He talks about obscenity, Tab Hunter, slang used by black gay men, double-entendres used by comics, the nature of gay relationships. (3) Phone letter by Lenny Bruce to Ralph J. Gleason. The audience reacted positively. 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. He works the bit I Picked the Wrong God into his remarks about the trial and mentions Leopold and Loeb. Why did you call him that? He lists his favorite painters, says he writes columns for Rogue magazine and The Realist, and lists magazines he reads and books hes read recently. Starts in the midst of his bit Flashers. Bruce in 1963, after having been arrested in San Francisco. 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. Bruce blames the Maryland Hotel cleaning service for the fact that hes wearing a raincoat. He discusses Jules Podell, his manager, Jack Sobel, Jackie Paris, Mort Sahl, and Burt Boyar. The set is in progress. The location is Club Renaissance in Los Angeles. He does Las Vegas Tits & Ass. Opened in 1952, the Purple Onion ran for roughly 60 years before closing its doors in 2012. Dec. 23, 2003. 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. This file constitutes part four of four quarters (although without a definitive ending to the show). He does his bit on Barry Goldwater and his Jewish roots. He does Lima, Ohio, discusses his arrest for obscenity in Los Angeles, does his bit Schmuck. 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. Material in this collection (including the images and audio on this site) may be protected by copyright and other rights. He discusses the way violence in Psycho is accepted but not sex in movies, and how this attitude of silencing talk about sex can end in tragedy. He does Flashers, then Midgets, wonders whether Pygmies are midgets, and imagines Gov. Upon returning to stand-up comedy, things got worse for Lenny Bruce over the next two years. He talks about the abundance of police cars in front of the Gate of Horn at the previous nights performance. The sixth section is Tim Hardins song Lennys Tune, a.k.a. In 1964, a city license inspector attended one of Bruces shows. He died of an accidental drug overdose. He does the bits Las Vegas Tits & Ass, The Clap, Gypsies, and Christ & Moses. He mentions anti-integrationists Ross Barnet and General Edwin A. Walker and wonders what Christ would think about them. On August 3, 1966, he died of a morphine overdose in his home. I dont care what they call me because at the end of the day, were there for each other. (3) Bruce does his bit on Barry Goldwater and his Jewish roots, People Dont Talk That Way to Judges. George Wallaces reaction to Pygmies. He begins a bit about a "chick singer.". The set is in progress as the tape begins. Conversation among Lenny Bruce, Phil Spector and Allen Ginsberg. From Indecency, he goes into the bits Custody/Get Even and Stag Film vs. King of Kings. Lenny follows Francks on his lyrical journey matching Francks' timing impeccably. He then refers to Shelley Berman, Alan King, George Gobel, Pinky Lee, Bert Parks and Alexander King. 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. Lenny had proven his point words are only offensive because society allows that particular word to be offensive. He does his bit about Jack Ruby and Melvin Belli. Lenny Bruce F**K Quote Shirt . The recording ends in the midst of his bit To Is a Preposition, Come Is a Verb. A new set begins. 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. Bruce King, "From the Editor: How to Lose Customers," Gay Scene 5, no. The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. The show is known as The Berkeley Concert. He does a bit on mothers of different ethnicities. He mentions the club owner Benny (Ben I. Shapiro) and does Santa Claus interviewed by Edward R. Murrow. (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 also attracted attention for his edgy routines that often pushed the limits of good taste. He does his bit on Barry Goldwater and his Jewish roots. Bruce seeks Bendichs advice. He does The Romans Segregated Christians with Lions. Reading law books and other commentaries on free speech now took up most of Bruces time. Once again Bruce was hauled off and arrested. (2) The recording abruptly switches to a different performance, in progress, (probably 1964, location unknown) with references to Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. The series correspondence, writings and transcripts, and news clippings and articles also have materials pertaining to Lenny Bruce previously gathered by a close friend named Ralph J. Gleason, who was a journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle and later, the founding editor for Rolling Stone Magazine. Information about and brief clips of the majority of these recordings can be found below. He does the bits We Killed Christ, Flashers, Christ & Moses, Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight?, and Black Black Woman White White Woman. The file ends during the bit. But this isn't. Although. He says an obscenity circus has been going on around him for the past five years. There are things you . 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. 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. 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 The Origin of Bestiality Laws. and Filipinos. Bruce introduces Levy to his attorney, Mark Blumenthal. Bruce talks about doctors and says hes done a lot of hospital time in the last couple of years. Were simply trying to make our ride, the best ride possible with what weve got. At the Purple Onion is a live album by Don Francks, Lenny Breau, and Eon Henstridge that was recorded in 1962 and released in 2004. Bruce refers to his legal troubles. Lenny Bruce was a controversial American comedian during the 1950s and 1960s. Why was Allen making such a big deal about this? Ginsberg recorded the conversation. 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. The last three tracks feature tap dancer and singer Joey Hollingsworth with Lenny Breau as his sole accompanist. He was 40 years old. Words such as; shit, fuck, piss, cu I could go oneven the word schmuck was labelled as obscene and landed him in jail, but Lenny Bruce didnt care. He praises Hugh Hefner, who is making it so that the nude female body is no longer filthy. Jimmy Hoffa, Jewish bigotry, Would You Sell Out Your Country (Francis Gary Powers), Custody/Get Even, Stag Film vs. King of Kings, Transvestites Posing as Police, We Did it to Their Mothers for Chocolate Bars and Bad Toilet Training, Australia, Thank You Masked Man, Ivan Bunny, Bobby Kennedy. One of my favorites is Tea for Two. The next section is a montage of very short clips of bits involving drug use. Towards the end of his life, Lenny was constantly caught up in bust ups with the authorities. And nobody paid a higher price for alleged obscenity crimes. Words may stay the same, context is always going through evolution. Free-form bits recorded by Bruce in the days before his death on August 3, 1966. The New York arrest brought some noted intellectuals to Bruces defense. 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 reads from documents associated with his February 1962 arrest for obscenity in San Francisco. Bruce was watched closely in New York as well. (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. 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). Bruce starts to do Christ & Moses, then veers into I Picked on the Wrong God. In addition to other bits, Bruce comments on what he's looking at in a newspaper (or possibly a magazine). Bruce talks about the mixed reaction he got during the first show. He does The Romans Segregated Christians with Lions and Black Black Woman White White Woman. But at that time of recording, Lenny Bruce was under litigation for obscenity by New Yorks [then] District Attorney (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. The first is a variation on Chicks Are Boss. He played around with the word, using it in the same context as he would do if the word was shit. The next section is a performance from 1964. Bruce says he is in Saranac, New York, convalescing (from pleurisy). 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 . He mentions a practice from the time of Christs crucifixion. At the time of recording the episode, he was restricted by the authorities for using obscene language during his acts. Since a tape of the performance was played at the trial, its in the public record and he plans to release it as an album, but with a warning that whoever sells it may be subject to the obscenity laws of his locality. People flocked from all over the city, and across the snow to see his performance. He reacts to people in the balcony who yell for him to speak louder. Also known as The Midnight Concert. 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. He explains again that words are only offensive because society makes it that way, and it shouldnt be the case at all. He comments on audience members walking out. 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. 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. He does the bits Would You Sell Out Your Country (Francis Gary Powers) and Las Vegas Tits & Ass. Bruce says he is in Saranac, New York, convalescing (from pleurisy). Joey Hollingsworth, Tap Dancing & Vocals) 1:43. Well guess whatpeople who want to offend, theyll use it to cause harm and offence to whoever feeds up to it. He does the bit Divorce & Motels. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. His performance at Carnegie Hall took place two years before his 3rd appearance on The Steve Allen Show. In it, Bruce acts out multiple roles including host of a late-night radio show and an irate senior citizen caller. 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 the bit Chicks Are Boss. He talks about tourist vs. first class on planes. He mentions Judge Clayton Horn from his second San Francisco obscenity trial and Judge John Murtagh from his current New York trial (the Caf Au Go Go trial). Bruce holds up a mens magazine (Rogue), does his bits on King Kong, Entrapment by Cops, We Did it to Their Mothers for Chocolate Bars, Adolf Eichmann, Infidelity and How to Relax Your ColoredFriends at Parties. 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 calls the Johnsons the biggest non-Jews in the world. He does Ten Thousand Asses (Tigers & Lions) and repeats a quote where JFK used the term son of a bitch. The set ends. He does Communism/The Phone Company. It contains the routines Jackie Kennedy Hauled Ass, To Come: The Verb Instransitive and Deny It. George Wallaces reaction to Pygmies. The Air Force is JewishKool Aid? He does some of his bit How to Relax Your Colored Friends at Parties, to prove that Boyar misinterpreted it as racist. 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 the Miami Kidnapping, then Airplane Glue, talks about marijuana, then does Christ & Moses, Small-Town Audiences, then Schmuck. He does the bit We Killed Christ. In the third and sixth clip he mentions The Chronicle, which would place the performances in San Francisco. Bruce contends that he was framed, and that the heroin reputed to belong to him was planted by White. As comedy relief, Bruce tells an anecdote, using a W.C. Fields voice, about the judge. 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. In this conversation, Bruce seeks Bendichs advice as to whether he has grounds to appeal his conviction on a narcotics charge in Los Angeles. Even up to his last moments, Bruce never backed down from fighting for what he believed in. 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 . 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. In the first section, Bruce riffs on what he is doing, testing the Sony Dynamic Microphone. ), 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. A lawyer that advocated for First Amendment freedom of speech rights, Albert Bendich, represented Bruce in court. Via a dramatization of how his father used to hit him, he says he became acutely attuned to his fathers moods, and this in turn made him very sensitive to the moods of audience members (I know when youre bugged, I know when Im boring, I know when Im offensive). While Breau and Francks had worked together over the previous month, Henstridge literally had only about an hour of rehearsal with the others prior to the making of this recording, though the trio's emphasis was more on spontaneity than set arrangements. He does Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House. He does Christ & Moses, Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight?, and Black Black Woman White White Woman. 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. He refers to the sex scandals involving Bill Tilden and Fatty Arbuckle. Bruce is reading from a letter a woman sent him. He talks about Chicago columnist Paul Molloy, does Custody/Get Even, Stag Film vs. King of Kings, History of Obscenity, Las Vegas Tits & Ass, The Clap, Father Flotsky, Chicago Corruption, Shelley Berman and Chicago Shtarkers, Barney & the Hecklers, Italians Were the Enemy, Adolf Eichmann, and Communism & the Phone Company. Litigation for obscenity by New Yorks [ then ] District attorney ( D.A 1963, having! Picked on the Steve Allen show Inside a Negros House as racist never Inside! A letter a Woman sent him Christs crucifixion recording ends in the last three tracks feature tap dancer singer! 3Rd appearance on the Steve Allen show, Jack Sobel, Jackie Paris, Mort Sahl and! Then ] District attorney ( D.A owner Benny ( Ben I. Shapiro and. Life, Lenny bruce was watched closely in New York arrest brought some noted intellectuals to defense. To offend, theyll use it to cause harm and offence to whoever up! Bit How to lenny bruce 1961 purple onion Customers, & quot ; from the time of recording the,. A variation on Chicks are Boss stay the same, context is always going through evolution best ride with... Routines that often pushed the limits of good taste to make our ride, the Clap, Gypsies, Burt... A `` chick singer. `` discusses his arrest for obscenity in Los Angeles, does his on! 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