See famous comedy props and costumes on display at the new National Comedy Center
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See famous comedy props and costumes at the National Comedy Center
Jerry’s puffy shirt from Seinfeld. Garth’s Aeromsith T-shirt from Wayne’s World. Lucille Ball's polka-dot dress from I Love Lucy. Tracy Jordan’s EGOT necklace from 30 Rock. Iconic comedy artifacts are no laughing matter — or actually, they are, and the National Comedy Center is the place where you can find them. The 37,000 square foot, $50 million non-profit immersive museum unspools the history of comedy from vaudeville times to the current day with 50-plus interactive exhibits and a treasure trove of highly amusing artifacts. Take a private tour of some of the famous pop-culture props and costumes, past and present, that are housed in the National Comedy Center, which opens on Aug. 1. Located in Jamestown, New York — the hometown of Lucille Ball — the center fulfills the dream of the late legend of laughter to preserve and celebrate the best of comedy. Start scrolling and give some, well, props to the genre.
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Aerosmith T-shirt worn by Garth (Dana Carvey) from Wayne's World
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Archive
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Dr. Egon Spengler's (Harold Ramis) Ghostbusters suit
Courtesy of the Ramis Family
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Lucy Ricardo's (Lucille Ball) polka dot dress from I Love Lucy
Courtesy of Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Desilu, Too
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George Carlin's Grammy Award for FM & AM
Couresty of Kelly Carlin
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Johnny Carson mug used on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Courtesy of Johnny Carson Enterprises
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Lenny Bruce's trenchcoat
Courtesy of Kitty Bruce
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Lenny Bruce's typewriter
Courtesy of Kitty Bruce
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Lily Tomlin's "Ernestine" wig from Laugh-In
Courtesy of Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner
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Rodney Dangerfield's signature red necktie and suit jacket
Courtesy of Joan Dangerfield
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Jerry Seinfeld's puffy shirt from Seinfeld
Courtesy of Jerry Seinfeld and George Shapiro
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Professor Julius Kelp/Buddy Love's (Jerry Lewis) gold jacket from The Nutty Professor
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Archive
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Phyllis Diller's gown from 1987
Courtesy of Allen County Historical Society
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Capt. Rex Kramer's (Robert Stack) pilot's jacket from Airplane!
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Archives
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Charlie Chaplin's cane used in 1915 Essanay comedies
Courtesy of Chicago History Museum
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"Weird Al" Yankovic's accordion
Courtesy of Al Yankovic
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Gilda Radner's Roseanne Roseannadanna letter from Saturday Night Live
Courtesy of Alan and Robin Zweibel
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Gavin MacLeod’s script for the "Chuckles Bites the Dust" episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Courtesy of Pepperdine University Libraries
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Cady Heron's (Lindsay Lohan) "Santa Belle" dress from Mean Girls
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Archive
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Bob Hope's Korean War ID card, U.S. Military Assistance Command ID card, Motion Picture Industry War Activities Committee Medal of Honor, and camouflage "Combat Entertainer" jacket
Courtesy of World Golf Hall of Fame
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Sugar Ray's (Richard Pryor) tuxedo from Harlem Nights
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Archive
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Tracy Jordan's (Tracy Morgan) EGOT necklace and The Tracy Jordan Meat Machine from 30 Rock
Courtesy of NBCUniversal Archives and Collections
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Karen’s (Megan Mullally) flask, Will’s (Eric McCormack) law degree, and garden gnome from Will & Grace
Courtesy of NBCUniversal Archives and Collections
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Jim’s (John Krasinski) Dundie, Dwight’s (Rainn Wilson) Employee of the Month award, and Michael’s (Steve Carell) cat puppet from The Office
Courtesy of NBCUniversal Archives and Collections
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Duke Silver’s (Nick Offerman) saxophone from Parks and Recreation
Courtesy of NBCUniversal Archives and Collections