OCEAN CITY — Amid the endless stream of bands, acoustic acts and DJs from one end of the island to the other is emerging a refreshing alternative form of entertainment in the form of a nationally-known comedy club at a popular location in north Ocean City.

Brooklyn-born John Lombardi, also known as Gemini, has partnered with Blue Ox and original Greene Turtle owner Steve Pappas to bring his unique show to the Blue Ox nightly throughout the summer. Lombardi, who began perfecting his craft at the age of 11 in his native New York City, is a multi-faceted entertainer whose shows include comedy, magic, illusions, ventriloquism and so much more.

After connecting with Lombardi earlier this year at a show in Atlantic City, Pappas made arrangements to bring the talented entertainer’s show, which also features a variety of nationally-known comedians, magicians and musicians, to the Blue Ox for a series of nightly shows throughout the summer. A vast area in the back of the Blue Ox that serves as a home to a Ravens Roost for much of the year has been converted into the Looney Bin Comedy Club and the entertainment venue is reminiscent of a Las Vegas or Atlantic City club.

“After all these years, and all of the great bands and other acts I’ve seen, I realized I had never seen a comedy show,” said Pappas this week. “We saw John’s show and I realized quickly this is something we should bring to Ocean City. He has done a couple of shows here already and the response has been unbelievable.”

The show features comedy, music, dancing and ventriloquism with a variety of interesting characters including over 30 different puppets Lombardi brings to life each night at the emerging Looney Bin Comedy Club at the Blue Ox. Lombardi also operates two comedy clubs in the New York area and has to return to check on them occasionally, but he will be found almost every night in the summer at the new club in Ocean City.

When he is not available, which isn’t often, the void will be filled with nationally-known comedians, magicians, illusionists and other performers. Lombardi and his cast of other entertainers have performed all over the country including Vegas, Atlantic City and everywhere in between. He said this week one of fellow comedians that will appear off and on throughout the summer has appeared on The Tonight Show at least nine times.

“It’s a really talented crew,” he said. “We’ll be bringing some of the country’s best comedians, magicians and other entertainers every night throughout the summer. It’s a really big theatrical show that will appeal to everybody.”

Each night throughout the summer, Lombardi and his talented crew will perform an adult-content show at 9 p.m. at the Looney Bin Comedy Club in the Blue Ox. On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, there will be G-rated shows geared to families with kids at 7 p.m. It is the latter that brings the most joy to Lombardi, who was named the number-one family entertainer two years in a row in the Catskills.

“I really enjoy performing for the kids and their families,” he said. “It’s such a big part of what I do. I really enjoy interacting with the kids and bringing them in to be part of the show. It’s all very interactive,” John Lombardi on his family-themed shows.

“I really enjoy performing for the kids and their families,” he said. “It’s such a big part of what I do. I really enjoy interacting with the kids and bringing them in to be part of the show. It’s all very interactive.”

Another big part of Lombardi’s repertoire is fundraising and special performances. While his show will appear nightly at the Looney Bin Comedy Club at the Blue Ox, he is also available for private shows at different venues for special causes. Already he has performed a show for kids at Northside Park and another show for the American Cancer Society in Ocean City.

“That’s what I really enjoy the most,” he said. “Performing for kids and their families, many of which have special needs or other issues, is very gratifying and I like to think it makes a difference for them. I know I get a lot out of it.”

Pappas said the family-themed shows are becoming extremely popular and offer another alternative for kids and their parents on the resort entertainment landscape.

“This is a great option for families with kids looking for something to do at night in Ocean City,” he said. “Sure, there’s the Boardwalk, the amusement parks and the mini-golf, but if you’re here for a week and you’ve done all of those things, John’s family-themed comedy show is a great alternative.”

The shows also represent a great value and provide a serious bang for the buck. The cost of a nightly show for an adult is $20, while the cost for kids is $10. There is also a dinner and a show ticket for $24.99. The adult show is performed nightly at 9 p.m. and the family-themed show runs on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday throughout the summer at 7 p.m.

Lombardi got his start as young comedian and magician at the ripe age of 11 by putting down a hat in Central Park and performing for passersby for tips. He was quickly recognized as a remarkable young talent and ascended through the ranks at comedy clubs in his native New York before making it on the national scene.

He said this week he was working for ABC on the “One Life to Live” soap opera when his union went on strike. Rather than walking the picket line with a sign, Lombardi said he grabbed a sound guy and a light guy and started to put together a wildly entertaining show featuring comedy, magic, music and ventriloquism. The rest, as they say, is history and now Lombardi and his big theatrical production are nationally recognized.

“There is no better thing then to laugh,” he said. “Sometimes people get a little down with their jobs, the bills they face or other things going on in their lives, but if they give me just an hour and a half, I can turn that all around. If it’s true laughter is the best medicine, they’ll be calling me doctor when they walk out.”