For many Rhode Islanders, the name Charlie Hall is synonymous with the Ocean State Follies and Drink and Dabble wine and painting parties.

For others, his name also goes hand in hand with comedy – specifically Periwinkles comedy club, which used to be housed in the Arcade in Providence.

Many famous names in national comedy appeared on the Periwinkles stage, including Providence’s own Tom Cotter, who came in second place on “America’s Got Talent.” Others include Dennis Leary, Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Steven Wright, Rob Schneider and Lenny Clarke.

Hall is credited with developing the careers of many local comics, such as Ace Aceto and “Rockin’” Joe Hebert – both whom have called Hall their friend for over 25 years.

At the Pub on Park on Friday, April 24, time was turned back to the 1980s. Hall had saved some of the pieces of art he created, and decorated the room in Cranston to resemble the former stage.

The show started with a special introduction from Channel 10’s Gene Valicenti.

Hall also had a cardboard cut out of the late Frank Santos, the R-rated hypnotist who was a regular at Periwinkles.

“Let’s have a moment of applause for our friend, Frank. We miss you, you always did a great job and you were a greater friend,” Hall said.

The two shows featured comics who performed at Periwinkles during its heyday, including Frank O’Donnell, Dave Kane, Eddie Galvin, Rick Beretta, Hebert, Aceto, Cranston resident Coleen Galvin Yaroshenko, Cranston native Mary Ellen DePetrillo Rinaldi, Hall, Boston comic Mike McCarthy and Cranston icon John Perrotta.

“This has been such a great night, seeing so many old friends and colleagues. Hard to believe we have been doing comedy for some many years. I will always be grateful to Charlie and Periwinkles for supporting me all those years ago. I only have great memories of those days,” said Hebert, founder and director of the Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame.

Hall credits the former owner of Periwinkles, Mike Kent, with the success of the venue.

“Whether he knows it or not, his decision to try standup comedy in the early ’80s at his restaurant was the ‘Big Bang,’ if you will, that led many of us to the careers we have today,” Hall said.

The sellout crowd for the first show was treated to an unusual lineup of acts. From Aceto’s take on snow days for school children and DePetrillo’s rant about bikini bodies, to Perrotta’s verbal assault on the audience and Galvin’s goofy antics, it was a smorgasbord of comedy talent.

Hall was slightly nostalgic, talking about some of the comics who were not at the show.

“Well, many of my comedy comrades, because of Periwinkles, are either working on the West Coast or touring around the country and couldn’t make it. It would have been great to see Tom Cotter, Ed Regine, Al Ducharme and Poppy Champlin, all of who have very successful careers in comedy,” he said.

Due to the close proximity to Boston, many comics would come down and hone their acts or try new material on the Periwinkles stage. McCarthy credits the stage with much of his success.

“That show meant a lot to me because it brought me back to when my love of comedy was brand new, and driving for two hours to get five minutes of stage time was the most important thing in my life,” he said. “I grew up at Periwinkles. It was a great place for fostering young talent. Charlie Hall took a lot of pride in helping develop new talent and that was incredibly rare back then. Most older comics were bitter and jaded with a crappy attitude towards the up-and-comers, but all the pros at Periwinkles were encouraging and helpful.

“I don’t think I would be doing this for a living if it wasn’t for that little club in a mall. I learned so much there,” McCarthy continued. “As far as the show, it was awesome seeing people I hadn’t seen in years ... It was like going back in time for a little while, and that is something you rarely get in this life.”

Hall is excited to take the reunion show to the next level.

“I’d like to try to book the show at some of Rhode Island’s larger venues – the Odeum, the Vets and the Stadium,” he said. “The cast would be dependant on who’s available, who’s in town, which would help keep each performance different and fresh.”