The Laff Stop was a comedy club

Comedy club

A comedy club is a venue, typically a nightclub, bar, or restaurant where people watch or listen to performances, including stand-up comedians, improvisational comedians, impersonators, magicians, ventriloquists and other comedy acts...

, located in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

. It was one of the most successful clubs through the 1990s, and is considered as the heart of the Texas stand-up comedy scene. The club closed after Dec. 19, 2009 performances were completed in a surprise announcement.

The Laff Stop changed locations a few times durings its existence, the last stop becoming an upstairs strip mall location at Waugh and the Allen Parkway. The previous location on West Gray Street is now a Sherlock's pub while the original Laff Stop location—famous for being the launching pad of Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks

William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...

, Sam Kinison

Sam Kinison

Samuel Burl "Sam" Kinison was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Kinison was known for his intense, harsh and politically incorrect genre humor...

, and others—is now a dry cleaner at San Felipe and Shepherd.

Albums and Videos recorded at the Laff Stop include:

• Mitch Hedberg
  Mitch Hedberg
  Mitchell Lee "Mitch" Hedberg was an American stand-up comedian known for his surreal humor and unconventional comedic delivery. His comedy typically featured short, sometimes one-line jokes, mixed with absurd elements and non sequiturs...
  
  's Strategic Grill Locations
  Strategic Grill Locations
  Strategic Grill Locations is a comedy album from Mitch Hedberg. It is a recording of a performance at The Laff Stop comedy club in Houston, Texas from September 7, 1999. The album was originally self-published by Hedberg, and sold through his website and at shows...
  
  CD
• Dane Cook
  Dane Cook
  Dane Jeffrey Cook is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He has released five comedy albums: Harmful If Swallowed; Retaliation; Vicious Circle; Rough Around The Edges: Live From Madison Square Garden; and Isolated Incident. In 2006, Retaliation became the highest charting comedy album...
  
  's Harmful If Swallowed
  Harmful If Swallowed
  Harmful If Swallowed is the first CD/DVD set from American comedian Dane Cook. It was released on July 22, 2003.The attached DVD contains Dane's appearances on Comedy Central Presents , Comics Come Home 5, and Premium Blend.As of April 16, 2008, the album has sold 1,215,409 copies in the US...
  
  CD/DVD
• Joe Rogan
  Joe Rogan
  Joseph James "Joe" Rogan is an American comedian, video blogger, actor, writer, podcaster, and martial artist. He is best known for his work on NewsRadio, his work as color commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and his hosting work on Fear Factor.-Acting:In 1994, Rogan co-starred on...
  
  's I'm Gonna Be Dead Someday... CD
• Doug Stanhope
  Doug Stanhope
  Douglas Gene "Doug" Stanhope is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and author known for his abrasive comedy routines.-Life and career:Stanhope quit high school after his freshman year...
  
  's Sicko
  Sicko (album)
  Sicko is the second stand-up comedy album by Doug Stanhope. Released in 1999 by Stand Up! Records and recorded live at The Laff Stop comedy club in Houston, Texas....
  
  and Something to Take the Edge Off
  Something to Take the Edge Off
  Something to Take the Edge Off is the third comedy album by Doug Stanhope. Released in 2000 by Stand Up! Records and recorded live at The Laff Stop comedy club in Houston, Texas, the album features a musical accompaniment by Henry Phillips on acoustic guitar....
  
  
• Ron White
  Ron White
  Ronald "Ron" White is an American stand up comedian and satirist who has had two Grammy Award-nominations, and is RIAA certified 10x Platinum for CD and DVD sales of over 10 million units...
  
  's Drunk in Public
  Drunk in Public
  Drunk in Public is the first CD released by American comedian Ron White. It was released on November 3, 2003 on the Hip-O Records label. The album has been certified gold by the RIAA.-Track listing:All tracks written by White.# "Sunglasses" - 2:05...
  
  CD
• Scott White's Dirty White Boy CDs
• Louis CK's "Live in Houston"
• Bill Hicks
  Bill Hicks
  William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...
  
   "Sane Man"
• and many others.

It has also served as a starting point and hometown club for such acts as Sean Rouse, Ralphie May

Ralphie May

Ralphie O. May is an American stand-up comedian.-Early life:May was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but raised in Clarksville, Arkansas. When he was seventeen years old, he won a contest to open for comedian Sam Kinison, whom he considered his idol. Kinison suggested he move to Houston, Texas to...

, Brett Butler

Brett Butler (comedian)

Brett Butler is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian, best known for playing the title role in the comedy series Grace Under Fire.-Early life:...

, and others.

The Laff Stop originated in Newport Beach, California.