Educational Media Reviews Online

Mister Kelly’s was a nightclub in Chicago that opened in 1953 and closed in 1975. It was owned by two brothers, Oscar and George Marienthal, who also owned another nightclub located nearby, the London House. Mister Kelly’s was known for being a venue for jazz music but also for featuring new and sometimes controversial comedians such as Bob Newhart, Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory and Lenny Bruce.

This documentary was directed by Ted Bogosian who is known for his work on the Nova series on PBS. It is narrated by Bill Kurtis, a local journalist and news anchor from Chicago. Lots of celebrities such as the above-mentioned comedians and jazz musicians and singers such as Lainie Kazan and Ramsey Lewis are interviewed about their experiences at Mister Kelly’s. The film uses mostly photograph stills since there were no live recordings done from Mister Kelly’s. The film title says Mister Kelly’s, but the topic is all over the place, highlighting the owners, their other clubs in Chicago, the history of jazz, the integration of Mister Kelly’s with black performers, and Chicago and the tension surrounding the Democratic National Convention. The film ends with a focus on Richard Pryor (who made his debut at the club the same day Martin Luther King Jr. was killed) and George Carlin. In the 1970’s, as tastes were changing, the club needed to broaden its appeal and started hiring more variety in the musical acts, such as Bette Midler and Ricky Nelson.

The film plays like a documentary one would watch during pledge week on the local PBS station. Kurtis’ sing-song narration was a caricature of a “Behind the Music” type documentary. Both the musicians and comedians interviewed had fond memories and respect for the club and its owners. One or two of the jazz musicians talked about how much they learned from the jazz greats that played at the club. The number of stars and music experts that were interviewed per minute was exhausting and the film would have been better served with fewer interviews that showed more substance.

This documentary is available streaming through Good Docs and Docuseek. Institutions can receive a license for institutional use for 14 days for $129 or for perpetual use for $559. The film is in black and white and color and is 80 minutes long. It is difficult to read the information that is presented under the name of the person being interviewed. Live at Mister Kelly’s is only recommended for very specialized classes in comedy or jazz. Students of jazz would know the entertainers, but most students today would not know the comedians and really this film would only be of interest to those of a certain age from Chicago.

Awards:
Social Impact and Vision Award, Ojai Film Festival

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