Acme Owner Honored With New Book, City Proclamation
It’s not easy getting Louis Lee up on his own stage or to get him talking about the challenging path he’s faced building Acme Comedy Company into the legendary club that it is.
Strait (L) introduces Lee
But author Patrick Strait got him to do both with the release of his new book, Home Club.
At a book release event Wednesday night, the reluctant Lee took the stage to loud applause as Strait interviewed him about the struggles and the triumphs he’s experienced at Acme which is now in its 35th year of entertaining audiences in the North Loop.
Mayor Jacob Frey also showed up with a proclamation, declaring March 26th, 2025 as Acme Comedy Day in the city of Minneapolis.
As described in the book’s promotional materials, Lee’s story is one of “hard-won successes, staggering failures, and unlikely redemption. Home Club shows how a soft-spoken Chinese immigrant and his small Minneapolis club changed comedy and kept the lights on.”
Several Minnesota comedians paid tribute to Lee as someone who was willing to take risks and nurture their fledgling careers.
For those who missed it Wednesday night, there will be another book release event with Strait and Lee on April 17th at Mill City Museum.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop volunteer
