Comedy club brings people together at Cedar Crest

They say that laughter is the best medicine, and for residents at Cedar Crest, an Erickson Senior Living-developed and managed community in Pompton Plains, N.J., the comedy club makes sure they have a steady dose to keep them in good cheer.

Bob Morris moved to Cedar Crest in February 2018. A few short months later, sadly, his wife of 53 years passed away. “After two years as a caretaker, I suddenly had plenty of time on my hands,” says Bob.

As a lifelong comedy fan and recognizing the healing power of laughter, he decided to find a way to get through during this difficult time. “I looked over the activity booklet and didn’t find anything to do with humor, jokes, or laughter,” he says. “I approached the Resident Life department and discussed the idea of creating a comedy club. I started by inviting residents to a monthly gathering where they could tell jokes or just a funny story from their lives.”

Connecting through humor

Bob acted as emcee at the first meeting, creating a welcoming environment by wearing a cheeky t-shirt that read, “Join the comedy club! It’s free.” As it turned out, Bob’s idea to bring a little levity to the community was very popular. At the comedy club’s inaugural meeting in 2018, eight residents attended. Over the next seven months, that number grew to 22 members.

“Anyone who comes to a meeting is welcome as a member,” says Bob. “The first time we met, I told a few jokes, and a few other brave residents tried their hand at a little stand-up comedy, too. Eventually, we changed venues to accommodate the growing membership.”

In addition to residents sharing jokes or humorous stories, Bob also began showing video clips of performances from iconic comedians, such as Carol Burnett, Buddy Hackett, Jack Benny, Rodney Dangerfield, Groucho Marx, and Phyllis Diller. Bob chooses many of the videos himself, and he also welcomes all suggestions from other residents. He says the club has been a great way for the community to come together to share a laugh and get to know each other in the process.

“The comedy club is a big hit,” says Bob. “We started showing more videos, and up to 92 people have attended a meeting, which allowed us to move to the 240-seat auditorium featuring a genuine movie theater-sized screen. The residents love it.”

Broadcast on TV

In January 2021, the comedy club instituted a format change—an hour of seven to 11 stand-up and sketch comedy videos broadcast on Cedar Crest’s in-house TV channel, allowing residents to enjoy from the comfort of their apartment homes.

New videos are shown on the second Friday of the month, and they’re rebroadcast five times during the following week for those who may have missed the initial showing. The virtual format allows even more residents to enjoy the club’s offerings. After a difficult year, a laughter break is definitely welcome.

Many avenues for fun

The comedy club is just one of the many resident-run clubs and activities available on campus. At Cedar Crest, residents can engage in everything from arts and crafts groups, such as Chat and Stitch and watercolor class, to games like bingo and bridge to activities for outdoors enthusiasts, such as the garden and fishing clubs.

When it comes to having fun, Bob is something of a renaissance man, choosing to take part in a little of everything the community has to offer. In addition to heading up the comedy 0club, he also manages Cedar Crest’s 150-resident bocce ball community. He has organized three spelling bees on campus and is now putting together a scavenger hunt. Bob also keeps physically active by utilizing Cedar Crest’s fitness center, the walking trails, and the putting green.

“There’s something for everyone at Cedar Crest,” says Senior Manager of Resident Life Erica Zayat. “If a resident has an interest that’s not yet represented on campus, we welcome and encourage them to work with us to create it, just as Bob did with the comedy club.”

If you’d like to know more about life at Cedar Crest, visit CedarCrestCommunity.com or call 1-800-682-0312.

About Cedar Crest: Cedar Crest, one of 21 continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Senior Living, is situated on a scenic 130-acre campus in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,800 residents and 1,000 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Cedar Crest can be found at CedarCrestCommunity.com.

Written by Kate Streit