Atlantic City Weekly

One Stop For Comedy

Wandering through The Quarter at the Tropicana is a lot of fun, but it's hilarious if you visit the Comedy Stop Café & Cabaret, a nightclub that has put innumerable smiles on the faces of thousands of guests. The Comedy Stop has been doing that for years, and so has its owner, Bob Kephart. Nearly 30 years ago, Kephart opened TK's Cafe and Cabaret and later became general manager of Club Ancopa, an Atlantic City hot spot, bringing his interest in comedy with him. In 1983, Kephart's customer and friend, Jim Martin (then entertainment director at the Tropicana) interested him in taking over a 175-seat room in the Trop that had been an unsuccessful location for other clubs. "Once I saw the room I said, 'That's for me,'" says Kephart. "And the rest is history." The Comedy Stop at the Trop's success led Kephart to open comedy clubs in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada. "My claim to fame, without patting myself on the back, is that I am able to pick out who's going to be the home run in the next year or two. That's why I've been successful -- because I see it, and I get it." Among those comedians who have become famous since performing at the Comedy Stop are Tim Allen, Drew Carey, Brett Butler, Ray Romano, Judy Tenuta, Lewis Black, Richard Lewis, Rosie O'Donnell and the recently deceased Richard Jeni. Since its move to The Quarter, the Comedy Stop Café & Cabaret has achieved even greater recognition and success. Its cabaret-style table seating in front of the stage, and stadium seating in the back, accommodates more than 300 patrons. This week's performers include Jimmie "JJ" Walker, Kevin Downey Jr. and Greg Vaccarello (to Sunday, June 17) and Kathleen Dunbar, Al Ducharme and John Knight (from...