A Secret Stage in the City: Touring Sniffen Court & The Amateur Comedy Club (Sunday, May 17, 2026)

Step into a hidden corner of New York City’s past with a rare opportunity to explore the Amateur Comedy Club (founded 1884) building and Sniffen Court. Tucked away at 150 E. 36th Street, this mid-19th-century mews feel like a secret world within the city. Its ten brick carriage houses, arranged around a quiet courtyard, form the Sniffen Court Historic District, a unique example of 1850s design listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the tour, you’ll discover the Amateur Comedy Club, which transformed two of these carriage houses into a theater in 1918. As the oldest continuously operating theatrical club of its kind in the country, the Club offers a glimpse into history through its Green Room, Prohibition-era liquor lockers, and remarkable collection of theatrical art and memorabilia.

Guests will also enjoy refreshments and a surprise performance.

The same tour will be offered three times on Sunday, May 17th; please select your tour time in the registration process.
 Tour 1: 10:00–11:45 AM
 Tour 2: 12:00–1:45 PM
 Tour 3: 2:00-3:45 PM

Questions? edandrews@earthlink.net