My one and only visit to the Friars Club was in 1998, for a cosmetic packaging company’s press event. I think they were receiving an award or presenting one or something. Anyway, I was with our ad rep, who was around my age. He ooh-ed and aah-ed over the portraits of the old comedians who comprised the club’s members.
Then, shortly before the event began, he looked in the doorway of another room at the club, and exclaimed, “Oh, my God! That’s Alan King!”
I believe this was the only time in history that those words were ever spoken.
So that’s why I’m glad that the Friars Club has made an effort to get younger, according to this awesome NYTimes article. Because, as Jeffrey Ross put it, “Look at this place. I’ve seen younger faces on cash.”