Mitzi Shore founded the legendary Los Angeles comedy club the Comedy Store in 1972 and became owner two years later. During her tenure, she influenced careers of up-and-coming comedians such as Robin Williams, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Chevy Chase, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock and Richard Pryor.
Mitzi Shore is credited for naming the club, which co-founded by her husband at the time, Sammy Shore, and fellow comedian Rudy DeLuca. When Sammy and Mitzi divorced in 1974, Mitzi gained ownership of the club. The Comedy Store building on Sunset Boulevard was formerly occupied by popular Hollywood nightclub Ciroâ??s.
At the Comedy Club, Shore famously did not pay her comics, insisting the club provided training to hone their craft, along with exposure to industry insiders. Eventually, comedians went on strike in 1979, demanding to be paid for their work.