Jokes between strips

“The Naked i, one of the old Boston Combat Zone's larger strip clubs.’’

— Photo by Peter Vanderwarker

“Back in Boston, I discovered the great starting ground for so many comics: strip clubs! Since the early days of burlesque, these places always had a guy come out and tell jokes between every dancer’s turn onstage. I guess it was supposed to break the horrible monopoly of ogling bare flesh.’’

Jay Leno (born 1950), American TV host and comedian. He grew up in Andover, Mass.