Laugh Factory, Long Beach, CA

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on February 6th, 2009

We flew into Los Angeles International Airport yesterday afternoon. It was gloomy and drizzly. And it’s more sprawling and confusing than we remember it.

We’re staying just off LAX property. (In fact, when we emerge from the hotel, we can see the giant stainless steel “X” at the airport’s entrance.) On his way to do a set at the Factory in Long Beach, erstwhile SHECKYmagazine columnist Paul Ogata swooped by and picked us up.

When we got there, the show was in full swing and were offered three minutes apiece. (Which we politely declined… are we odd in that we do such things? We were grateful, mind you. We were in no way prepared to perform.)

The club is gorgeous. Cavernous. Circular. Even a balcony upstairs. On this particular evening, the crowd numbered in the mid to high teens. A great crew, though, for being so small in number. (We think it might be the site of the old Long Beach Comedy Club. Which we recall visiting a couple times back in ’93. The neighborhood has been transformed– the gigantic Long Beach Expo Center is across the street and the area has clusters of entertainment and dining establishments. (Someone should create and popularize a portmanteau which takes in dining and entertainment… The Male Half suggests “Culi-tainment” perhaps? The Female Half came up with “Eater-tainment.” Much better.)

We watched Elon Gold do a set, then we watched Ogata’s set, stuck around for a bit of Dean Edwards, then we headed up Pacific Ave. for some Thai food. (There are Thai joints on every other block here in the Southland– something we dearly missed when we left the area for the Northeast.)

Tonight: Hermosa Beach, The Comedy & Magic Club. We’re here through Monday morning.

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