The Origins & Creators of The World's Greatest Comedy Theatre
Of course, the history of The Second City is richer and deeper than a few web pages. But we've attempted to give you some highlights that tell the amazing story of a small cabaret theatre that has turned into a comedy institution. We also feature some clips of Second City alums giving a first person account of their days at The Second City.
If you want a more detailed account of the history of The Second City and its predecessor, The Compass Players, there are a number of books available on the subject. The most recent and all-encompassing text is Sheldon Patinkin's The Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theatre; you can also check out Jeffrey Sweet's Something Wonderful Right Away; a terrific book on the early days is The Compass Players by Janet Coleman.
Additionally, the British distributor Electric Sky has put together a 2-volume DVD set going over The Second City's history. Check 'em out!
Timeline
Explore Our First Six Decades
The Fifties
The Sixties
The Seventies
The Eighties
The Nineties
The Zerozies
