Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Stogner and Jan Norton.
Linda and Jan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, it seems like a billion years ago, we started doing stand-up, not as a team, but as individual comics. There were a couple of comedy clubs in DFW at the time, but there was also a ton of local comics and stage time was hard to come by. So, we decided to create our own place where the two of us and our friends who were stand-ups, could go up as much as possible. We found a little pizza place in Medallion Center, Repo’s Pizza, and we submitted our proposal. The manager was young and loved the idea. So, we built a little stage, put up some clip-on lights, bought a microphone and started our first comedy showcase. In no time at all, we were selling out and The Dallas Observer called us, “The hottest stand-up comedy showcase in the southwest.” We were small and homegrown, and the comics and the customers loved us. We were known as the only comedy club where you could see your name up in chalk. Our comedy bliss lasted for about two and a half years, and then Repo’s closed.
The search was on to find a new place, and it took a while, but we finally found one. Our new comedy home was “Philachi’s Deli.” Since we had to enter through the backdoor, that became our name, we were “Backdoor Comedy Club” from then on.
Over the years we were in many locations including the Checker’s Pizza, Vickery Feed Store, Don Carter’s Bowling Alley (twice), The Cockeyd Parrot in Deep Ellum, Shadyside Café and White Rock Sports Bar. We were in downtown Dallas in the arts district, next door to Ad-Libs Comedy, we were in the Radisson Hotel, and then we moved to our current location at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton. We’ve been there for the last 12 years.
We’ve had famous comics drop by to do sets including David Spade, Brian Regan, Kathleen Madigan, the writers for Conan, among others.
Our alumni include Tone Bell, currently seen in the movie “Little” and on NBC’s Fam, Cristela Alonzo, from Cars 3 and ABC’s Cristela, Dustin Ybarra from Us and Kevin Saves the World, Johnny Hardwick, the voice of Dale on King of the Hill, Jerry Rocha from Netflix, Nick Guerra from NBC’s Tonight Show, Robert Hawkins from David Letterman, JB Cook, writer for My Name is Earl, popular comedian Shucky Ducky, local radio personalities, Nanette Lee and Hawkeye, plus many comics who have performed on Late Night, Conan, Last Comic Standing, HBO, Showtime, Just For Laughs and more.
Our dream was to create a home where comics could perform stand-up comedy, to provide the stage time needed to become the comedians we all want to be. After 30 plus years, we are still here, sharing our stage with fellow comedians and bringing laughter to the community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The main struggle was having to move so many times. We’ve been in over 10 locations, and every location had its issues, It was like starting over each time. But in the end, we always stayed true to our dream and never gave up. We were and are still like the Energizer Bunny, we just keep going. We fall down, we just get back up and take that next step.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Backdoor Comedy Club story. Tell us more about the business.
Backdoor Comedy Club is the city’s longest running stand-up comedy club and after more than 30 years, still reigns as the hot spot for Dallas stand-up comedy. The Backdoor has been voted “best comedy club” by D Magazine and Dallas Observer. Our shows feature eight or more comedians per night including national touring comics from Comedy Central, Showtime and NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and the best of the local pros. The coziness of the Backdoor takes you back to the roots of stand-up and has the intimate atmosphere of the original comedy rooms in NYC and LA. The Backdoor presents stand-up comedy “how it was meant to be seen,” at what the Dallas Observer calls “the hottest comedy showcase room in the Southwest.” We have shows every weekend, Friday at 9pm and Saturday at 8pm and 1015pm. Our open mic is the longest running open mic in North Texas. It is on Thursdays at 8:30pm.
We are very proud of the fact that we have lasted all these years. Comedy clubs have come and gone, but we are still here. We have been in many locations, doing shows out of the backs of pizza parlors and bowling alleys before finding our current home at the DoubleTree. But we never gave up, we are like the Energizer Bunny, we just keep going.
The Backdoor brings smart, funny and creative comedy to the community. Our shows feature diversity and focus on the uniqueness and personality of each comic without the use of excessive raunchiness. Our fans love us. We have customers who have followed us since the early days and continue to come see shows year after year.
We are very proud of our comics, many have gone on to successful careers, locally and nationally. Our alumni include Tone Bell, currently seen in the movie “Little” and on NBC’s Fam, Cristela Alonzo, from Cars 3 and ABC’s Cristela, Dustin Ybarra from Us and Kevin Saves the World, Johnny Hardwick, the voice of Dale on King of the Hill, Jerry Rocha from Netflix, Nick Guerra from NBC’s Tonight Show, Robert Hawkins from David Letterman, plus many comics who have performed on Late Night, Conan, Last Comic Standing, HBO, Showtime, Just For Laughs and more.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We’ve worked very hard but we have also been very lucky. Each time we lost our comedy home, we found a new one. We believe luck plays a part in all success, but in the end, it is the hard work and dedication that helps you succeed.
Pricing:
- Shows are Friday at 9pm and Saturday at 8pm and 10:15pm The price is 14.00 per person.
- Open mic is on Thursdays at 8:30pm. The price is 7.00 per person. You must sign up in advance, call 214.328.4444.
Contact Info:
- Address: Backdoor Comedy Club
8250 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, Texas 75201 - Website: www.backdoorcomedy.com
- Phone: 214.328.4444
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/6248426/backdoor-comedy-club/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Backdoor-Comedy-Club-164992653557815/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BackdoorComedy
Image Credit:
Mark Woods
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