Read Any Good Laughs Lately? - 2010
Last Bookstore
Last Bookstore
453 S. Spring St.
Los Angeles,
CA 90013
213-488-0599
Map & Details>>
It may not be the last used bookstore in L.A., but the Last Bookstore is certainly the best. And business? “Never better,” according to owner Josh Spencer. On Thursdays, the store features a comedy show called Literally Funny, a variation of regular stand-up where the participants read material in front of an audience. Material has included an erotic story written from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy, and “an episode of The Cosby Show explained in such a way to show how much of a sadistic son-of-a-bitch Cliff Huxtable really was,” says Nickelodeon computer programmer Erik Mann, talking about shtick he heard from another performer. NPR contributor Taylor Orci is a regular. “Last time I read a story about having panic attacks,” she told us. “I’ve also got a huge collection of notes I passed during junior high that are dying to be read aloud.” Show producer and host Dan Bialek says, “Stand-up comedy is really, really hard to do. It’s a lot easier to get laughs and to not feel uncomfortable in front of a small crowd when you’re reading something.” And if you just want to come and watch? “The show is 100 percent free,” he notes. “If you’re broke, love comedy and need something to do on a Thursday night at 8 p.m., look no further.” 400 S. Main St., dwntwn. (213) 617-0308, lastbookstorela.com. —Todd David Schwartz
