Bruce, Lenny, 1925-1966

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Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), known professionally as Lenny Bruce, was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist. He was renowned for his open, freestyle and critical form of comedy which contained satire, politics, religion, sex, and vulgarity. His 1964 conviction in an obscenity trial was followed by a posthumous pardon, the first in the history of New York State, by Governor George Pataki in 2003.

Bruce paved the way for counterculture era comedians. His trial for obscenity is seen as a landmark for freedom of speech in the United States. In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him third (behind Richard Pryor and George Carlin) on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Owen Hale Collection, 1953-1992 V & A Department of Theatre and Performance
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002. Selected Passport Applications, 1910 - 1977. Bruce, Lenny. Passport Application for Lenny Bruce, 4/13/1962 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Bessie, Alvah Cecil, 1904-1985. Papers, 1929-1991. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Allen Ginsberg papers Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, 1798 - 2007. Official Military Personnel Files, 1885 - 1998. National Archives at St. Louis
referencedIn Ephraim London Papers, 1940-1975. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn American Vaudeville Museum collection, 1845-2007, (bulk 1910-1940) University of Arizona Libraries, Library Special Collections
referencedIn Barry, Julian. Lenny : screenplay / by Julian Barry. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
referencedIn Records of District Courts of the United States. 1685 - 2009. Civil Case Files. 1938 - 1983. Lenny Bruce vs Hon. John M. Murtagh, Criminal Court of the City of New York: Special Sessions: County of New York: Part 2B: Frank S. Hogan, The District Attorney of the County of New York, Civil 64-3574 National Archives at New York
referencedIn Steven H. Scheuer Television History Interviews, 1996-1999 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Grover Sales Collection, 1940-2004 Archive of Recorded Sound
creatorOf Cohen, Maxwell T., 1908-2000. Correspondence and other papers pertaining to Lenny Bruce's drug case, 1959-1962. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn The Reverend Warren Debenham Comedy Sound Collection Emerson College, Iwasaki LIbrary
creatorOf Toronto Workshop Productions Archives (University of Guelph). 50 Words: Bits of Lenny Bruce / from the material by Lenny Bruce ; conceived and compiled for the stage by Danny Brainin, 1979 - unproduced reading script. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Lenny Bruce collection, [ca. 1959-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn London, Ephraim. Ephraim London papers, 1940-1975. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Gleason, Ralph J. Ralph J. Gleason letters to Alexander P. Hoffman, 1963. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002Series: Selected Passport Applications, 1910 - 1977 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002. Selected Passport Applications, 1910 - 1977. Bruce, Lenny National Archives at College Park

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Relation Name
associatedWith American Museum of Vaudeville corporateBody
associatedWith Bessie, Alvah Cecil, 1904-1985. person
associatedWith Cohen, Maxwell T., 1908-2000. person
associatedWith Cullen, Frank, 1936- person
associatedWith Debenham, Warren. person
associatedWith Ginsberg, Allen, 1926-1997. person
associatedWith Gleason, Ralph J. person
associatedWith Hale, Owen person
associatedWith London, Ephraim. person
associatedWith London, Ephraim. person
associatedWith McNeilly, Donald, 1945- person
associatedWith Sales, Grover, Mr. person
associatedWith Stiller, Jerry. person
associatedWith Toronto Workshop Productions Archives (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Department of State corporateBody
memberOf United States. Navy corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Mineola NY US
Los Angeles CA US
Subject
Comedians
Drug use
Satirists
Occupation
Comedian
Satirists
Activity

Person

Birth 1925-10-13

Death 1966-08-03

Female

Americans

English

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