The Whole World With Three Chairs And A Hat

"The fact that we can create the whole world with three chairs and a hat is incredible. The truly fascinating thing is to get an idea in the morning and see it on the stage in the evening filtered through the actors and audience. Now that's going to be much more rewarding than Mork & Mindy." Bernard Sahlins, co-founder of The Second City

The Second City was formed in 1959, and served as a radical improvisational theater group that would forever change comedy in America.

Betty Thomas

John Belushi

Second City set up shop at 1842 North Wells and made its debut on December 6th, 1959 to an overflowing house. The company helped breathe new life into a Chicago theater scene, which at the time was largely made up of the latest touring Broadway hit or a tired old re-stageings of the classics.

George Wendt

Second City worked because it took the freeform style of the Compass Players and transformed it into a neatly packaged commercial product that was not as threatening to an audience and just entertained them.

The Compass Players and The Second City maybe most famous for helping to make careers for Severn Darden, Roger Bowen, Paul Sand, Avery Schreiber, Alan Alda, Del Close, Mike Nichols, and Elaine May. Second City alumni have gone on to write and perform for televison, theatre, and film. It has proven to be an entryway into the larger world of show business.

The Legendary Mr. Kelly's

Comedy clubs around the country like Chicago's own Mr. Kelly's owe a debt of gratitude to The Second City. 

Shelley Long

George Wendt