CHICAGO – Producers John Davies, Reid Brody, Raymond Lambert and Brian Kallies announce the screening of their critically acclaimed documentary “Phunny Business: A Black Comedy” on the occasion of its 15th anniversary for Black History Month on Saturday, February 21, 12:30 p.m., at the Chicago History Museum.
“Phunny Business” answers the question, “What do you get when you mix comedy, race and politics in Chicago?” The film is as relevant today as it was in 2011 and was critically acclaimed by “The New York Times,” “The Hollywood Reporter,” Richard Roeper and Roger Ebert, who called it “one of the best documentaries of the year.” The 84-minute film tells the story of the rise and fall of All Jokes Aside, Chicago’s first Black-owned comedy club and features most of the important Black comedians of the day including:
STEVE HARVEY • DAVE CHAPPELLE • JAMIE FOXX • CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER SHERYL UNDERWOOD • CRAIG ROBINSON • DEON COLE • BERNIE MAC • CHRIS ROCK • LAVELL CRAWFORD • JB SMOOVE • MIKE EPPS • BILL BELLAMY • D.L. HUGHLEY • ADELLE GIVENS and many others.
In the early 1990s, three Black entrepreneurs, Raymond Lambert, Mary Lindsey and James Alexander, launched All Jokes Aside, a predominantly Black comedy club located on Chicago’s South Wabash Street. With virtually no experience in the comedy business, or club business for that matter, they turned All Jokes Aside into a wildly successful Mecca for rising Black comedians.
Sadly, after almost a decade, All Jokes Aside closed. Like other clubs across the country, it had fallen victim to the stand-up comedy craze on television, but there were other more disturbing reasons for its demise. Local white businessmen, their potential new neighbors, thwarted the owners’ attempt to move the club north to the more “diverse,” upscale, entertainment district. Turning to Chicago politicians for help seemed logical, but white politicians were indifferent, and Black politicians were unsympathetic or wanted “consideration.” One infamous Black alderwoman actually professed her loyalty to one of Chicago’s more dominant white comedy institutions. That hostile environment and mounting legal bills spelled the end for All Jokes Aside.
The film is narrated by former stand-up comedian John Ridley. Ridley is an in-demand Hollywood showrunner, screenwriter, novelist and Academy Award winner for his adaptation of “Twelve Years a Slave.” “Phunny Business” was directed by John Davies, written by Davies and Raymond Lambert and produced by Davies, Reid Brody, Raymond Lambert and co-producer by Brian Kallies, who also served as editor and director of photography.
“Phunny Business” premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, was an opening night selection at Ebertfest, premiered in Canada at The Montreal Just For Laughs Film Festival, in New York at The New York Friar’s Comedy Film Festival and was the closing night selection at Chicago’s Black Harvest Film Festival.
Link to electronic press kit here – where you can find bios, synopsis, artwork, photos, video clips and more.
Link to event webpage here – where you can RSVP for the screening.
Contact: John Davies (310) 849-4867 or jdaviesprod@earthlink.net
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ABOUT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM
The Chicago History Museum is situated on ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi people, who cared for the land until forced out by non-Native settlers. Established in 1856, the Museum is located at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location. A major museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Chicago History Museum strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration, and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events and programming, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other. The Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, and images to assist in sharing Chicago stories. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.