An interactive screen that creates network maps of comedians, and interactive tables that provide information on the most popular comedic props.
There is a photo album at the bottom detailing the experience through images.
The National Comedy Center is the '“first non-profit institution and national-scale visitors experience dedicated to the art of comedy,” appealing to both fans and non-fans (Variety). The museum opened in 2018 and has already been praised as one of the best museum experiences in the country, holding a 5 star ranking on trip advisor. It is located in Jamestown, NY -a town with a population of around 30,000- the home of famed comedian Lucielle Ball. The museum has already welcomed over 600,000 visitors since its opening less than 2 years ago. After visiting the museum, I can testify that the museum lives up to its hype.
Upon arriving at the museum, visitors receive an RFID - radio frequency identification - bracelet and create their own unique comedy profile. Numerous kiosks are stationed at the front of the museum so visitors can select their favorite comedians, tv shows, movies, and comedy projects. Visitors enter basic data like their age, name, and email address. The wrist band is then used to check in to kiosks and interactive stands throughout the museum to further personalize one’s comedy preferences.
After completing an individual profile and entering the museum, one will see a hologram theater immediately to the left. Here visitors have the chance to watch a hologram of Jim Gaffigan on stage as he discusses his evolution as a comedian. Although the museum is packed full of interactive technology, you can tell from the beginning that it is full of rich history and meaning that is heightened by the use of technology.
Nearby the hologram theater is the highly interactive Stand-Up Lounge. Here, interactive tables are set up in front of a stage where video clips of comedians’ stand-up skits are played. As the visitor approaches the table, they can scan their bracelet to check-in. The system then chooses stand-up acts based on the users comic preferences. As one watches the various comedians they can scan their bracelet on an icon on the table to indicate the ones they like, further gathering information on their comic preferences and creating a more accurate profile. Multiple people can experience the exhibit at one time, in which case it will try to match preferences across audience members. This was a really fun, educational experience that gave the feel of a real stand-up show - staff members even come around taking drink orders, which visitors can then carry around through the rest of the museum!
Another notable exhibit is the Comedy Continuum - a large screen that creates network maps displaying how different comedians are connected and have influenced one another. Visitors can tap on a comedian to begin seeing who they have influenced or worked with, continuing until they create a huge network that really illustrates the interconnectedness of the industry. In this same room there are two shelves with objects that are common in comedy. Visitors can choose an object and place it on an interactive display in the center of the room on which the item is immediately recognized. Then, a series of short clips from tv shows and movies pop up showing when that prop was used. Some objects include an arrow through the head, headgear, a brain in a jar, and a rubber chicken.
There are MANY more interactive experiences at the National Comedy Center, including an exhibit to draw your own comic, read digital reproductions of scripts, put yourself in a famous comic scene - I did the famous I Love Lucy chocolate scene-, do your own stand-up on stage, or challenge a friend to a laugh battle powered by AI. If you use the bracelet throughout all the exhibits, by the end of the visit the museum will have created a pretty accurate profile of your comic preferences. I learned that my #1 humor type is “Observational: Pointing out the humor or ridiculousness of things deemed ‘normal’ or ‘ordinary’ by society.”
Visiting the National Comedy Center was one of the best museum experiences I have had, and definitely the most impressive integration of technology in a museum. It not only created an immersive experience but really increased the depth of my understanding of comedy as a genre. Follow my journey at the museum in the photo series below!
*click to enlarge image
