New York City The Den April 1959

Abstract

Presented here is a digital version of a recording of a portion of a Lenny Bruce performance at The Den club at the Duane Hotel in New York City in 1959. The exact date is not known, but it is probably April. To preface the set, Bruce points out that his friend, drummer Buddy Rich, and singer Eileen Barton are in the audience. He reveals that 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 tells a joke about Elizabeth Taylor having converted to Judaism. He says he's noticed that most of his audiences are male and asserts that he doesn't do American Legion type humor or motel jokes. He talks about a picture of Fidel Castro and Vice-President Richard Nixon in the New York Times (the encounter took place in April of 1959). He asks if anyone has any requests. A woman mentions that the Steve Allen Show is afraid to get you back [on his TV show]. He talks about having to replace the bit he was going to do on Allen's show (his tattoo bit) with something innocuous. He mentions the obstruction of integration in the South but says the North and West have problems too. He thinks religious leaders should promote civil rights and not condone capital punishment. He does Religions, Inc. He wonders if a supposed heckler at a previous show really only had a vocal tic. He starts Father Flotsky but shifts into doing another movie pastiche, this time starring Joan Crawford. He comments when some audience members walk out. He acts out what happens when patrons who think they're whiskey connoisseurs get fooled by cheaper booze. He continues Father Flotsky. The file ends during the bit.

Full length copies of the recordings are available for use in the department. Please contact the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University for more information.