Lenny Bruce
1961

On Wednesday, October 4, l96l, Lenny Bruce performed his one man comedy routine at the Jazz Workshop on Broadway in San Francisco. Because of his previous arrest and because of Lenny’s reputation for using "obscene" language in his satirical stream of consciousness routine, his performance was monitored by the San Francisco Police Department. True to his reputation, Lenny’s monologue was peppered with language considered obscene for the day and Lenny was arrested after the show. His subsequent trial at the Hall of Justice became a cause celeb for local artists and First Amendment advocates. He was acquitted.

Photo courtesy of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.