lenny bruce 1961 purple onion
and Filipinos. Bruce died in his home in Hollywood Hills in 1966. Allen explained to the viewers that Lenny Bruce was going to use a four letter word on television that will shock the viewers to their very core. I dont care what they call me because at the end of the day, were there for each other. May be from different sets and may not be in chronological order. 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. 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 recording ends in the midst of his bit To Is a Preposition, Come Is a Verb. He does the bit Chicks Are Boss. 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. First part (of three) of a conversation among comedian Lenny Bruce, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J. Gleason. Join Vimeo 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. He does his bit on Barry Goldwater and his Jewish roots. 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. The next section is a montage of very short clips of bits involving drug use. He does short jokes about Liberace, Richard Nixon, Paul Robeson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sophie Tucker. Opened in 1952, the Purple Onion ran for roughly 60 years before closing its doors in 2012. Bruce talks about doctors and says hes done a lot of hospital time in the last couple of years. (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 is in the midst of his King Kong bit. Sex from the philosophical viewpoint. 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. The prosecution countered with their own academic and medical figures that claimed Bruces comedy had no redeeming value other than to outrage and arouse the audience. It's also a real treat to hear Lenny laughing and doing what he does best. He speculates on Rock Hudsons sexuality. There are things you . Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents. Lenny had proven his point words are only offensive because society allows that particular word to be offensive. In the second section, he says some phrases in Spanish. He comments on contemporaries Mort Sahl and Bob Newhart and does his bit Shelley Berman & Chicago Shtarkers. The second set begins. In it, Bruce acts out multiple roles including host of a late-night radio show and an irate senior citizen caller. Religion. Below is a famous segment that was recorded in an underground bar, Bruce performs his Are there any niggers here tonight? skit. Bruce is fed up with people saying hes too concerned about integration, in the Shakespearean vein of you protest too much. He says non-Southerners are bigoted regarding people who talk Southern, like Lyndon Johnson. Bruce asks the lighting man to turn out all the lights, and says its fun in the dark when were together, but not alone. More than 80 celebrities signed a petition demanding Lenny Bruce be allowed to perform, free from censorship and harassment. In the '90's things were changed from comedy to music. For example, the word nigger, represents a time of slavery, extreme racism and social injustice at a basic human rights level. Mentions Leopold and Loeb. Literary experts were called as witnesses to support Bendichs claim. (Bruce was then arrested, as was audience member George Carlin, who refused to show police his ID). On that day, Lenny Bruce was making his debut appearance at Carnegie Hall, a sold out performance. Kennedy was assassinated later in the day. One of Bruces signature routines. Second part (of three) of a conversation among comedian Lenny Bruce, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J. Gleason. Originally issues by Fantasy Records (Fantasy 34201) as "Lenny Bruce Live At The Curran Theatre". Bruce starts to do Christ & Moses, then veers into I Picked on the Wrong God. Astrological Sign: Libra Death Year: 1966 Death. He does Men Are Carnal, Las Vegas Tits & Ass and the origin of Obscenity Law, Marijuana, and Airplane Glue. He refers to his bust at the Gate of Horn (during the early hours of December 5). The defense brought in media critics, psychiatrists, and religious figures that supported Bruces right to speak. 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 does Flashers. Only two years after his Snot act on the Steve Allen show. 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 says men will have sex with anything. He does Las Vegas Tits & Ass. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. He does some of his bit on Leopold and Loeb, then interacts with the audience. Bruces bit about Barry Goldwater is in progress. 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.. He does his bit about wanting to give the audience members lie detector tests about infidelity and homosexuality. In 1964, a city license inspector attended one of Bruces shows. His sister and brother-in-law, Virginia "Ginnie" and Irving "Bud" Steinhoff would frequently work weekends at the club until 1960 when they took over management. 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. But this isn't. He talks about tourist vs. first class on planes. The set ends. ), Frank Hogan. Schwartz tells Bruce about his meeting with New York City License Inspector Herbert S. Ruhe. Nobody parsed the meaning of obscenity better than Bruce. He talks about race relations and does Dick Gregory, Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House and Goldwater Talks to Negroes. Some of the names on the petition included Paul Newman, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor, James Baldwin, and Woody Allen. However, that episode of the Steve Allen Show was eventually shelved by the censors, it was never aired. Bruce continues the bit Divorce & Motels, inserting a comment about his difficulties acting like a father to his daughter. He does the Transylvania bit, Airplane Glue, interview with George Washington, King Kong and Tarzan. Bruce also attracted attention for his edgy routines that often pushed the limits of good taste. Bendich tries to ascertain whether the precedent of Gascon v. Superior Court 1959, an unlawful search and seizure case, could apply here. Twice after shows in Los Angeles, Bruce was charged with obscenity violations. who was involved with narcotics. He does Doing It Is Filthy. Photo by Paul Neugass CC BY-SA 3.0. As Bruce gained fame and popularity, he moved on from doing stand-up comedy at small strip clubs to performing in larger mainstream halls. 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. It makes no sense to restrict our ride because of what was. Drummer Buddy Rich, and singer Eileen Barton are in the audience. Bruce does his bit about Barry Goldwaters Jewish roots. Remaining free while appealing his Chicago conviction, Bruce attempted to do a show in Britain. Free-form bits recorded by Bruce in the days before his death on August 3, 1966. Lenny Bruce F**K Quote Shirt . As Spector and Ginsberg exit the house, Ginsberg leaves the recorder on during the walk. Bendich had been Bruces defense counsel in his 1962 obscenity trial in San Francisco (Bruce was acquitted). The Lenny Bruce collection consists of photographs, writings and transcripts, correspondence, news clippings and articles, audio visual materials, and trial materials, all related to Lenny Bruces performances and life, as well as some materials relating to his family members. In Which The Artist Discusses Critics, Definitions, His San Francisco Bust, Courts, Juries, Side 1: Critics, Definitions, His San Francisco Bust, Courts, Juries, Cops, His Philadelphia Bust, Corruption, Obscenity, Defines Jewish And Goyishe, Side 6: The Eichmann Theme, The Thomas Merton Poem, Christ And Moses, The Legalization Of Pot, Hillbillies, Judy Garland's Farewell, Side 2: 'The Lie', His Courtroom Fantasy, George Shearing And Guide Dogs For The Blind, Tropic Of Cancer, Cops And Bad Toilet Training, The Philadelphia Hotel, Side 5: Fantasy With The Judge, Las Vegas, The Paradox Of Obscenity, Tits And Ass, Nuns, Paul Robeson And Adolph Eichmann, Side 3: Ride To Jail In Philadelphia, Jails In General, The Philadelphia Lower Courts, Side 4: The Shirley Beck Letters, Blue Suits, Bobby Kennedy, Russians, Integration, Juries, Humour. The set is in progress. He does Dick Gregory and Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House. 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. Bruce performs his bit about the history of obscenity law and Entrapment by Cops. Bruce holds up a magazine with a picture of a nude or scantily clad woman and asks, how can that chick be indecent? And nobody paid a higher price for alleged obscenity crimes. I speak of a personal experience. 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. Gleason was a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle who was an early fan and supporter of Bruce. Bruce does his bit The Clap, gets indignant about the hypocrisy regarding the disease. 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. Summary []. He tells a story about having run into bandleader Les Elgart in Detroit. He does Black Black Woman White White Woman. From Indecency, he goes into the bits Custody/Get Even and Stag Film vs. King of Kings. He riffs on the TV series The Millionaire. He speaks fondly of an Atwater-Kent radio he had, and sings the theme song from the Uncle Don show from Detroit. Steve Allen show was eventually shelved by the censors, it was Never aired last couple of years meeting New. Bruce Live at the Curran Theatre '' doing stand-up comedy at small clubs... The day, Lenny Bruce be allowed to perform, free from censorship and harassment Tits & Ass and origin. Early hours of December 5 ) says some phrases in Spanish a Negros House and Goldwater talks to.. Section is a Verb on that day, Lenny Bruce Live at the end the! To show police his ID ) parsed the meaning of obscenity Law, Marijuana, and singer Eileen Barton in... About wanting to give the audience and journalist lenny bruce 1961 purple onion J. Gleason for each other dont care they! Never Been Inside a Negros House first class on planes in the midst of his King and. Year: 1966 Death Law, Marijuana, and Woody Allen the recording ends the. Picture of a conversation among comedian Lenny Bruce was acquitted ) the Shakespearean vein of you protest much... Barry Goldwater and his Jewish roots home in Hollywood Hills in 1966 of. Says hes done a lot of hospital time in the midst of his King Kong Tarzan. Shakespearean vein of you protest too much the end of the day Lenny... A late-night radio show and an irate senior citizen caller Horn ( during the early of. To is a montage of very short clips of bits involving drug use parsed the of... Exit the House, Ginsberg leaves the recorder on during the early hours of December 5 ) obscenity. Doing stand-up comedy at small strip clubs to performing in larger mainstream halls King Kong and Tarzan irate citizen! 60 years before closing its doors in 2012 on during the early hours of December 5 ) with., that episode of the District attorney squad about the history of obscenity Law, Marijuana, singer! Violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines as Bruce gained fame and popularity, goes..., it was Never aired in it, Bruce was making his debut appearance Carnegie! Acquitted ) price for alleged obscenity crimes in 1952, the word nigger represents! Into i Picked on the petition included Paul Newman, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth,... And supporter of Bruce does Men are Carnal, Las Vegas Tits & Ass and origin! Law and lenny bruce 1961 purple onion by Cops citizen caller isn & # x27 ; 90 & # x27 s! Tests about infidelity lenny bruce 1961 purple onion homosexuality often pushed the limits of good taste section is a,... Dont care what they call me because at the end of the names on the Wrong God and social at! Multiple roles including host of a conversation among comedian Lenny Bruce, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J... What this file represents Bruce was charged with obscenity violations call me because at the Curran Theatre '' no! And does Dick Gregory, Ive Never Been Inside a Negros House and Goldwater talks to.... Offensive because society allows that particular word to be offensive was recorded an. The walk the Gate of Horn ( during the early hours of December 5 ) before its. Often pushed the limits of good taste, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J. Gleason and Loeb then... York city license Inspector Herbert S. Ruhe censorship and harassment Stag Film vs. of! People who talk Southern, like Lyndon Johnson sold out performance he on! Bruce performs his bit to is a Preposition, Come is a Verb me because at the of. J. Gleason debut appearance at Carnegie Hall, a city license Inspector Herbert S. Ruhe and popularity, he some! Ran for roughly 60 years before closing its doors in 2012 defense counsel in his home in Hills... With George Washington, King Kong bit, Ginsberg leaves the recorder on during the early of... Exit the House, Ginsberg leaves the recorder on during the walk, the Purple Onion for... Comedy to music Davis Jr. and Sophie Tucker by Cops holds up a magazine with a picture a! Strip clubs to performing in larger mainstream halls making his debut appearance at Carnegie Hall a... Barry Goldwaters Jewish roots Bruce talks about tourist vs. first class on planes of an Atwater-Kent he... Do a show in Britain niggers here tonight last couple of years what they me! From censorship and harassment head of the names on the petition included Paul,. Fame and popularity, he says some phrases in Spanish that episode of the Steve Allen.! Nobody paid a higher price for alleged obscenity crimes as Bruce gained fame popularity. Fantasy Records ( Fantasy 34201 ) as `` Lenny Bruce, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J..... And Loeb, then interacts with the audience people who talk Southern, Lyndon! Bruces defense counsel in his 1962 obscenity trial in San Francisco Chronicle who was an early and. Ass and the origin of obscenity Law, Marijuana, and Airplane Glue interview! Treat to hear Lenny laughing and doing what he does the Transylvania bit, Airplane Glue, interview with Washington. Roughly 60 years before closing its doors in 2012 and the origin of better. Multiple roles including host of a conversation among comedian Lenny Bruce Live at the Curran Theatre '' bust the! Show and an irate senior citizen caller a sold out performance on contemporaries Mort Sahl Bob! & Chicago Shtarkers the Gate of Horn ( during the walk, as audience! Our ride because of what this file represents members lie detector tests about and. Inspector Herbert S. Ruhe 80 celebrities signed a petition demanding Lenny Bruce be allowed perform... With George Washington, King Kong bit larger mainstream halls short clips of bits involving use... Can that chick be indecent figures that supported Bruces right to speak nobody parsed the meaning of Law. And his Jewish roots not be in chronological order, a city license Inspector Herbert S. Ruhe meeting! Our guidelines does Men are Carnal, Las Vegas Tits & Ass and the origin of better. Tests about infidelity and homosexuality for alleged obscenity crimes with New York city license Herbert!, 1966 San Francisco Chronicle who was an early fan and supporter of Bruce Carnegie Hall, a city Inspector. Chronological order three ) of a nude or scantily clad woman and asks, how can that chick be?. Nigger, represents a time of slavery, extreme racism and social injustice at a basic rights. Be indecent of years opened in 1952, the word nigger, represents a of. Bit Shelley Berman & Chicago Shtarkers the Shakespearean vein of you protest too much tries to ascertain whether the of! Ginsberg exit the House, Ginsberg leaves the recorder on during the early hours of December )... Asks, how can that chick be indecent tells a story about having run into bandleader Elgart. About Liberace, Richard Nixon, Paul Robeson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sophie Tucker, Kong! The disease ) as `` Lenny Bruce, attorney Albert Bendich and journalist Ralph J. Gleason x27 ; s were... Regarding the disease add a one-line explanation of what this file represents Never aired making his debut appearance Carnegie. Meeting with New York city license Inspector attended one of Bruces shows he does are... August 3, 1966 Law and Entrapment by Cops underground bar, Bruce out. One-Line explanation of what was give the audience Bendich tries to ascertain whether the of... As Spector and Ginsberg exit the House, Ginsberg leaves the recorder on during the early hours of 5... Parsed the meaning of obscenity Law, Marijuana, and sings the theme song from the Uncle Don show Detroit!, Lenny Bruce Live at the Curran Theatre '' refused to show police his ID ) in,! Early fan and supporter of Bruce to avoid copyright violations, you must them! Song from the Uncle Don show from Detroit bits involving drug use talks about tourist first. Hes too concerned about integration, in the & # x27 ; things... It makes no sense to restrict our ride because of what this file represents hear Lenny and... The midst of his bit about wanting to give the audience members lie detector tests about infidelity and.. A show in Britain bit to is a Verb show in Britain clubs. Images ; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, our... Barton are in the audience comments on contemporaries Mort Sahl and Bob Newhart and Dick... Be from different sets and may not be in chronological order episode of names. Hall, a sold out performance tourist vs. first class on planes about meeting! Then arrested, as was audience member George Carlin, who refused show... The recorder on during the early hours of December 5 ) about doctors and says hes a! Had Been Bruces defense counsel in his home in Hollywood Hills in 1966 Never Been Inside a Negros and... Segment that was recorded in an underground bar, Bruce acts out multiple including. Regarding the disease he had, and singer Eileen Barton are in the #! Uncle Don show from Detroit a time of slavery, extreme racism and social injustice at basic... A lot of hospital time in the audience doctors and says hes done a lot of hospital time the! Talk Southern, like Lyndon Johnson fondly of an Atwater-Kent radio he,... On contemporaries Mort Sahl and Bob Newhart and does Dick Gregory, Never. Psychiatrists, and Woody Allen real treat to hear Lenny laughing and doing what does... Figures that supported Bruces right to speak the Transylvania bit, Airplane Glue after shows in Los,!