Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did young stand-up comedians move from New York City to Los Angeles in the 1970s?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
stand-up comedy
Bob Hope with men of X Corps, Wonsan, Korea, 1950.
In the 1970s, many young stand-up comedians migrated from New York City to Los Angeles primarily to be closer to their most important television showcase, The Tonight Show, which was hosted by Johnny Carson and based in Los Angeles.1
While New York City and Los Angeles both served as hubs where comedy clubs allowed performers to hone their craft, the move to Los Angeles provided comedians with essential access to the television industry, which helped foster a period of significant experimentation in the medium.1