Cleveland's Hilarities celebrates 40 years of laughs

Flashback: Nick Kostis, an educator-turned-bar owner, opened the first Hilarities location in Cuyahoga Falls in May 1985.

• "We were at the forefront of a comedy boom," says Kostis, who opened a second location in Cleveland's Warehouse District the following year.
• "Standup comedy was gaining in popularity and stature and then really came on in the latter part of the 1980s."

The intrigue: No kidding. During its early days, Hilarities hosted rising stars like Tim Allen, who tested out his "Tool Man" schtick when he stopped by in 1985.

• Jerry Seinfeld performed at the Cleveland Hilarities in 1989. When he got off stage, a fax from his management team was waiting to inform him that NBC had picked up his new TV series.

Friction point: In 2000, Kostis sold the Cuyahoga Falls club — which changed its name to the Funny Stop — to focus on the Cleveland location.

• Around the same time, Hilarities was forced out of the Warehouse District when its building came under new ownership.

State of play: Hilarities held shows at Playhouse Square's Hanna Theatre until opening inside East Fourth Street's Pickwick & Frolic's multipurpose entertainment venue in 2002.

• "You come to a crossroads many times over that many years, with any business," Kostis says.
• "It wouldn't have been possible without the support of crowds in this great comedy town and our amazing staff that bought into this culture we've established."

What's next: Hilarities is hosting a variety of comedians for its 40th year celebration, including two sold-out shows featuring Louis C.K.

• A few tickets are available on the resale market.

The last word: Kostis, 82, says while he may not be around for another 40 years, he's confident Hilarities will stand the test of time.

• "The goal was to build something that is a credit to our city. And we did that."