Laugh Factory Summer Camp

The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles Offers a Summer Camp for Disadvantaged Youth.

by Mac Duffy

You see it all over the news. Gangs, drugs, violence...far too many write off our "inner city youth" as lost causes. Fortunately, Jamie Masada is not one to back away from those in need.

Twenty years ago, Mr. Masada created the Laugh Factory's annual summer camp in Hollywood for disadvantaged youths. The camp provides a safe haven for at risk or underprivileged children and inspires them to transform all of their negative energy into something positive. For over twenty years, Masada and other famous comedians have been teaching children each summer to take their frustrations, anger and hurt to the stage and use stand up comedy as a way to inspire confidence and hope, proving that laughter truly is the best medicine. Jamie believes that, "All great comedians are in pain, and the best can manipulate the swirling sadness inside to keep themselves sane".

Mr. Masada is no stranger to hardship. In 1977, at 14 years old, he arrived from Iran, speaking only Farsi, and was, essentially, homeless because the American producer who had promised to look after him and give him a shot at success had abandoned him. With the money his parents had given him long gone, Masada was helped by a compassionate apartment manager who let him sleep on a couch. Upon learning that a comedian friend had committed suicide, Jamie vowed to help out all comedians and those struggling to earn a living as artists, and, in 1979, he borrowed $10,000 and leased a small space on the Sunset Strip that would eventually become one of the most successful comedy clubs in the world. The name "Laugh Factory" comes from his desire to pay homage to the working class performers who helped him when he arrived in the States.

The comedy camp arose a few years after he opened his club from an opportunity to speak at an inner city school. At the end of the event, Mr. Masada noticed a young man standing in the back of the room, slightly hunched over and covering his face with his hand (to hide a facial disorder). In just a short time, Jamie learned that the shy young man was about to graduate from high school and was facing the daunting prospect of having to, at his father's order, get a job and move out. Knowing what it felt like to suddenly be on your own, Jamie offered the high school senior a job as soon as he graduated. As soon as the newly graduated student began to work at the Laugh Factory, Jamie made sure that everyone, including the comics, made his new employee feel at home, and, within a few months, Mr. Masada saw an enormous change in how the young man carried himself. No longer was he hunched over or covering his face. He stood tall and was even starting to date! Jamie then had a thought that would change the lives of many children: "If I can help this guy, then maybe I can help more children in need."

The following year, he started his comedy camp, and, since then, the camp's counselors have included some of the nation's best comedians, including Chris Rock, Bob Saget, Paul Rodriguez, Jay Mohr, Chris Tucker, Adam Sandler and the Wayans brothers.

All the aspiring young comedians are interviewed and evaluated based on their desire to perform stand up comedy. The program is free of charge for those chosen, and a graduation ceremony is held at the end of the ten-week camp where each child performs a six-minute comedy set on stage in front of friends and family.

Jamie Masada is a rather disarming man. To hear him talk about the camp, you'd think it was just a simple thing that needed to be done, and you don't get any sense that he feels like he deserves any kind of recognition. But how can you not acknowledge a man who has had such an impact on lives that need it most? Masada has been honored with the NAACP's Freedom Award for his work with underprivileged children, The American Civil Liberties' Key Humanitarian of the Year Award for community service and the LCLU Freedom of Speech award. He has received accolades from the Los Angeles mayor, Los Angeles Children and Family Services and the Los Angeles City Fire Department and has been twice honored by the White House for his charitable endeavors.

Most recently, Jamie received the 2006 Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his humanitarian efforts. This medal was presented by the Board of Directors and the Selection Committee of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) to Masada on Ellis Island Saturday, May 13, 2006. Past recipients of Ellis Island Medals of Honor include Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Carter, Hillary Rodham Clinton, William Jefferson Clinton, Mario Cuomo, Joe DiMaggio, Michael Eisner, Bob Hope, Rosa Parks, Ronald Reagan and Frank Sinatra. Of all the awards received by Jamie Masada, you get the distinct impression that his most cherished are the letters, simple letters written by former campers, staying in touch and sharing their successes achieved with the confidence they gained from the extraordinary experience that Jamie provides at the Laugh Factory. Former students who had no real prospects are now college graduates, owners of companies, and beyond.

According to Charles Joffe, manager for Woody Allen, David Letterman and Robin Williams, "What makes Jamie the best and most generous comedy club owner in this country is that he simply cares about the comics who work for him. It's never about himself."

Having spoken with Jamie, I know that to be true. Please join us next month as we review the success of this summer's comedy camp and give a glimpse into the lives of some of the people it has impacted.

For more information on Jamie Masada and The Laugh Factory Comedy Camp please visit: www.laughfactory.com.