June 17, 1964 - A tape recording of a nightclub performance by comedian Lenny Bruce (pictured) played before a standing-room crowd today on the second day of his obscenity trial in New York Criminal Court.
It proved to be a meandering, free-associative discourse on sexual habits, racial and religious attitudes, the nature of obscenity, narcotics, and other topics of the day, freely embellished with blunt Anglo-Saxonisms, Yiddish phrases, and hipster slang.
The three-judge panel headed by Administrative Judge John Murtagh that is hearing the case and many of the spectators appeared baffled by portions of the monologue.
Their comprehension was not aided by the fact that the tape, which was made at the Café Au Go Go, 152 Bleecker Street, on April 7, was played on a portable machine owned by the District Attorney’s office. It made Mr. Bruce sound as if he were performing under a large damp blanket.
For the playing of a second tape tomorrow, the court gave permission for the use of the high-fidelity instrument owned by the café.
The trial will continue at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
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