Live at Mister Kelly's

Play trailer

1:28

Live at Mister Kelly's

2021

1h 23m

Documentary

Play Trailer

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

The iconic Mister Kelly's, once called a "supernova in the local and national night life firmament," illuminated legendary Chicago's Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bob Newhart, Bette Midler and Steve Martin. Its visionary owners George and Oscar Marienthal smashed color and gender barriers to put unknown, controversial voices on stage and transform entertainment, as America knew it in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Now, with the club long gone, and its star talent reaching its golden years, George's son David and director/screenwriter, Theodore Bogosian, go on a quest to collect the memories of the clubs before they are lost. Celebrity interviews now include Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, Dick Gregory, Lainie Kazan, Herbie Hancock, Dick Cavett, Tim Reid, Fred Willard and Ramsey Lewis. The film portrays through interviews, live footage, photos, music, and song, the most beloved and famous talent of our time at the decisive moments when they showed up, dug deep, and broke in. How do you change the world with a laugh and a song? Find out in a film that documents the rise and fall of one of American entertainment's great proving grounds.

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Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

10/13/2021

With his film, Bogosian remembers a springboard venue in the evolution of the uniquely American artforms of jazz and comedy.

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Peter Sobczynski

RogerEbert.com

10/12/2021

3.5/4

Even though the film is ultimately not much more than an exercise in nostalgia, that's hardly a bad thing when you're delving into a past as rich as the one on display here.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

09/29/2021

I love this movie, I love this movie, I love this movie!

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Leo Brady

AMovieGuy.com

10/22/2021

3/4

It's important for people to never forget the history, including myself, and although the Chicago of the past is long gone, it's nice to relive it in the documentary Live at Mister Kelly's.

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Loren King

Newport This Week (RI)

10/18/2021

Audiences who remember or are curious about a time when nightclubs were a staple of the entertainment industry will revel in Live at Mister Kelly's.

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Live at Mister Kelly's: Trailer 1

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Live at Mister Kelly's: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The iconic Mister Kelly's, once called a "supernova in the local and national night life firmament," illuminated legendary Chicago's Rush Street, and the entire country, by launching talent like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bob Newhart, Bette Midler and Steve Martin. Its visionary owners George and Oscar Marienthal smashed color and gender barriers to put unknown, controversial voices on stage and transform entertainment, as America knew it in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Now, with the club long gone, and its star talent reaching its golden years, George's son David and director/screenwriter, Theodore Bogosian, go on a quest to collect the memories of the clubs before they are lost. Celebrity interviews now include Bob Newhart, the Smothers Brothers, Dick Gregory, Lainie Kazan, Herbie Hancock, Dick Cavett, Tim Reid, Fred Willard and Ramsey Lewis. The film portrays through interviews, live footage, photos, music, and song, the most beloved and famous talent of our time at the decisive moments when they showed up, dug deep, and broke in. How do you change the world with a laugh and a song? Find out in a film that documents the rise and fall of one of American entertainment's great proving grounds.

Director: Ted Bogosian
Producer: Ted Bogosian, Scott Dummler
Screenwriter: Ted Bogosian
Distributor: Virgil Films
Production Co: Happy Medium Ventures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 12, 2021
Runtime: 1h 23m