Before they were show business stars, they had to start somewhere. And one of those places was on the Upper East Side.

Headshots blanket the walls of Comic Strip Live of actors and comedians who have performed on their stage.

“I mean, I can remember when Adam and Chris started,” said owner Jean Tienken.

Adam is Adam Sandler. Chris being Chris Rock.

What You Need To Know

  • Comic Strip Live has been around since the mid-1970s on the Upper East Side

  • It is a place that some high-profile comedians got their reps in early in their careers

  • Comedians that have performed there include Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy and Susie Essman

Also on the wall, a card for a then-new comedian in the 1970s. It has his address on Long Island, his home phone number and that he was “good.” His name is Jerry Seinfeld.

“The funny thing is there are people in the neighborhood who somehow don’t know this club is here,” said D.F. Sweedler, who has been at the comedy club since its second day in 1975.

He’s seen the changes over the years.

“The thing it used to be — the goal was to get on, you know, the goal was always to get on 'The Tonight Show' or 'David Letterman,' '[Jay] Leno,' 'Conan [O’Brien],'” he said.

Now, it’s not the only path, he said. With social media, aspiring comedians can reach millions of eyeballs by going viral.

It’s not the first time Comic Strip Live has had to pivot.

The rise of cable television in the 80s brought more comedy shows directly to viewers. The COVID-19 pandemic shuttered its doors.

“There’s always room to recover. You just got to be strong to hold it out,” Tienken said.

She said the line still goes around the block for people looking to perform for one of their main late night shows, in what she calls the club’s lottery.

They also have early evening shows for newer comics trying out fresh material, and Sweedler also teaches classes to anyone interested in learning stand-up.

Tienken has been here since the 80s. She said it’s not uncommon for alums to drop by, never forgetting their roots.

Jerry Seinfeld even filmed a Netflix special at the club that helped launch his career.

“It was fun to watch him enjoy his own memories,” Tienken said.

Sure, that has brought some tourists, taking trips from Broadway to the Upper East Side. However, the bulk of the business comes from locals, and Tienken has no plans of taking the venue anywhere.