Live at Mister Kelly's

Released Sep 17, 2021

1h 23m

Documentary

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7 Reviews

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The iconic Mister Kelly's, once called a "supernova in the local and national night life firmament," illuminated legendary Chicago's Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bob Newhart, Bette Midler and Steve Martin. Its visionary owners George and Oscar Marienthal smashed color and gender barriers to put unknown, controversial voices on stage and transform entertainment, as America knew it in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Now, with the club long gone, and its star talent reaching its golden years, George's son David and director/screenwriter, Theodore Bogosian, go on a quest to collect the memories of the clubs before they are lost. Celebrity interviews now include Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, Dick Gregory, Lainie Kazan, Herbie Hancock, Dick Cavett, Tim Reid, Fred Willard and Ramsey Lewis. The film portrays through interviews, live footage, photos, music, and song, the most beloved and famous talent of our time at the decisive moments when they showed up, dug deep, and broke in. How do you change the world with a laugh and a song? Find out in a film that documents the rise and fall of one of American entertainment's great proving grounds.

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Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

With his film, Bogosian remembers a springboard venue in the evolution of the uniquely American artforms of jazz and comedy.

Oct 13, 2021

Full Review

Peter Sobczynski

RogerEbert.com

Even though the film is ultimately not much more than an exercise in nostalgia, that's hardly a bad thing when you're delving into a past as rich as the one on display here.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 12, 2021

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

I love this movie, I love this movie, I love this movie!

Sep 29, 2021

Full Review

Leo Brady

AMovieGuy.com

It's important for people to never forget the history, including myself, and although the Chicago of the past is long gone, it's nice to relive it in the documentary Live at Mister Kelly's.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 22, 2021

Full Review

Loren King

Newport This Week (RI)

Audiences who remember or are curious about a time when nightclubs were a staple of the entertainment industry will revel in Live at Mister Kelly's.

Oct 18, 2021

Full Review

Wendy Shreve

Featuring Film

Some of jazz's greatest artists, comedy's funniest early entertainers, plus up-and-coming notables--Lainie Kazan, Diane Ladd, Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand--cemented their popularity at the club, Mr. Kelly's ...

Sep 17, 2021

Full Review

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Hugh I

A terrific documentary about one of the major nightclubs in the USA during the late '50s through mid-'60s: Mr. Kelly's on Rush Street in Chicago. The Marienthal brothers (who also owned two other outstanding Chicago clubs, the London House and the Happy Medium) were outstanding judges of talent, and were instrumental in discovering Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler. But it was standup comedy that was Mr. Kelly's specialty, and no other venue in the land had a roster quite as good, with regular acts including Lennie Bruce, Mort Sahl, Bob Newhart, Shelly Berman, Lily Tomlin, the Smothers Brothers, a very young Richard Pryor, etc. There isn't a lot of vintage footage, unfortunately (it just doesn't exist), but this doc makes up for that with many long, detailed, compelling interviews with the artists who loved the place and haven't forgotten it. Mr. Kelly's embodied a tradition of sophistication, hospitality and gregariousness that is long gone and much missed, in this post-pandemic age of binge watching and cocooning. The film is an obvious labor of love produced by George Marienthal's son David, who understands the need to document this bit of cultural history. If you have any interest in comedy, pop music, cabaret culture -- or are at all susceptible to the temptations of nostalgia -- you owe it to yourself to watch "Live at Mr. Kelly's."

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/16/23

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Ted Bogosian

Director

Barbra Streisand

Self

Lily Tomlin

Self

Tim Reid

Self

Fred Willard

Self

Lainie Kazan

Self

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Live at Mister Kelly's: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The iconic Mister Kelly's, once called a "supernova in the local and national night life firmament," illuminated legendary Chicago's Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bob Newhart, Bette Midler and Steve Martin. Its visionary owners George and Oscar Marienthal smashed color and gender barriers to put unknown, controversial voices on stage and transform entertainment, as America knew it in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Now, with the club long gone, and its star talent reaching its golden years, George's son David and director/screenwriter, Theodore Bogosian, go on a quest to collect the memories of the clubs before they are lost. Celebrity interviews now include Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, Dick Gregory, Lainie Kazan, Herbie Hancock, Dick Cavett, Tim Reid, Fred Willard and Ramsey Lewis. The film portrays through interviews, live footage, photos, music, and song, the most beloved and famous talent of our time at the decisive moments when they showed up, dug deep, and broke in. How do you change the world with a laugh and a song? Find out in a film that documents the rise and fall of one of American entertainment's great proving grounds.

Director: Ted Bogosian
Producer: David Marienthal
Screenwriter: Ted Bogosian
Distributor: Virgil Films
Production Co: Happy Medium Ventures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 12, 2021
Runtime: 1h 23m

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