He speculates on Rock Hudsons sexuality. On that day, Lenny Bruce was making his debut appearance at Carnegie Hall, a sold out performance. The file ends during Shelley Berman & the Chicago Shtarkers. 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. Why the four minute introduction? He discusses how he develops material for his act, and how spontaneity figures in. 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. On the same day, he had received a foreclosure notice, but his death was not a suicide. Francks takes the same approach to "Tea for Two," slipping in and out of "Black Coffee" and adding a bit of scatting. He does his bits Custody/Get Even, and Stag Film vs. King of Kings. He refers to the sex scandals involving Bill Tilden and Fatty Arbuckle. 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. He begins a bit about a "chick singer.". Second part (of three) of a conversation among comedian Lenny Bruce, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J. Gleason. He does his bit about wanting to give the audience members lie detector tests about infidelity and homosexuality. Speaks of daughter Kitty, James Joyces Ulysses, Judge Murtagh. Listen to 10-second clips of the Lenny Bruce recordings!To see the collection and listen to the full audio, please contact: [email protected]. Bruce blames the Maryland Hotel cleaning service for the fact that hes wearing a raincoat. Bruce speaks of his arrests in Los Angeles both for obscenity and for possession of narcotics. (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. Bruce himself became ill during the trial, which was forced to adjourn while he recovered in hospital. 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. He does short jokes about Liberace, Richard Nixon, Paul Robeson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sophie Tucker. The last clip is the beginning of the bit 1100 Winos. He refers to Tab Hunter's arrest for allegedly beating his dog. and Black Black Woman White White Woman. 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 tape ends during a passage in which the band is playing and Bruce is interacting with an audience member. He mentions his obscenity trial in New York (the Caf Au Go Go trial). But at that time of recording, Lenny Bruce was under litigation for obscenity by New Yorks [then] District Attorney (D.A. Some of the recordings are of a personal nature, such as the phone letters and private conversations between Bruce and his friends and family. Joey Hollingsworth, Tap Dancing & Vocals) 1:43. He does his bit The Christian God Has a Face, the Jewish God Doesnt and Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House. Bruce speaks of the mine explosion at Green County, Pennsylvania a few days prior. The defense brought in media critics, psychiatrists, and religious figures that supported Bruces right to speak. Bruce introduces Levy to his attorney, Mark Blumenthal. The comedy of Lenny Bruce was changing. Were simply trying to make our ride, the best ride possible with what weve got. He does the bits Would You Sell Out Your Country (Francis Gary Powers) and Las Vegas Tits & Ass. Bruce is in the midst of Shelley Berman & the Chicago Shtarkers. The man brought a civil suit against him. He explained that he didnt care what people thought about the nickname because they arent there to understand. Sex from the philosophical viewpoint. He says hes noticed that most of his audiences are male. ), Frank Hogan. In the third section, he plays the roles of the host of a radio talk show called Nightline, and of some callers. He praises Hugh Hefner, who is making it so that the nude female body is no longer filthy. He talks about Las Vegas and the things he did to get thrown out of Las Vegas. What is possibly a different set has Bruce doing bit with Santa Claus as the subject of Edward R. Murrows show Person to Person. A third section begins. 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. Worn down by the repeated arrests and trials, Bruce turned away from general satire and talked more about his personal battles with the law and society. If you make it a taboo to use that word, itll give that word a powerful meaning. The truth is what is, and what should be is a fantasya terrible, terrible lie that someone gave to the people long ago. Lenny Bruce. Fundamentally, everything we have created, came from nothing thus, meaning that nothing has a meaning. Joey's Solo (Feat. He then talks about Lyndon Johnsons southern accent. Originally issues by Fantasy Records (Fantasy 34201) as "Lenny Bruce Live At The Curran Theatre". Religion. He does Marijuana, Guys Can Detach, Bestiality, and the recording ends during the bit Chicken. (3) The last section is a series of commercials, and possibly outtakes from commercials, for the Los Angeles mens clothing store Zeidler and Zeidler. He explains again that words are only offensive because society makes it that way, and it shouldnt be the case at all. He wonders if the name Pope Pius was, like Rip Torn, dreamed up by Hollywood talent agent Henry Willson. He says, Im really paranoid about getting busted so much (he had been arrested for his Gate of Horn show during the early hours of December 5). ), 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. Menu. In the third and sixth clip he mentions The Chronicle, which would place the performances in San Francisco. He talks about the fallout from a joke about Cardinal Spellman, then does The Postman. Bruce holds up a magazine with a picture of a nude or scantily clad woman and asks, how can that chick be indecent? Bruce starts to do Christ & Moses, then veers into I Picked on the Wrong God. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. 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 says that he was arrested for obscenity for using the word "fressing" (fress in Yiddish means to eat, but its slang use implies oral sex). The singer tells a joke between songs, and for an instant it is 1961. He refers to a gig he did in Milwaukee, then does his bit about playing at small-town venues. He talks about the prosecution witnesses at his recent New York obscenity trial, and does Art With a Little Piece of Shit in It. However, that episode of the Steve Allen Show was eventually shelved by the censors, it was never aired. Bruce suggested Mrs. Kennedy wasnt trying to get help for the president in the photo, but instead was running to save her own life. He does his bit on Barry Goldwater and his Jewish roots. He does the bit The Christian God Has a Face, the Jewish God Doesnt. The writings and transcripts offer transcripts of his performances as well as showcase screenplays he had written as well as ones written about him. A new set begins. Kennedy was assassinated later in the day. Literary experts were called as witnesses to support Bendichs claim. 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. 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. (1) Bruce does the bit Flashers, then Snot. A discussion of Jackie Mason speaking out against censorshipin response to Bruces arrest for obscenity at the Gate of Horn days earliercontinues. But instead of being able to perform, he was taken back to the airport and deported. He does Las Vegas Tits & Ass, We Did It to Their Mothers for Chocolate Bars, Unscrew You, Never Cop Out, Custody/Get Even, Stag Film vs. King of Kings, Jimmy Hoffa and Would You Sell Out Your Country (Francis Gary Powers). Another bit described men as oversexed beings willing to have sex with anything that moved, including a chicken. There is an unknown third man present who makes a comment and asks some questions. He does Dick Gregory and Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House. He does Thank You Masked Man, We Killed Christ and Christ & Moses. 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. The recording ends abruptly, then continues (it may be the same performance, or yet another performance). He does Doing It Is Filthy. He does Flashers, then Midgets, wonders whether Pygmies are midgets, and imagines Gov. Bruce begins by riffing with some audience members. The performance ended in Bruce's arrest for obscenity. Begins with the final 16 minutes of the show on December 4, 1962, known as The Bust Show (it was the midnight performance, therefore technically during the early hours of December 5). Bruce discusses his legal trouble and his material on religion. Bruce does his bit about Barry Goldwaters Jewish roots. George Wallaces reaction to Pygmies. The first clip begins as the set is in progress, with Bruce imagining that Pope Pius XII would sneak in one night to see him. "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. He talks about the abundance of police cars in front of the Gate of Horn at the previous nights performance. Bruce 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). He went on to influence future comedians such as; Bill Hicks, George Carlin, Jon Stewart, Marc Maron, Louis C.K, Richard Pryor, the list goes on. He notes that because the charge was contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, since a minor was present at the show, he has lost bookings in New York. He uses the word shit and says the Supreme Court ruled that its not obscene if youre talking about narcotics. He asserts that chicks are the boss. Lenny Bruce was way ahead of his time. Talks about the Catholic Church, Howard Johnsons, Vietnam, protesters, the law, James Joyces Ulysses, bit How the Law Started/Craphouse. 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. Bruce was watched closely in New York as well. This collection contains sixty-five recordings on reel-to-reel audio and compact cassette tapes, all of which have been restored and digitized thanks to a grant from The GRAMMY Foundation Grant Program. This file covers approximately the third quarter of the show. Filmmaker, Advertising, Social Specialist. He remarks that people are now walking out of the show. In the end, Lenny Bruce and comedy club owner Howard Solomon were found guilty as charged. Let me tell you the truth. Bruce 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. He does Flashers. Bruce refers to his legal troubles. Thats the place where Lenny Bruce was arrested for obscenities a long time ago. Below is a famous segment that was recorded in an underground bar, Bruce performs his Are there any niggers here tonight? skit. 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. Waltham, MA 02453, Lenny Bruce Institutional Repository site. He cautions that jazz is getting too much of a snob appeal. Shop The Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Lenny Bruce F**K Quote Shirt . Also known as The Midnight Concert. He does the bit Divorce & Motels. (2) Phone letter by Lenny Bruce to Ralph J. Gleason. The recording ends during this bit. It makes no sense to restrict our ride because of what was. Dec. 23, 2003. Bruce contends that he was framed, and that the heroin reputed to belong to him was planted by White. He talks about Hugh Hefners intentions with Playboy. He talks about the Romans treatment of Christians and anti-Semitism. He does his bit on the Miami Kidnapping, then Airplane Glue, talks about marijuana, then does Christ & Moses, Small-Town Audiences, then Schmuck. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search. Interview by journalist Gary Shenfer of Lenny Bruce in Miami (or Miami Beach) at the El Patio club. The place might be Los Angeles, where Bruce lived, or San Francisco, where Bendich and Gleason were based. Bruce got progressively weaker. George Wallaces reaction to Pygmies. Bruce performs various bits and speaks of: J.J. Johnson, the magazine Downbeat, Copacabana owner Jules Podell, Mafia-connected club owners, his manager Jack Sobel, Jackie Paris, Mort Sahl, Burt Boyar, How to Relax Your Colored Friends at Parties, Sophie Tucker, Ted Shapiro, Bill Stern, the Paramount in Brooklyn, Miles Davis, Leopold and Loeb, Don Winslow, scenario of a Jewish boy visiting home from military school, George Washington interviewed by Mike Wallace. and People Dont Talk That Way to Judges. President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy arrive at Love Field, Dallas, Texas. He talks about race relations and does Dick Gregory, Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House and Goldwater Talks to Negroes. Recorded by Lenny Bruce in the days before his death on August 3, 1966, plus a song written and performed by Tim Hardin after Bruces death. John L. White, who made the arrest and Robert Coogan, Jr., who owned the Grand Prix Hobby Shop and sold drugs there. A community dedicated to those who are passionate about film. He does Filipinos. 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. He never gave up on his first amendment right, freedom of speech. Bruce does The Act Is Hugging & Kissing. He does Religions, Inc., and starts Father Flotsky. He had been featured nationally on the Steve Allen Show. Bruce covers it all in 100 seconds of material on the countrys 36th president. The Purple Onion was a legendary comedy club in San Francisco. Bruce mentions protesters demonstrating against policemen, and does How the Law Started/Craphouse. He does a bit about "chick singers", a bit about how its a myth that agents can make your career, talks of his recent obscenity trial in New York (the Caf Au Go Go trial). But for all their obscurity, nothing gets done in Congress without these aides. He mentions the club owner Benny (Ben I. Shapiro) and does Santa Claus interviewed by Edward R. Murrow. The last section is a series of commercials, and possibly outtakes from commercials, for the Los Angeles mens clothing store Zeidler and Zeidler. Its deep within yourself who is offended by that particular word, not the word itself. 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 does Black Black Woman White White Woman. But guys can have head-on collisions with Greyhound busesand on the way to the hospital, in the ambulance, the guy makes a play for the nurse. More than 80 celebrities signed a petition demanding Lenny Bruce be allowed to perform, free from censorship and harassment. , he had received a foreclosure notice, but his death was not a suicide these. And says the Supreme Court ruled that its not obscene if youre talking about.... 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