September 23, 2025 • 11 mins
Step inside the legendary Ice House in Pasadena as it celebrates 65 years of comedy history! From George Carlin to Ellen DeGeneres, Robin Williams to Gabriel Iglesias, this iconic club has hosted the greatest names in stand-up. And now it’s marking its milestone birthday with the ultimate party. Join KFI's Heather Brooker as she takes you behind the scenes of the anniversary celebration, from Pink’s Hot Dogs to the star-studded lineup on stage.
We're also previewing some events happening in SoCal this week from LCD Sounsystem at the Hollywood Bowl to the Autry Museum Annual Block Party happening on Sunday. There's a lot happening SoCal this week and we've got you covered!
Don't forget to subscribe to Entertain Me and follow Heather on Instagram @theheatherbrooker.
We're also previewing some events happening in SoCal this week from LCD Sounsystem at the Hollywood Bowl to the Autry Museum Annual Block Party happening on Sunday. There's a lot happening SoCal this week and we've got you covered!
Don't forget to subscribe to Entertain Me and follow Heather on Instagram @theheatherbrooker.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome back to entertain Me. I'm your host, Heather Brooker,
and wow, have we got a really fun show for
you today. Today actually marks the sixty fifth anniversary of
the Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, and we're going
to be talking to the general manager about the history
of the club and the fun event that they have planned.
(00:25):
Almost like sounds like it's almost going to be like
a comedy carnival event. They're in Pasadena, and we're going
to give you all the details for that so you
can go and show your support the oldest comedy club
in the country. You guys, how cool is that we
have it right here in southern California. Also, this is
the time of year where things start to get a
(00:45):
little spooky in so Cool. Universal Studios has already opened
up Halloween whoreor Nights Not Scary Farm already kicking off
down in Orange County, and a lot of Halloween events
are starting to pop up. So I want to try
to with you guys as many events and fun things
that are happening around SoCal as I can, but also
(01:05):
like a little bit of a mix. So if Halloween
isn't your vibe, there's some other things happening. You might
want to check out. LCD's sound System is playing this
weekend in Hollywood at the Bowl. What an amazing show
that is going to be. If you get a chance
to go and see an LCD sound System, techno punk
like dance fun. We'll just string all those words together
(01:31):
and that's basically what that show sounds like. Also, the
Autry is having The Autry Museum is having their annual
block party on September twenty seventh. That's going to be
a lot of fun at Ferris Wheel if you want
to take the kids, carnival games, food trucks. Of course,
you can tour the museum as well. That's definitely worth
checking out. And something I am personally very excited about
(01:52):
and we'll be sharing more about later this week is
Los Angeles Comic Con. That's right, all my nerdy friends
out there get excited because it is the time of
year when the downtown convention center turns into sort of
like a geek mecca, if you will. And my family
and I go every year. We've been going for many
(02:13):
years and it's so much fun to see people dress
up in their costumes, meeting some of their favorite actors
and producers and animators and voice actors like it's just
it's a really good time. So stay tuned on Entertainment.
We're going to share more about that later this week,
but for now, we are going to talk to Penny Toller,
(02:33):
the executive general manager for the Ice House, about their
big sixty fifth anniversary celebration happening tonight's Tuesday, the twenty
third in Pasadena. Today is a big celebration for the
ice House. Tell me what's going on here? What are
you guys celebrating?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Well, a lot of people don't know. The Ice House
is the oldest comedy club in America and I got
started in nineteen sixty and basically we're with celebrating the day.
Has been in business for sixty five incredible years. You know,
it has a great history. It's been in Pasadena forever.
You know, Johnny Buss purchased the ice House and did
(03:12):
a full renovation in twenty nineteen. Is one of the
prettiest clubs. And basically we're celebrating sixty five years of
comedy and music.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So what can fans expect our people if they're coming
by tonight, what can they expect to see? Are we
gonna see like obviously some good comedy, but anybody in particular.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, the lineup is killer. The lineup it for tonight
is killer. The show itself sold out in ten hours.
It features Russell Peters, Alfred Roblaze, Johnny Summer is a
new up and coming incredible comedian, Craig Robinson, Cineo Hall,
and Howie Mandel, who will actually be coming to the
(03:55):
club directly from America. We've got talent finale tonight, which
is like seven out from ice House. The comedy is
gonna be killer, but the vibe in the club is
gonna be really super exciting. You don't have to have
a ticket to get in. It's gonna be like Acnovo.
We have games, we have special drinks, we have popcorn,
cotton candy. Every comedian is invited to the ice House
(04:18):
and it's free for any comedian. Johnny wanted to be
like just offess the party, just celebrating comedy. So if
you're a comedian, you just stop by. Everything is free
and you know we have a great show. Like I said,
the lineup is incredible. I don't drink, but we have
nothing but top self alcohol. It's just gonna be a great, great,
(04:39):
incredible night celebrating the nice House in this longevity.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
So Penny, can you talk a little bit about the
history there? I mean sixty five years. I imagine that
the ice House has seen at one time or another,
every major comic you know has walked through those doors.
Can you talk a little bit about.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
That, the history of the Ice House. It goes so
far back. You know, George Lopez got his start there,
Iglacias Gabriel Glaciers got to start there. Ellen Dunn performed there,
Jay Leno, the list goes on and on. It's even
when I look at I didn't recognize how we pictured
(05:18):
Mondo picture on the wall because one of the pictures
we have of him on our wall he had here,
he had here, you know now he does that. So
it has a long history. You name the comedian, including
our senor Hall like Rosie O'donno, like Robin Wims. I'm looking.
It's a legendary club where legends have performed. So you
(05:42):
know me, to be honest with you, not coming from
a comedy background, I went just walking in there to
work with Johnny three years ago. Once he pitched the
club and renovated it, I went from knowing three comedians,
I probably know about three hundred thouars now. You know,
when I walk and I met Gabriel Glacier, is Bill
burb Sebastian Dave, I tell from New York. I mean,
(06:06):
the list goes on and on. I mean, DL Hughley
has a regular Wednesday show at the Ice House. You know,
he has a residency there. Marshall Warfare is so many.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Comedians, I mean, you know, I saw I saw Deal. Yeah,
I saw d'elle, Hughley, want Hughley one time at the
in the elevators at iHeart and I was like, hey,
so he's so.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Great guy, great, great comic, great guy. He's one of
the He's one of the nicest comedians I've ever met.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So nice, so nice. I want to talk about too, Like,
with everything kind of going on in the world right now,
do you feel like that this is something that people
would want to go to do we do? We want
people to go out and like have a break, you know,
from all of the headlines and the news going on.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I'm gonna be honest with Josh every day from everything
that's going on in the world, and it's a little
you know how I mean, I think we all know
it's a literally erratic at the moment. I truly understand
from a personal perspective. Now what comedy brings to is
contribution to the world, and it is laughter. People want
to have fun. Times are kind of hard right now,
(07:19):
and I'm gonna tell you if you want to have fun,
the place to be tonight is the ice house. Laughter
is truly the best remedy or the best I say
medicine because it's like when I walk in there, no
matter what's going on, I can have the worst day ever,
but I know when I go to work, it's gonna
be super super fun. I'm working on a lot of
(07:39):
creative people. Is just laughter and fun. And I can
tell you right now, the line up we have, we
have something for everybody. Everybody in the place will be laughing.
It's the best medicine for the world right now. If
I mean right now, I would even rank it higher
than music. Comedy is it right now?
Speaker 1 (07:58):
I have a feeling too, You're gonna have some even
some really big names want to pop in, you know.
They comedians love to do the drop in, you know,
and they bump, they bump people out of their spots.
I have a feeling you might have some of those
people dropping by tonight. This is a big anniversary to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I'm almost sure of that. I can't find it like
a host of people. And I can honestly tell you
that whoever wants to drop in and wants to perform,
you walcome before on the stage. You know, we even
we're even gonna probably have some young comedians and go
up because it's about celebrating not just the legends, but
the newcomers and some of the people that you may
(08:37):
have never heard about tonight. This is why we only
have one show. We you know, we have obviously two
show rooms and a patio that could host the show,
but we wanted to do one show because you know,
it's a big night. We don't even know what they expect.
We know what comedians are in the house. But like
you say, anybody can drop in. And if they drop
in and they want to perform and do ten minutes
(08:57):
or fifteen minutes, hey here's the stage. Go ahead up there.
And if you're in the crowd, I mean, what a treat.
I mean, look at the lineup and I mean even
just on the else show, anybody can pop in tonight,
and if they want to perform, we're gonna put them
on the states.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Okay, Penny, what time does the party get started tonight?
What time can people show up?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The party gets started at the Festivity, We open our
doors at six thirty. Oh, I forgot one more important thing. Actually,
this event we partner with Pink's hot Dogs, famous Pink's
hot Dogs, so they'll be there. Everyone that purchaes a
ticket also gets a free Pink hot Dogs, so they'll
be on the premises as well as well as we
have our own kitchen that will be open. But the
(09:38):
party kicks off at six thirty. You can get there
at six thirty. The show starts at eight o'clock. It's
gonna be a vibe like no other. Like I say,
if you want to come for a guaranteed good time
the parties at the ice House in Pasadena tonight.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Well I can attest as well that the food at
the ice House is amazing and the drinks are excellent.
And I know whenever I've performed there, I always have
such a good time, and you know, the audience is
always such a great vibe as well, So I know
tonight is going to be such a fun party.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Well, I got a question for you, heaven, are you
coming tonight? And for all the other people out there
that wasn't lucky enough to get a ticket when the
show throw out in ten hours actually last night. We've
added some seats to the room, but you have to there.
You have to show up in person to buy those
to purchase those tickets. But there are other there are
(10:32):
some seats about almost nowhere between ten and fifteen seats
have been added to the room that we will be
selling tonight, but you have to show up at the door.
Are going to be there tonight.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
I'm gonna be there, Yes, ma'am, I'm gonna be there.
I'm so excited. I'm gonna come up and say hello.
I know you're gonna be busy, but I want to
make sure I come and say hello to you.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Definitely definitely come and say hello. And I'm glad they're
gonna come and hey, it's gonna be a great night.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Thanks for listening to entertain me. This is the show
that brings everything from sokel to the silver screen. Stay
tuned later this week for more details on Comic Con.
We're going to take you behind the scenes there, tell
you some exciting stuff about what they're doing this year.
We're also going to tell you what's coming to the
box office this weekend that's gonna be worth your bucks.
Or if you should just stay home and stream something instead,
(11:17):
don't forget to subscribe to entertain Me and share it
with friends. Would you up? I'm Heather Brooker. Remember you
can listen to entertain Me anywhere, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
Welcome back to entertain Me. I'm your host, Heather Brooker,
and wow, have we got a really fun show for
you today. Today actually marks the sixty fifth anniversary of
the Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, and we're going
to be talking to the general manager about the history
of the club and the fun event that they have planned.
(00:25):
Almost like sounds like it's almost going to be like
a comedy carnival event. They're in Pasadena, and we're going
to give you all the details for that so you
can go and show your support the oldest comedy club
in the country. You guys, how cool is that we
have it right here in southern California. Also, this is
the time of year where things start to get a
(00:45):
little spooky in so Cool. Universal Studios has already opened
up Halloween whoreor Nights Not Scary Farm already kicking off
down in Orange County, and a lot of Halloween events
are starting to pop up. So I want to try
to with you guys as many events and fun things
that are happening around SoCal as I can, but also
(01:05):
like a little bit of a mix. So if Halloween
isn't your vibe, there's some other things happening. You might
want to check out. LCD's sound System is playing this
weekend in Hollywood at the Bowl. What an amazing show
that is going to be. If you get a chance
to go and see an LCD sound System, techno punk
like dance fun. We'll just string all those words together
(01:31):
and that's basically what that show sounds like. Also, the
Autry is having The Autry Museum is having their annual
block party on September twenty seventh. That's going to be
a lot of fun at Ferris Wheel if you want
to take the kids, carnival games, food trucks. Of course,
you can tour the museum as well. That's definitely worth
checking out. And something I am personally very excited about
(01:52):
and we'll be sharing more about later this week is
Los Angeles Comic Con. That's right, all my nerdy friends
out there get excited because it is the time of
year when the downtown convention center turns into sort of
like a geek mecca, if you will. And my family
and I go every year. We've been going for many
(02:13):
years and it's so much fun to see people dress
up in their costumes, meeting some of their favorite actors
and producers and animators and voice actors like it's just
it's a really good time. So stay tuned on Entertainment.
We're going to share more about that later this week,
but for now, we are going to talk to Penny Toller,
(02:33):
the executive general manager for the Ice House, about their
big sixty fifth anniversary celebration happening tonight's Tuesday, the twenty
third in Pasadena. Today is a big celebration for the
ice House. Tell me what's going on here? What are
you guys celebrating?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Well, a lot of people don't know. The Ice House
is the oldest comedy club in America and I got
started in nineteen sixty and basically we're with celebrating the day.
Has been in business for sixty five incredible years. You know,
it has a great history. It's been in Pasadena forever.
You know, Johnny Buss purchased the ice House and did
(03:12):
a full renovation in twenty nineteen. Is one of the
prettiest clubs. And basically we're celebrating sixty five years of
comedy and music.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So what can fans expect our people if they're coming
by tonight, what can they expect to see? Are we
gonna see like obviously some good comedy, but anybody in particular.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, the lineup is killer. The lineup it for tonight
is killer. The show itself sold out in ten hours.
It features Russell Peters, Alfred Roblaze, Johnny Summer is a
new up and coming incredible comedian, Craig Robinson, Cineo Hall,
and Howie Mandel, who will actually be coming to the
(03:55):
club directly from America. We've got talent finale tonight, which
is like seven out from ice House. The comedy is
gonna be killer, but the vibe in the club is
gonna be really super exciting. You don't have to have
a ticket to get in. It's gonna be like Acnovo.
We have games, we have special drinks, we have popcorn,
cotton candy. Every comedian is invited to the ice House
(04:18):
and it's free for any comedian. Johnny wanted to be
like just offess the party, just celebrating comedy. So if
you're a comedian, you just stop by. Everything is free
and you know we have a great show. Like I said,
the lineup is incredible. I don't drink, but we have
nothing but top self alcohol. It's just gonna be a great, great,
(04:39):
incredible night celebrating the nice House in this longevity.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
So Penny, can you talk a little bit about the
history there? I mean sixty five years. I imagine that
the ice House has seen at one time or another,
every major comic you know has walked through those doors.
Can you talk a little bit about.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
That, the history of the Ice House. It goes so
far back. You know, George Lopez got his start there,
Iglacias Gabriel Glaciers got to start there. Ellen Dunn performed there,
Jay Leno, the list goes on and on. It's even
when I look at I didn't recognize how we pictured
(05:18):
Mondo picture on the wall because one of the pictures
we have of him on our wall he had here,
he had here, you know now he does that. So
it has a long history. You name the comedian, including
our senor Hall like Rosie O'donno, like Robin Wims. I'm looking.
It's a legendary club where legends have performed. So you
(05:42):
know me, to be honest with you, not coming from
a comedy background, I went just walking in there to
work with Johnny three years ago. Once he pitched the
club and renovated it, I went from knowing three comedians,
I probably know about three hundred thouars now. You know,
when I walk and I met Gabriel Glacier, is Bill
burb Sebastian Dave, I tell from New York. I mean,
(06:06):
the list goes on and on. I mean, DL Hughley
has a regular Wednesday show at the Ice House. You know,
he has a residency there. Marshall Warfare is so many.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Comedians, I mean, you know, I saw I saw Deal. Yeah,
I saw d'elle, Hughley, want Hughley one time at the
in the elevators at iHeart and I was like, hey,
so he's so.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Great guy, great, great comic, great guy. He's one of
the He's one of the nicest comedians I've ever met.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So nice, so nice. I want to talk about too, Like,
with everything kind of going on in the world right now,
do you feel like that this is something that people
would want to go to do we do? We want
people to go out and like have a break, you know,
from all of the headlines and the news going on.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I'm gonna be honest with Josh every day from everything
that's going on in the world, and it's a little
you know how I mean, I think we all know
it's a literally erratic at the moment. I truly understand
from a personal perspective. Now what comedy brings to is
contribution to the world, and it is laughter. People want
to have fun. Times are kind of hard right now,
(07:19):
and I'm gonna tell you if you want to have fun,
the place to be tonight is the ice house. Laughter
is truly the best remedy or the best I say
medicine because it's like when I walk in there, no
matter what's going on, I can have the worst day ever,
but I know when I go to work, it's gonna
be super super fun. I'm working on a lot of
(07:39):
creative people. Is just laughter and fun. And I can
tell you right now, the line up we have, we
have something for everybody. Everybody in the place will be laughing.
It's the best medicine for the world right now. If
I mean right now, I would even rank it higher
than music. Comedy is it right now?
Speaker 1 (07:58):
I have a feeling too, You're gonna have some even
some really big names want to pop in, you know.
They comedians love to do the drop in, you know,
and they bump, they bump people out of their spots.
I have a feeling you might have some of those
people dropping by tonight. This is a big anniversary to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I'm almost sure of that. I can't find it like
a host of people. And I can honestly tell you
that whoever wants to drop in and wants to perform,
you walcome before on the stage. You know, we even
we're even gonna probably have some young comedians and go
up because it's about celebrating not just the legends, but
the newcomers and some of the people that you may
(08:37):
have never heard about tonight. This is why we only
have one show. We you know, we have obviously two
show rooms and a patio that could host the show,
but we wanted to do one show because you know,
it's a big night. We don't even know what they expect.
We know what comedians are in the house. But like
you say, anybody can drop in. And if they drop
in and they want to perform and do ten minutes
(08:57):
or fifteen minutes, hey here's the stage. Go ahead up there.
And if you're in the crowd, I mean, what a treat.
I mean, look at the lineup and I mean even
just on the else show, anybody can pop in tonight,
and if they want to perform, we're gonna put them
on the states.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Okay, Penny, what time does the party get started tonight?
What time can people show up?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
The party gets started at the Festivity, We open our
doors at six thirty. Oh, I forgot one more important thing. Actually,
this event we partner with Pink's hot Dogs, famous Pink's
hot Dogs, so they'll be there. Everyone that purchaes a
ticket also gets a free Pink hot Dogs, so they'll
be on the premises as well as well as we
have our own kitchen that will be open. But the
(09:38):
party kicks off at six thirty. You can get there
at six thirty. The show starts at eight o'clock. It's
gonna be a vibe like no other. Like I say,
if you want to come for a guaranteed good time
the parties at the ice House in Pasadena tonight.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Well I can attest as well that the food at
the ice House is amazing and the drinks are excellent.
And I know whenever I've performed there, I always have
such a good time, and you know, the audience is
always such a great vibe as well, So I know
tonight is going to be such a fun party.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Well, I got a question for you, heaven, are you
coming tonight? And for all the other people out there
that wasn't lucky enough to get a ticket when the
show throw out in ten hours actually last night. We've
added some seats to the room, but you have to there.
You have to show up in person to buy those
to purchase those tickets. But there are other there are
(10:32):
some seats about almost nowhere between ten and fifteen seats
have been added to the room that we will be
selling tonight, but you have to show up at the door.
Are going to be there tonight.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
I'm gonna be there, Yes, ma'am, I'm gonna be there.
I'm so excited. I'm gonna come up and say hello.
I know you're gonna be busy, but I want to
make sure I come and say hello to you.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Definitely definitely come and say hello. And I'm glad they're
gonna come and hey, it's gonna be a great night.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Thanks for listening to entertain me. This is the show
that brings everything from sokel to the silver screen. Stay
tuned later this week for more details on Comic Con.
We're going to take you behind the scenes there, tell
you some exciting stuff about what they're doing this year.
We're also going to tell you what's coming to the
box office this weekend that's gonna be worth your bucks.
Or if you should just stay home and stream something instead,
(11:17):
don't forget to subscribe to entertain Me and share it
with friends. Would you up? I'm Heather Brooker. Remember you
can listen to entertain Me anywhere, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
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