The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. Most of his acts took place in the underground scenes; jazz bars, strip clubs etc. A new set begins. Lenny Bruce was a controversial American comedian during the 1950s and 1960s. He played around with the word, using it in the same context as he would do if the word was shit. In May 2003, the governor of New York issued Lenny Bruce a posthumous pardon, based on what he called the State of New Yorks commitment to upholding the First Amendment. Bruces bit People Dont Talk That Way to Judges is in progress. This show is known as The Bust Show. He does short jokes about Liberace, Richard Nixon, Paul Robeson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sophie Tucker. The location is Club Renaissance in Los Angeles. Bruce begins the set (possibly the first set) by saying Happy Friday and talking about the clubs owner, George Andros. "A New Electric Chair" is a stream-of-consciousness narrative about a warden deliberating a purchase. To find out more about these recordings, please contact us! Brandeis University The materials range in date from the early 1920s to the 2000s. He had been featured nationally on the Steve Allen Show. Talks about Elizabeth Taylor, a picture of Fidel Castro and Vice-President Richard Nixon in the New York Times; about going on the Steve Allen show, integration, religious leaders, civil rights, capital punishment. On the same day, he had received a foreclosure notice, but his death was not a suicide. He uncharacteristically tells a joke with a punchline, and inserts JFK into it. Lenny follows Francks on his lyrical journey matching Francks' timing impeccably. Please contact the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University. He explains again that words are only offensive because society makes it that way, and it shouldnt be the case at all. He talks about pornography, masturbation, crime, and Jews. (2) 15-minute section of a Gate of Horn show on December 9, 1962. Talks about segregation, Perry Como. Reading law books and other commentaries on free speech now took up most of Bruces time. Bruce says he is in Saranac, New York, convalescing (from pleurisy). Levy introduces Inspector Vicviolo, head of the District Attorney squad. Bruce tries to argue about the intricacies of obscenity law with Levy, but Levy will not engage and says that it will be their judgment that counts as to whether Bruces act violates the law. Talks about the Catholic Church, Howard Johnsons, Vietnam, protesters, the law, James Joyces Ulysses, bit How the Law Started/Craphouse. He turns his back to the camera this way, you dont know who said, the band said it, hes timing himself, preparing to say that shocking, obscene, foul, four letter wordhe immediately turns around to the camera. He does The Best Man in the Tribe (St. Paul). "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" has a bluesy flavor, along with Francks' improvised dialogue and a brief scatted detour into "On the Trail" (from Grof's Grand Canyon Suite). Showing all 3 results. He criticizes Chicago columnist Paul Molloy for being sanctimonious. This may be the third set of the night. Second part (of three) of a conversation among comedian Lenny Bruce, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J. Gleason. He couldnt say any offensive word without getting heat from the authorities. Bruce introduces Levy to his attorney, Mark Blumenthal. He mentions his obscenity trial in New York (the Caf Au Go Go trial). Bruce says "It's the first time they've made a bust right in an audience" and imagines he's "Superjew" who can fly out the back way. He comments on contemporaries Mort Sahl and Bob Newhart and does his bit Shelley Berman & Chicago Shtarkers. 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. It all comes down to context, not the word. Bruce starts by joking that hes living on a boat thats outside the three-mile limit. He then tells Gleason about his arrest the previous night, at his home, for having given obscene performances at the Trolley Ho nightclub in Los Angeles (under California Penal Code 311.6). In it, Bruce acts out multiple roles including host of a late-night radio show and an irate senior citizen caller. Dec. 23, 2003. (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. He does Flashers. He does the bit Divorce & Motels. 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. He does his bit on Southern accents and Lyndon Johnson. Bruce makes comments about the man "stuck up there in the booth" and talks about the jacket he has on. He mentions his arrests for giving obscene performances in Beverly Hills, and says we should keep prayer in the schools because we need to understand people who have religious training. (2) Bruce is in the midst of the bit We Killed Christ. He does I Picked on the Wrong God. Bruce talks about the fantasies that come to mind as he faces a Carnegie Hall audience for the first time. (3) The set is in progress. He mentions his obscenity trial in New York (the Caf Au Go Go trial). He directs remarks at the police in this shows audience. Description These recordings are from the personal collection of the Bruce family and some of this material has been previously released in edited form. Joey's Solo (Feat. The police had recorded two of the performances. Join Vimeo 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. He does Flashers, then Midgets, wonders whether Pygmies are midgets, and imagines Gov. Lenny Bruce was way ahead of his time. He says that in light of this, his upcoming gig in Detroit was canceled. He uses the word shit and says the Supreme Court ruled that its not obscene if youre talking about narcotics. Others still crackle with raw energy. They performed as a trio called Three. The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. The next section is a montage of very short clips of bits involving drug use. The second set begins. Bruce identifies in the audience jazz musician J.J. Johnson, and someone from the magazine Downbeat. 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. More than 80 celebrities signed a petition demanding Lenny Bruce be allowed to perform, free from censorship and harassment. Towards the end of his life, Lenny was constantly caught up in bust ups with the authorities. The audience reacted positively. Bruce does his bit about Barry Goldwaters Jewish roots. A new set starts. Bruce blames the Maryland Hotel cleaning service for the fact that hes wearing a raincoat. The recording starts with the show in progress. 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. Bruce talks about his obscenity case, his February 1962 arrest for obscenity in San Francisco. Conversation among Lenny Bruce, Phil Spector and Allen Ginsberg. One of the charges against him was saying "shmuck." (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. Listen to 10-second clips of the Lenny Bruce recordings!To see the collection and listen to the full audio, please contact: ascdepartment@brandeis.edu. Some of the recordings are of a personal nature, such as the phone letters and private conversations between Bruce and his friends and family. Lenny Bruce being arrested in 1961. Bruce riffs about razor blades, his recent legal troubles, obscenity, how he got in trouble for part of his bit The Reason We Left England, the difference in the secular and the Catholic definitions of obscenity. 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. Bruce discusses his legal trouble and his material on religion. In the first section, Bruce riffs on what he is doing, testing the Sony Dynamic Microphone. He does Las Vegas Tits & Ass. He does Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight? 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. The recording ends in the midst of the bit George Shearing. A great example that comes to mind that backs Allens statement, is of one of the first skits I listened to when I discovered Lenny Bruce. He does his bits Schmuck, Small-town Audiences, Dykes, and the Jewish mother who still doesnt know her son is gay. The performance ended in Bruce's arrest for obscenity. But it comes down to society and yourself as an individual to take that powerful word that is currently suppressed, and change it so that it becomes normalised, just like the word shit. Bruce refers to his attire, reads from the transcript of his trial for obscenity in San Francisco earlier that year, talks about the hostility in the audience. Bruce refers to his attire, a raincoat, pants and mismatched socks. Bruce is reading from a letter a woman sent him. Why did they choose that word?. [2] Bruce asks the lighting man to turn out all the lights, and says its fun in the dark when were together, but not alone. 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. 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.. Filmmaker, Advertising, Social Specialist. 4 . To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. The primary goal of the meeting was for Ginsberg to hear Bruces experience with being arrested for giving performances that contained obscene material, and his views on what legal steps can be taken to fight those charges. Lenny Bruce, the pioneering, ribald comedian who died of a drug overdose in 1966, was given a posthumous gubernatorial pardon today for the obscenity conviction that some supporters . In this conversation, Bruce seeks Bendichs advice as to whether he has grounds to appeal his conviction on a narcotics charge in Los Angeles. He does his bit on blind pianist George Shearing. The eighth clip features the marijuana material, a bit about medication, his routine Airplane Glue, and a bit about an old Jewish man buying Zig Zag rolling papers. He talks about when Norman words took over for Anglo-Saxon ones, providing euphemisms (such as mutton for the meat of sheep). He does some of his bit How to Relax Your Colored Friends at Parties, to prove that Boyar misinterpreted it as racist. Although. Lenny Bruce - How To Relax Your Colored Friends At Parties (1961) Reelblack One 1.17M subscribers Subscribe 1.5K Share 165K views 4 years ago Classic comedy bit from controversial satirist. Lenny Bruce had already made two previous appearances, so why the need to give him such a dedicated introduction? The first clip captures Bruces piece about doctors in old Hollywood movies, and continues with his bit Fay Bainter. (1) Final 16 minutes of the show on the night of December 4-5, 1962, known as The Bust Show (midnight performance). The chemistry between Breau and Francks is dynamic to say the least. The recording ends in the midst of his bit White Collar Drunk. He ends by riffing about Barry Goldwater and Lyndon Johnson. He ends the call with some jokes. Astrological Sign: Libra Death Year: 1966 Death. He discusses how he develops material for his act, and how spontaneity figures in. Some of the names on the petition included Paul Newman, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor, James Baldwin, and Woody Allen. Information about and brief clips of the majority of these recordings can be found below. He does his bit about Jack Ruby and Melvin Belli. A community dedicated to those who are passionate about film. He talks about critics and is asked about the recent Congressional hearings about rigged quiz shows. He refers to the sex scandals involving Bill Tilden and Fatty Arbuckle. Squalor has never guaranteed success; chain smoking at the Purple Onion never guaranteed creativity and ingenuity. He reads from a letter to Steve Allen; it is unclear whether the letter was written by Bruce. The place might be Los Angeles, where Bruce lived, or San Francisco, where Bendich and Gleason were based. Bruce reads from a letter dated May 21, 1965, by attorney Allen Schwartz, who represented Bruces co-defendants Howard and Ella Solomon in the 1964 New York obscenity trial. Allmusic critic Ken Dryden notes that while "fans of Lenny Breau are likely to be interested in all of his previously unreleased recordings, . A collection of handpicked publications about movies, the film industry and fan art. Jazz music starts playing on the p.a. Bendich is impressed by the thoroughness of Bruces research. Please email us at [emailprotected], subject line republish, with any questions or to let us know what stories youre picking up. Bruce is talking about a D.A. I heard two men, in their 50s, one brown and the other white, refer to their 3rd friend (who was also brown) as the the paki. He talks about the prosecution witnesses at his recent New York obscenity trial, and does Art With a Little Piece of Shit in It. He points out that the California statute 288a calls criminal many sex acts that he assumes the audience has practiced, and that the law made Caryl Chessman a pervert. The third section is another show, in progress. He praises Hugh Hefner, who is making it so that the nude female body is no longer filthy. Lenny Bruce was a controversial American comedian during the 1950s and 1960s. The show is in progress. He starts his bit The Clap, then has an exchange with an angry man in the audience who wants his money back ($5). He does Communism/The Phone Company. Iconic Lenny Bruce Pin $ 10.00 Read more. Immediately, Bruce defused the stigma and obscenity of the word shit, and transferred it to another harmless four letter word beginning with an S and ending with a T. He does his bit on Barry Goldwater and his Jewish roots. 1960s greenwich village city street scene group of young adults walking along past the purple onion a famous go-go bar nyc usa - r20867 har001 hars copy space full-length ladies persons village go united states of america males pedestrians entertainment b&w north america freedom north american wide angle temptation dreams purple leisure onion along choice exterior famous recreation gotham . He discusses New York sportscaster Bill Stern, and talks about a jazz show he went to. An officer tells audience members to take their seats and show identification. He talks about the double standard in depicting sex vs. violence. The first is a variation on Chicks Are Boss. The place is unknown, but is possibly the Off Broadway club in San Francisco. The performance ended in Bruce's arrest for obscenity. He does Goldwater Talks to Negroes, talks about prejudice and Lee Harvey Oswald. (1) Bruce does the bit Flashers, then Snot. The file ends during Shelley Berman & the Chicago Shtarkers. He does the Transylvania bit, Airplane Glue, interview with George Washington, King Kong and Tarzan. He does his bit about wanting to give the audience members lie detector tests about infidelity and homosexuality. Bruce does his bit The Clap, gets indignant about the hypocrisy regarding the disease. til nigger didnt mean anything anymore, then you could never make some six-year-old black kid cry because somebody called him a nigger at school. Lenny Bruce. The tape ends abruptly during the conversation. 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 was watched closely in New York as well. [2] Performance by Lenny Bruce. There are things you . Lenny Bruce performance. 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