I was asked to write about Comedy Bar turning ten and I have to say, it was no trouble. Comedy Bar is one of my favourite things to talk about. 

When you think about ten years, you think; “Damn, this place is an institution” And you think about the foreverness of it all. And for me, you know, I can’t help but think I’m going to be one of the ghosts that haunt this place. 

It’s fair to say there’s never been a place I didn’t live at that meant more to me. And out of I think nine places I’ve lived in my life, it beats most of them. Also, sometimes, it felt like I lived there.

My story is not unique, this place means something powerful to many people but here’s some of my story anyway:

My relationship with the bar started as a Sketcherson. After the closing of the Diesel Playhouse, Sunday Night Live went on a long hiatus waiting for Gary to open our new home. Gary, one of my best friends and a long time comedy partner of mine had told me of his plan to open Comedy Bar with his business partner James. I told him he was crazy. I am so very glad that Gary is crazy. 

When I first saw the place and it was a gutted Eritrean restaurant. I didn’t do much in the way of building the place. I helped more with the stuff before, the demolishing and the dragging out of garbage. So much garbage. 

Obviously, Comedy Bar was wonderful for the Sketchersons and Sunday Night Live. I did the show after it moved there on and off for four years. And we drank hard after. Sunday nights were always a party that Sundays don’t deserve. 

I’ve watched the Oscars there.

I’ve watched playoff baseball there.

I recorded my Juno nominated album there.

Everyone in my life that I call a friend, has been my friend in that building. We’ve raised a drink together or shared a laugh. What a fucking building.

It’s the heart of the Toronto comedy community and it’s so evidently alive with comedy that its heartbeat is not hard to hear. 

Look, I love Comedy Bar and being onstage with everything that I am, but I’m old now and I’m not there all the time anymore and it doesn’t matter. Because the heartbeat isn’t going anywhere. Because Gary and James they built it for us, but in no time at all it was for people we didn’t know yet. It was for bold new comics of every discipline and type and the creativity and the talent they carry, how they keep that heartbeat going, it’s something else.

I don’t go to church. Not because I know anything more than the people who go to church and not because I think I’m better than them. It’s because I don’t need it. I get my community and spirituality from comedy. But if I had a church, if you asked me to point to a building it would be Comedy Bar. No question. We needed this place, this place that welcomes all kinds of comedy and all kinds of people. 

Everyone around the country hates Toronto, but I’m telling you there are young comics scattered all over this nation who burn to make it to Comedy Bar, to make the pilgrimage to this church. That’s special as hell, man. My buddy did that. And I can’t wait until a hundred years from now when I’m haunting it with him. 

Pat Thornton - @PatThornton