Lenny Bruce Narcotics Busts And Obscenity Cases, 1959-1966

Lenny Bruce pioneered the way for freedom of speech for a multitude of comedians who came after him. Beginning in 1962 Lenny faced charges for drug possession and obscene language every year until his untimely death four years later. Way ahead of his time he was barely able to get work by the time he died. Nightclubs were afraid to book him because of their fear of prosecution by law enforcement. Until 1966, however, Bruce was successful in getting verdicts overturned and he served no significant jail time. By August 1966 he had endured a six months trial which left him broke and scheduled to serve an active sentence. The previous November a San Francisco court had declared the comedian a pauper.