I have recently been touring my new show, 41st Best Stand-Up Ever, before its current six week residency at the Soho theatre. The title reflects my position in a dubious Channel 4 rundown of stand-ups earlier this year. I was surprised to be placed at all, but the very existence of such a list does tell us something of the increasing cultural currency of stand-up, once the most despised of art forms.
When I started on the London circuit in 1989 no-one even really reviewed stand-up. It would have been considered the equivalent of trying to review farts. But today there are professional comedy critics, who make their living from analysing the relative merits of different jokesmiths. So much has changed. Fart critics, however, remain unwaged gentelemen amateurs, much misunderstood and rarely invited to contribute to broadsheet newspapers. Perhaps they will find a place on Channel 4’s forthcoming show The 100 Best Farts Ever, which represents an admirable effort to upgrade the quality of the station’s output.
As I sit in the car on tour, I pontificate to my fascinated opening acts, Henning Wehn and Stephen Carlin, about the good old days of the London Comedy Circuit, before anyone realised you could make a living as a stand-up, and when there was only one branch of Jongleurs. For my generation, the year zero of the comedy circuit is 1979, which saw the establishment of The Comedy Store and The Comic Strip. A new wave of comedians set themselves up in opposition to the hegemony of bowtie sporting ‘70’s working men’s club racists and high-faluting ‘60s Oxbridge satirists. Before then, as far as I understood it, there was not a traditon of alternative comedy in Britain. But it seems I was wrong.
Visiting the Time Out offices to prepare for this self-aggrandising puff-piece, I happened upon a copy of the magazine from November 1907, back when it was called Time Out Gentlemen’s Weekly. I expected the comedy listings from the period to be a predictable list of Music Hall Performances, complete with the disgraceful blackface artists, camp drag acts, regional stereotypes and supposedly risque musical performers we know from archive footage, but even then it appears, London boasted an Alternative Comedy Circuit, run by performers and promoters disillusioned with the mainstream. The Time Out of November 1907 has responded to this sudden proliferation of new talent by appending these events to its Music Hall listings for the first time under the new term “Alternative Cabaret”, which I had previously been led to believe had been first coined by Malcolm Hardee in the mid-70’s. He lied, as usual.
Predictably, very few of the venues we know today have survived from Alternative Comedy’s original 1907 wave. The Leicester Square Comedy Store of 1979 was, it appears, a rebranded version of the 1907 venue The Comedy Whores, run by the Comedy Store owner Don Ward’s mother, where prostitutes told amusing stories about omnibuses, wives and snuff to punters inbetween tricks. A 1907 version of Jongleurs, on the site of the supposedly original Battersea franchise, advertises “Marmite, Rhubard, Beef, Hot Potatos, Porter, Dancing, Cushions and some comedy”. Other than that, only Downstairs At The King’s Head in Crouch End is familliar in the 1907 listings, even then under the stewardship of a young Peter Graham, who still books the acts today whilst fingering his original gas-operated 1907 lighting board.
Interestingly, even in the very early days of Alternative Comedy’s real first wave, radical pockets of performers found the gradual coalescion of an acceptable style constricting, just as they do today. Many, it appears, felt compelled to host evenings for comic splinter groups, whose very existence implied a formal critique of the emerging new orthodoxy. Robin Ince’s Book Club, Josie Long’s Sunday Night Adventure Club and Andrew Maxwell’s Full Mooners all find their historical precedents in 1907 listings for regular gigs entitled Tobin Mince’s Spekky Gang, Gypsy Lou’s Monday Night Knitting Circle, and Eamon Magoo’s Gruel Spooners.
Time Out’s comedy listings have played their part in making London the unrivalled stand-up comedy capital of the world for longer, it seems, than any of us realised. And faced with a comic legacy that stretches back even further than previously imagined, the idea of rating the 100 best stand-ups of all time seems increasingly absurd. That said, I am remain officially the 41st best ever, and I hereby consign the stand-up comedians of 1907 to the dustbin of history where they belong.
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Funday’schild, youtube.
Funday’schild, youtube.
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter