Second City Co-Founder Bernie Sahlins -- RIP

Bernie Sahlins
(photo: timeoutchicago.com)

Bernie Sahlins, whose Second City club established a generation of TV comedians, passed away in his native Chicago at age 90. His obit appeared in today's Chicago Tribune.

The club owner and impresario was a driving force in making the Windy City a spawning area for imaginative, live comedy. Many acts pursued improvisational routines, which sharpened their skills for live television efforts such as Saturday Night Live. Sahlins' "Second City" space nurtured John Belushi, Dan Akyroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and other creative talents. Hopefully, the living will remember Sahlins with fondness.