedy Festival
In 2002, the Great Plains Comedy FestivalGreat Plains Comedy Festival
The Great Plains Comedy Festival is a comedy festival held each July in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the largest festival of its kind in the world.-History:...
was founded. With Laff Trax Comedy Theatre as the official booking agency, more credibility than ever had been attributed to the franchise.
The ultimate was when comedy legend Steven Wright
Steven Wright
Steven Alexander Wright is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is known for his distinctly lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical jokes and one-liners with contrived situations.-Early life and career:Wright was born in Mount Auburn...
came to Saskatoon and Dez Reed was tapped to open for him and Laff Trax Comedy Theatre was included as a junior partner in the promotion of the event.
The following year, another legend was booked by Laff Trax, and that was Emo Philips
Emo Philips
Emo Philips is an American entertainer and comedian born in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove. Much of his standup comedy stems from the use of paraprosdokians and garden path sentences spoken in a wandering falsetto tone of voice and a confused, childlike delivery of his material to produce the...
.
Presently
Laff Trax Comedy Theatre continues to produce shows in Saskatchewan and across North America.Though a full time successful comedy club has continued to be elusive, Laff Trax is the only legitimate comedy producer in Saskatchewan, producing the lion's share of the corporate comedy events as well as weekly and monthly shows and the annual Great Plains Comedy Festival.
Legacy
Many comedians such as Emo PhilipsEmo Philips
Emo Philips is an American entertainer and comedian born in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove. Much of his standup comedy stems from the use of paraprosdokians and garden path sentences spoken in a wandering falsetto tone of voice and a confused, childlike delivery of his material to produce the...
have performed on Laff Trax Comedy Theatre stages, but more importantly Laff Trax has helped such comedians as Russell Peters
Russell Peters
Russell Dominic Peters is an Indo-Canadian comedian, actor and disc jockey. He began performing in Toronto in 1989 and has been nominated for four Gemini Awards.-Early life :...
, Stuart Francis, Brent Butt
Brent Butt
Brent Butt is a Canadian stand-up comedian actor and writer. He is best known for his role as Brent Leroy on the CTV sitcom Corner Gas, which he also created. The series was an instant hit when it made its debut in 2004....
, and Leland Klassen continue their dream. Laff Trax Comedy Theatre has also given many comedians their actual start, these include Shaun Majumder
Shaun Majumder
-Life and career:Majumder was born in Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador to a European descended mother from Newfoundland and an Indian father. He started his entertainment career as an announcer for the YTV game show CLIPS, and soon was hosting the network's popular morning kids show Brain...
, Kelly Taylor, Myles Morrison, and Chip the Pit Bull (undefeated 6-0 dog fighting record).