The Oval Show was founded by Andrew Jackson in 1841, four years after he had stepped down from his second term as President of the United States. Jackson wanted to create something that people would remember him by, a sort of living memorial. His wife Rachel suggested he start a comedy troupe with his best friend and 8th President of the United States, Martin Van Buren. Van Buren was amenable to the idea and so the Oval Show (a reference to the Oval Office which both Jackson and Van Buren had inhabited) was born. The rest is history.