Congratulations to:
Jose Simon (2007)
Frank Kidder (2005)
Rebecca Erwin Spencer (2005)
Wavy Gravy (2004)
Don Novello (2003)
Enrico Banducci (2003)
Ronnie Schell (2002)
Michael Pritchard (2002)

2007 Winner
Jose Simon
Growing up in Mexico City as the godson of film legend Cantinflas, Jose Simon seemed destined to achieve greatness south of the border. But in 1959, he left financial security for the unknown in San Francisco. In 1962 he played bass with another new arrival, Carlos Santana, and music became his passion and profession. He played all the local clubs in North Beach, toured the U.S. with the Band of Gold, later joined his first Latin Rock group, SAPO, and performed on their first album — for which he was later inducted into The Kings of Latin Rock for his unique soulful bass work.

In the early seventies, on his way to a rehearsal, he was introduced to a world that became his second passion: improvisation, through the legendary Committee, directed by Del Close. Jose attended every workshop, and during that time he met three individuals who influenced his life: John Cantu, a great comedy writer, whose energy fueled Comedy Day; Frank Kidder, who started the very first SF International Stand-up Comedy Competition; And then there was a guy by the name of Robin Williams.

In 1972, Frank Kidder rented the basement of a church at 756 Union Street, which became known as The Intersection Coffee House, and began presenting comedy. Jose ran into Robin while he was on a school break from Juilliard and told him about the Intersection. Robin never went back to New York.

John Cantu managed a new place to perform called The Holy City Zoo. It was there that the seed of Comedy Day was planted. One night, Jose noticed that that there was no audience and, therefore, no performance. It seems that people were being murdered at random on the streets of San Francisco by an entity named The Zebra Killer and no one wanted to leave the safety of their home.

Tourism became practically non-existent, and SF was getting negative worldwide coverage. Jose, believing in the healing power of laughter, approached John Cantu and Rebecca Erwin Spencer, and together they rallied the comedy community to support Jose's idea of a free, outdoor, daytime comedy “concert” to bring laughter to a community, help change the negative image San Francisco had acquired, to prove that stand-up comedy could work outdoors, and to expose those not old enough to attend a comedy club to the art of stand-up comedy.

On July 11, 1981, in Golden Gate Park, a dream became reality: Comedy Day, and a tradition, was born. On February 16, 1994, the City of San Francisco declared Jose Simon Day. And on September 30, 2007, before the 27th annual Comedy Day audience, Jose Simon joined a select group of renowned local talents to receive the coveted San Francisco Stand-up Comedy Legend Award.

We love you Jose Simon!


2005 Winner
Frank Kidder
Frank is the godfather of stand-up comedy in San Francisco. He created The San Francisco International Stand-up Comedy Competition and has been an influential force in the careers many great comedians including Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfield, Michael Pritchard, Dana Carvey, Roseanne Barr, Ellen DeGeneres, Eddy Murphy, Don Novello (Father Guido Sanducchi), Kevin Pollak, Steven Wright and others. His first comedy venture began at the Coffee Gallery in North Beach. He eventually moved to the Intersection Coffeehouse on Union Street and began teaching comedy workshops. During one of these sessions, a comedian by the name of Jose Simon brought along a young actor named Robin Williams. The rest, as they say, is comedy history. Frank's San Francisco International Stand-up Comedy Competition has spawned other competitions such as NBC's "The Last Comic Standing" and Showtime's "The Big Laugh Off." The movie "Punchline" starring Tom Hanks and Sally Fields also used the competition as an important plot point. Simply put, the San Francisco comedy scene owes its beginnings, middles and ends to Frank.


2005 Winner
Rebecca Erwin Spencer
If Frank Kidder is the godfather of Stand-up comedy in San Francisco, then Becky is the queen! Nowadays she’s the boss…of Robin Williams. In fact, Robin’s life would be chaotic if it weren't for Becky. She's his personal assistant. But way back when, Becky was the princess of the San Francisco comedy community working with John Cantu at the famed Holy City Zoo. It was Becky who wrote the proclamation declaring the first Comedy Day (or Comedy on the Green as it was originally dubbed). Cantu is on record as saying there were "three key elements that made the event and one of them was Rebecca Erwin Spencer's brilliantly written proclamation and her knowledge of how to get it officially proclaimed." Because of her vast knowledge of the comedy community, her keen wit and ability to get things done, Becky is a true San Francisco Stand-up Comedy Legend. She has also been a member of the board of directors of Comedy Day since day one.
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)


2004 Winner
Wavy Gravy
(a.k.a. Hugh Romney)

Whereas, twenty-five years ago, Wavy Gravy co-founded Seva Foundation "to alleviate needless suffering" in the world;

And Whereas "Seva" is Sanskrit for "service" and Wavy, more than any other man, woman, clown, or former frozen dessert, exemplifies a life lived in service to others;
And Whereas Wavy proved an Inspirational and Contagious Force, enlisting many of the world’s most renowned artists to perform in benefit concerts with names like "Cowboys for Indians" and "Blues against Blindness," and raising millions in support of Seva;

And Whereas, as the result of his good work, Seva and its partners, in twenty-five years, restored sight to two million blind people in Asia and Africa, enabled thousands of indigenous people in Central America to deliver healthy babies and drink clean water, and supported Native Americans across the United States in reclaiming their health and culture;

And Whereas Wavy brings fun and laughter to the table, reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously (Seva folk are forbidden to use the word.), and exemplifying the joy in service to others. We honor him with our Stand-up Comedy Legend Award. Thank you, Wavy for who you are, and all you do! To find out more about Wavy, check out these links:
WavyGravy.net - Wavy's homepage
SEVA.org
Erowid.org - Erowid Wavy Gravy Vault


2003 Winner
Don Novello
(a.k.a. Father Guido Sarducci)

Don Novello was born in Ashtabula, Ohio in 1943. He's best known for a character that brought him fame on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970s: the irreverent priest Father Guido Sarducci, gossip columnist and rock 'n' roll critic for the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano". He has reprised the role several times for other shows, including Gilda Radner - Live From New York and two specials for the Showtime and Cinemax cable networks. As a writer and performer for SNL (beginning in 1978), Novello wrote several of the show's most memorable sketches, including the famous Billy Goats Tavern ("cheeseburger, cheeseburger") sketch.

Novello was a regular performer on The Smothers Brothers Show (CBS, 1975), Van Dyke and Company (NBC, 1976), and was a writer/producer of SCTV Comedy Network in the early 1980s, He also recorded two comedy albums for Warner Bros. His film work includes roles in The Godfather Part III, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, and New York Stories for director Francis Ford Coppola, as well as Touch, Casper, The Scalper and Atlantis - The Lost Empire (2001). Novello has also written four books: The Lazlo Letters, Citizen Lazlo!, and The Blade: Shellville High School (All Sheep) Yearbook and most recently, From Bush to Bush : The Lazlo Toth Letters. To find out more about Don, check out these links:
FilmBug.com
Hollywood.com
TV Tome.com
Amazon.com for products


2003 Winner
Enrico Banducci

If it wasn't for Enrico Banducci, who knows where the careers of performers such as Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Mort Sahl, Dick Cavett, Jonathan Winters, Bill Cosby and even Barbra Streisand would be today. Banducci was the owner of the beatnik-era hungry i nightclub. Why did he call it the hungry i? Because he wanted a "thinking-person's avant-garde club. So the "i" stands for intellectual. We honor Enrico not only because he was one of the nation's top impresarios...but because of his kindness and generosity to all who come in contact with him. Congratulations, Enrico...you're the best!

Want to know more about the hungry i? Check out...
Hungry i Reunion (1981)
During the 1950s and 1960s, San Francisco's hungry i nightclub (the lower case is not a mistake: that's how the name read on the club's outside wall) was a primary breeding ground for young and hungry comedy talent. The "i" is no longer in existence, but most of its more illustrious alumni are still alive and kicking. Taped in 1981, The hungry i Reunion is comprised of interviews and brief snatches of several classic comic monologues. The star roster includes Mort Sahl, Jonathan Winters, Ronnie Schell, Jackie Vernon and the inimitable Professor Irwin Corey. And just so we won't forget that the "i" was also famous for its folk-singing sessions, the Kingston Trio is on hand to stir up fond baby-boomer memories. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide.
Click here to buy this video.


2002 Winner
Ronnie Schell

Whether you know him as a standout, stand-up nightclub entertainer or as Gomer Pyle's bunkmate, Pvt. Gilbert "Duke" Slater on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Ronnie's been on the comedy scene for as long as we can remember! Schell also starred in his own series Good Morning, World with Goldie Hawn. He has been extremely busy, recording voice-overs for cartoons and commercials, and guest-starring in many series, including The Andy Griffith Show, Mork & Mindy, Happy Days, Charlie's Angels Emergency!, Sledge Hammer!, Saved by the Bell and as a as a regular on The Jim Nabors Hour. His films include: The Shaggy D.A., The Cat from Outer Space, and The Devil and Max Devlin, Jetsons:The Movie and Rover Dangerfield. Ronnie and his wife, Janet, live in Los Angeles where he serves as the honorary mayor of Encino.
Ronnie Schell.com
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What? More about Ronnie...from Hollywood.com
Ronnie's Voice Over Work


2002 Winner
Michael Pritchard

Michael Pritchard is a juvenile probation officer turned stand-up comic. After years of using humor in counseling young offenders, Pritchard took his act public and won the San Francisco International Comedy Competition the same year he was named California's "Probation Officer of the Year." Since then he has been a popular comedy club performer, youth counselor, TV host, and public speaker. For more than 20 years, Mr. Pritchard has traveled the country, thrilling his youthful audiences while spreading his message of good choices, personal responsibility, and respect for others. Pritchard was recently featured in Time magazine and on CNN, for the inspiring message he brings to parent, civic and professional groups, community organizations, and corporations.
Michael Pritchard.com
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