George Wallaces reaction to Pygmies. He then interacts with the audience. He talks about his San Francisco obscenity trial. Bruce got progressively weaker. He mentions the comic Bill Dana and the San Francisco club the hungry i. Bruce continues the bit Divorce & Motels, inserting a comment about his difficulties acting like a father to his daughter. He refers to the sex scandals involving Bill Tilden and Fatty Arbuckle. I love them, weve been friends for god knows how long. Ultimately, its more of a spiritual and philosophical outlook approach that would be required to try and understand within yourself and truly trying to understand the perspective of the person using offending word(s)- Why did I find this offensive? Bruce reads from documents associated with his February 1962 arrest for obscenity in San Francisco. Reading law books and other commentaries on free speech now took up most of Bruces time. Nobody parsed the meaning of obscenity better than Bruce. ), Bruce was introduced at this famous appearance as the most shocking comedian of our time, a man who is skyrocketing to fame. He began his routine with a wry smile and the line, Will Elizabeth Taylor become bar mitzvahd?, The Marine Corps is goyish. He then does Christ & Moses, Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight? Lenny Bruce - The Legendary Lenny Bruce The Famous 1961 Performance Live From The Curran Theater In San Francisco More images Tracklist Notes Originally issues by Fantasy Records (Fantasy 34201) as "Lenny Bruce Live At The Curran Theatre" Murray Hill re-issue produced by arrangement with Fantasy Records. "A Gentile Sings the Blues" is a gag that runs a bit too long at 21 minutes, though the instrumental interlude gives the listener a better chance to hear Breau and Henstridge in something other than a background role. But for all their obscurity, nothing gets done in Congress without these aides. The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. He reads from a letter to Steve Allen; it is unclear whether the letter was written by Bruce. Bruce begins the set (possibly the first set) by saying Happy Friday and talking about the clubs owner, George Andros. North Beach is alive at night, and the Smothers Brothers have settled in for a month at the Purple Onion. I'm a veteran comedian for 38 years and I've never seen it, like Lenny Bruce said at the Purple Onion, 'We've gone backwards.' There are things you can't say. Years before, Bruce who was a civil rights activist, said in a performance You have a choice of spending 15 years being married to a woman, a black woman or white woman, a simplified skit that showed how ridiculous any anti-miscegenation argument was, and flattened it in just 30 seconds. Bruce speaks of the mine explosion at Green County, Pennsylvania a few days prior. By Philip Eil But you already knew that, didnt you? Bruce does his bit about Obscenity Law and discusses obscenity. Showing all 3 results. He performs the bit How Negroes and Jews Became Entertainers, then talks about Hugh Hefner's strategy in putting out Playboy. In fact, this bit might be riskier today than it was in the 1960s. Bruce talks about how, in light of his recent legal troubles, hes tried to understand the prosecutors. Jazz music starts playing on the p.a. The recording abruptly switches to a different performance, in progress, that most likely takes place in 1964, because he mentions Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. It makes no sense to restrict our ride because of what was. He calls writer Alexander King, a frequent guest on Jack Paars late-night show, the junkie Mark Twain. He does his bit on Fay Bainter, the actress who played Andy Hardys mother. Mentions Leopold and Loeb. how far we've come. Filmmaker, Advertising, Social Specialist. "Gum Addiction," a pantomime of a musician going though withdrawal because of a lack of chewing gum, is a parody of the then-current play The Connection, which focused on jazz musicians with narcotics habits. This file covers approximately the third quarter of the show. He refers to the fact that the previous Sunday hed only sold 500 tickets for a show at the Curran Theater in San Francisco, leaving 1100 empty seats. Bruce does The Act Is Hugging & Kissing. He does The Best Man in the Tribe (St. Paul), The Christian God Has a Face, the Jewish God Doesnt, Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House, Men Are Carnal, Las Vegas Tits & Ass and the origin of Obscenity Law, Marijuana, and Airplane Glue. He does Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House, Dick Gregory, Goldwater Talks to Negroes, Las Vegas Tits & Ass, The Best Man in the Tribe (St. Paul), Schmuck, Flashers, and Custody/Get Even and Deny It. Bruce is in the midst of his King Kong bit. He does Las Vegas Tits & Ass, then Would You Sell Out Your Country (Francis Gary Powers), Doing It Is Dirty and We Did It to Their Mothers for Chocolate Bars. He challenged the status quo, the hypocrisy and corruption of his own government. Although. Bruce speaks about and reads from documents associated with his February 1962 arrest for obscenity in San Francisco, including Bruce's own letter to Judge Clayton Horn and tells how it resulted in his being charged with contempt of court. Interview by journalist Gary Shenfer of Lenny Bruce in Miami (or Miami Beach) at the El Patio club. He reiterates what Allen stated, that his current litigation was surrounded by a four letter word that started with an S and ended with a T. He says an obscenity circus has been going on around him for the past five years. The chemistry between Breau and Francks is dynamic to say the least. Most of these recordings are of Lenny Bruces stand-up comedy performances, and many are whole or partial recordings of the same performance (with variations in audio quality), or combination clips from various performances. Men's voices can be heard--it's the police. He does his bit The Christian God Has a Face, the Jewish God Doesnt. Bruce believes he was framed. Lenny Bruce had already made two previous appearances, so why the need to give him such a dedicated introduction? Bruce does his bit Custody/Get Even, inserts a little of King Kong, and goes into Stag Film vs. King of Kings. Lenny Bruce was way ahead of his time. He discusses aspects of his trials. He does some of his bit How to Relax Your Colored Friends at Parties, to prove that Boyar misinterpreted it as racist. Bruce notes the set is being recorded by Max Weiss of Fantasy Records, and starts repeating a phrase so that the tape editor will be confused. He does the bits We Killed Christ, Flashers, Christ & Moses, Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight?, and Black Black Woman White White Woman. Bruce talks about the mixed reaction he got during the first show. The ninth and tenth clips are variations on Airplane Glue, with the kid who sniffs glue appearing on Paul Coates tabloid TV show. He uses the word shit and says the Supreme Court ruled that its not obscene if youre talking about narcotics. He goes on to talk about prejudices about British accents vs. Southern accents, and does his bit on obscenity law. Schwartz tells Bruce about his meeting with New York City License Inspector Herbert S. Ruhe. He gave zero fucks. Bruce asks the lighting man to turn out all the lights, and says its fun in the dark when were together, but not alone. He talks about the double standard in depicting sex vs. violence. Bruce does some bits about air travel. Bruces bit People Dont Talk That Way to Judges is in progress. Bruce identifies in the audience jazz musician J.J. Johnson, and someone from the magazine Downbeat. Instant potatoes? He does his bit The Clap. Also available in the iTunes Store. He does the bits Jewish vs. Goyishe and (Chicago columnist) Paul Molloy & Christianity. He wonders if this arrest is connected to him having filed a complaint against Dr. Thomas Gore, who was a prosecution witness in his recent trial for possession of narcotics. Conversation among Lenny Bruce, Phil Spector and Allen Ginsberg. Bruce does some bits about air travel. Please email us at [emailprotected], subject line republish, with any questions or to let us know what stories youre picking up. In the third and sixth clip he mentions The Chronicle, which would place the performances in San Francisco. Among the items recorded by the inspector was Bruce describing the famous Jacqueline Kennedy photo of her crawling on to the trunk of the car after her husband had been shot. John L. White, who made the arrest and Robert Coogan, Jr., who owned the Grand Prix Hobby Shop and sold drugs there. Bruce riffs on what he is doing, testing the Sony Dynamic Microphone, speaks in Spanish, does a riff on a radio talk show called Nightline, does rants as an irate pornographer and as an irate narcotics addict, girlfriend Maury Haydn (Lotus Weinstock), beatniks, a used car salesman, a Senate investigating committee, Steve Allen and Phyllis Diller. He wonders if the name Pope Pius was, like Rip Torn, dreamed up by Hollywood talent agent Henry Willson. Bruce was sentenced to four months of labor in a workhouse, but again did not serve time while he appealed the verdict. The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. Bruce was watched closely in New York as well. Bruce does his bit about Barry Goldwaters Jewish roots. November 16, 2004 10 Songs, 1 hour, 7 minutes 2004 Art of Life Records. Its clear that his demographic audience existed, people who wanted to see him and listen to what he had to say. He does his bit about wanting to give the audience members lie detector tests about infidelity and homosexuality and refers to Tab Hunter's arrest for allegedly beating his dog. He mentions his obscenity trial in New York (the Caf Au Go Go trial). Kennedy was assassinated later in the day. Language. (2) 15-minute section of a Gate of Horn show on December 9, 1962. The second clip is a bit on how Lawrence Welks accent and square persona were just a put-on. He does the bits Would You Sell Out Your Country (Francis Gary Powers) and Las Vegas Tits & Ass. The recorder is shut off, then turned on again and Ginsberg identifies the time and date of the conversation at the embattled, barbed wire household of Lenny Bruce.. The Purple Onion was a legendary comedy club in San Francisco. The Village Purple Onion employed topless female dancers and served as a performance venue for up-and-coming musicians such as Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. He begins a bit about a "chick singer.". (1)The recording begins while the set is in progress. He does the Transylvania bit, Airplane Glue, interview with George Washington, King Kong and Tarzan. He starts to do his bit about a sea monster at Coney Island whos handled by an agent; the bit is known as The Monster or Heshie the Monster, but some people in the audience wont stop talking. The file ends during the bit. Looking at the camera, Bruce talks very briefly about his reputation and the first amendment, the freedom of speech and how a law abiding citizen gets offended by his freedom of speech, but the irony is that he is within his own constitutional right to say whatever he likes, and that there is no law saying that he can not do so. Here are a few clips that show the range, depth, and volatility of a man Complex magazine calls the most controversial comedian of all time. Bruce gives permission for Levy to tape his show. Bruce speaks of his agent, Jack Sobel, does The Palladium, Bronchitis, talks about doing doctor bits, does Nightclub Owners, speaks of not stealing from other comics. He relates the details of his arrest on a narcotics charge in Los Angeles, the trial, his "Department 95" hearing to determine whether he was a narcotics addict, and the subsequent criminal behavior of the arresting officer. It begins while the show is in progress. He refers to his 1962 obscenity trial in San Francisco, and that he was acquitted. The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. Bruce continues his Norman Thomas bit with a rundown of persecuted groups: the Irish, the Filipinos and midgets. He does Ten Thousand Asses (Tigers & Lions), then Shelley Berman & Chicago Shtarkers. In these voices he makes reference to beatniks on the Sunset Strip, a used car salesman who has a dog on the hood of a car in commercials (most likely Chick Lambert), a Senate investigating committee, Steve Allen and Phyllis Diller. Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 August 3, 1966), better known as Lenny Bruce, was a comedian, author, and social critic, whose corrosive and transgressive satire as well as his boldness in pushing the envelope of the laws of obscenity have made him an iconic figure in American culture. In 2014, Brandeis University acquired the Lenny Bruce collection from his daughter, Kitty Bruce, with a generous grant from the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation. The next section is a montage of very short clips of bits involving drug use. Bruce covers it all in 100 seconds of material on the countrys 36th president. He ends the call with some jokes. Although fans of Lenny Breau are likely to be interested in all of his previously unreleased recordings, the focus is primarily on Francks. He talks about pornography, masturbation, crime, and Jews. (Note: some clips contain profanity or other language that may not be appropriate for listening at work, around children, or near anyone with delicate sensibilities. George Wallaces reaction to Pygmies. He holds up a picture of a woman in a nudie magazine and says the name Hugh Hefner will be in the history books for taking the stigma away from nudity and sex. He does his bits Shelley Berman & Chicago Shtarkers and Barney & the Hecklers, then talks about homosexuals on trial in Miami. The full recordings are available at Brandeis Universitys Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department. (1) Bruce talks about his trial, mentions Leopold and Loeb, his arrest for obscenity days earlier, the abundance of police cars in front of the Gate of Horn at the previous nights performance. Summary []. He criticizes Chicago columnist Paul Molloy for being sanctimonious. All fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this previously unreleased CD, though some listeners may feel a bit overwhelmed by the emphasis on Francks' comedic vocals and narratives. The Purple Onion originally opened in 1952 under the management of Keith Rockwell. He does Christ & Moses, sings a bit in Yiddish, and closes the set with Ben Hurs mother & sister. It all comes down to context, not the word. He played around with the word, using it in the same context as he would do if the word was shit. President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy arrive at Love Field, Dallas, Texas. He talks about critics and is asked about the recent Congressional hearings about rigged quiz shows. I speak of a personal experience. Two years later, on February 3rd 1961, New York city was midway through its worst blizzard in its history, successfully halting the city to a stand still the city wouldnt be hit by such a blizzard until 2011. Discusses differences between Christians and Jews. He comments on the three people who just walked out, mentions Tab Hunters arrest, does We Killed Christ, and ends the set with Ben Hurs Mother & Sister. Lenny Bruce, head-and-shoulders portrait. Bruce does a bit about how his generation of men is terrified of being considered a faggot. He relates his surprise, when at Phil Spectors jamboree rock concert, at seeing 10-year-old kids out without their parents. The show is in progress. The trials for both violations resulted in deadlocked juries. He does How Negroes and Jews Became Entertainers and talks about his scenario for a movie about Christ and the Good Thief. Francks takes the same approach to "Tea for Two," slipping in and out of "Black Coffee" and adding a bit of scatting. Final show at The Purple Onion in San Francisco on 9/24/12Event Producer: Dan DionVideo Producer: A.D. Liano & Frazer BradshawThe famed San Francisco comedy . From Indecency, he goes into the bits Custody/Get Even and Stag Film vs. King of Kings. He speculates on Rock Hudsons sexuality. He does The Best Man in the Tribe (St. Paul). The recording continues with the beginning of the second set. But at that time of recording, Lenny Bruce was under litigation for obscenity by New Yorks [then] District Attorney (D.A. He does his bits Custody/Get Even, and Stag Film vs. King of Kings. They said it in a light hearted way. When he first appeared on the show in 1959, Allen described him as the most shocking comedian of our time, a young man who is skyrocketing to fame. Their interaction in Nat Adderley's soulful "Work Song" is amazing, with Breau providing a bit of percussion on his instrument as well. He does Christ & Moses, Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight?, and Black Black Woman White White Woman. He does the bits The Romans Segregated the Christians with Lions and We Did It to Their Mothers for Chocolate Bars. He refers to his 1962 obscenity trial in San Francisco, and that he was acquitted. Well guess whatpeople who want to offend, theyll use it to cause harm and offence to whoever feeds up to it. He does short jokes about Liberace, Richard Nixon, Paul Robeson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sophie Tucker. (1) Final 16 minutes of the show on the night of December 4-5, 1962, known as The Bust Show (midnight performance). He talks about mixed race marriages which at the time was illegal due to many states passing anti-miscegenation statute, in previous decades and it was only until the case for Loving vs Virginia was presented to the supreme court that on June 12th 1967, two months after it was presented and argued, the supreme court ruled Virginias anti-miscegenation as unconstitutional of the 14th amendments Equal Protection Clause. Were happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. He talks about changes in Miami and an absurd kidnapping there. The fifth clip is his bit The Clap and was recorded during Bruces engagement at the Chicago club The Gate of Horn in November-December 1962. He never gave up on his first amendment right, freedom of speech. More detailed information on the Lenny Bruce collection audio files can be found here: Lenny Bruce Institutional Repository site. Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 - August 3, 1966), better known by his stage name Lenny Bruce, was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and actor. He does Las Vegas Tits & Ass, then Would You Sell Out Your Country (Francis Gary Powers), Doing It Is Dirty and We Did It to Their Mothers for Chocolate Bars. This file constitutes part four of four quarters (although without a definitive ending to the show). He talks about Barry Goldwaters Jewish roots, prejudice and Lee Harvey Oswald. He talks about Hugh Hefners intentions with Playboy. A bravura performance of wordplay and innuendo. I know words have power. Home; Biography; Videos; Donate; Shop; Cart; The Shop. He does some of his bit on Leopold and Loeb, then interacts with the audience. morgans funny here's a ten minute set from my last time up at the Purple Onion.I love that venue, it has such history. [2] Bruce is known to have had engagements at The Den in April and during the fall of 1959. He calls the Johnsons the biggest non-Jews in the world. The first is a variation on Chicks Are Boss. He does the bit Divorce & Motels. Why the four minute introduction? He does Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House, Dick Gregory and Goldwater Talks to Negroes, Las Vegas Tits & Ass, The Best Man in the Tribe (St. Paul), Schmuck, Flashers, Custody/Get Even and Deny It, and The Reason We Left England. Lenny had proven his point words are only offensive because society allows that particular word to be offensive. Astrological Sign: Libra Death Year: 1966 Death. Bruce begins by using the microphone in a gesture of benediction; in his New York obscenity trial that was interpreted as being a masturbatory gesture. Bruce is talking about a D.A. Bruce is in the midst of recounting the incident for which he was accused of assault and battery on a TV cameraman in Los Angeles. Also known as The Midnight Concert. The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. Only two years after his Snot act on the Steve Allen show. Conspiracy to interfere with the fourth amendment const Lenny Bruce. We are nothing at all. He reacts to people in the balcony who yell for him to speak louder. During which a number of crap fucking bands no one has ever heard of played. Joel Lesnick and Sgt. He does No Guy Ever Cheated on His Wife/Guys Detach. The police had recorded two of the performances. Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 - August 3, 1966), better known as Lenny Bruce, was a comedian, author, and social critic, whose corrosive and transgressive satire as well as his boldness in pushing the envelope of the laws of obscenity have made him an iconic figure in American culture. Join Vimeo He does his bit about wanting to give the audience members lie detector tests about infidelity and homosexuality. Why did you call him that? Towards the end of his life, Lenny was constantly caught up in bust ups with the authorities. He says that in light of this, his upcoming gig in Detroit was canceled. He ends with joking comments, reading from a law book about regulations regarding kosher meat, and then about a law against aiding a suicide. He says he has sold his house, and his money is gone. One of my favorites is Tea for Two.
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