labor dispute, 175, 178–180, 202,
“settlement”/problems, 229–230,
234, 254
231–236
Leno and, 20–21, 24–26
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273
move to LA, 60–62
Heck, Jimmy, 205
Shore and, 61–62, 175, 179–180,
Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood,
225, 257
New York, 61
Friedman, Silver, 122–123, 175
Hemphill, Shirley, 78, 137
Frye, David, 12
Henner, Marilu, 127
Funny Farm, 84
Herman, Pee Wee, 258
Fuzzy’s (bar), 28
Hicks, Donald, 240–241
High Chaparral club, 27
Gabor, Zsa Zsa, 56
Hill, Charlie, 4–5, 73, 86, 205, 260
Gallagher, Leo, 52, 120, 131, 133, 138,
Hillside Strangler, 119
185, 187
Hirsh, Judd, 127
Gardino, Vincent, 23–24
Hoffman, Dustin, 12
Gerdes’s Folk City, 14
Hollis, Pat, 46
Gil Hodges’s Grand Slam Lounge, 13
Hollywood Palladium, 259
Girls of the Comedy Store, The
Hollywood Reporter, 158, 160, 163,
(Playboy Channel series), 258
190, 192
Goldberg, Whoopi, 258
Hollywood Squares (TV show), 56, 86, 92
Golden Horseshoe, 27
Hope, Bob, 164, 173, 213
Goldstein, Mark, 76–77
Humperdinck’s, 215, 218–219, 231–232,
Goldwaith, “Bobcat,” 258
238, 246, 247–248, 262
Good Times, 39, 44
Huntington Hartford Theater, Los
Gorman, Helen, 55. See also
Angeles, 103
Kushnick, Helen
Husbands, Wives and Lovers
Gorme, Eydie, 67
(TV series), 77
Gould, Elliott, 94
Granat, Rick, 73
Ice House, 41, 42, 131
Grease (movie), 74
Improvisation, The
Green, Shecky, 22, 83, 115
after strike (LA), 257
Greenberg, Ron, 56
An Evening at the Improv
Gregory, Dick, 115
(cable series), 257
Griffin, Merv/ The Merv Griffin Show
branches of, 255
(TV show), 47, 92, 192
LA, 60–62, 176–180, 206
Grisham, Cliff, 176, 179
NY, 12, 20, 23–25, 26, 29, 39,
Gunty, Morty, 11
61, 71, 143
See also Friedman, Budd; specific Hackett, Buddy, 33, 67, 83, 198–199, 212
individuals
Hall, Arsenio, 60
International Alliance of Theater and
Hall, Monty, 71
Stage Employees/Local 33, 137, 212
Hamilton, Argus III/IV, 85
Is It Something I Said? (Pryor), 87
Hamilton, Argus V
after strike, 256, 259–260
January, Kent, 240
Comedy Store/Shore, 60, 85, 86, 89,
Jerk, The (movie), 101
91, 116, 129, 156–157, 197,
Jerry Van Dyke’s club, 213, 215–216,
259–260, 261–262, 266
218–219, 237–238
labor dispute, 170, 171, 195, 197,
Joe Franklin Show, The, 32
204–205, 207, 209, 220, 261–262
Joffe, Charles, 11
Laugh In (TV show), 91
Johnny Dark Thing, 39
Pryor and, 91
Johnny’s Gay Club (bar), 28
substance abuse, 259–260
Jones, Tom, 108
Happy Days (TV show), 104–105
Harrah’s club, 243
Kaplan, Gabe, 144
Hayes, T. D., 217
Karp, Herb, 69–70
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Index
Kaufman, Andy
“settlement”/problems, 229–230,
Boosler and, 22–23, 71, 73
231–236, 237–238, 249
as busboy, 126–127
Shore’s meeting without headliners,
Carson and, 67
153–154, 155–157
Comedy Store/Shore, 62, 103, 111,
strike legacy, 254, 256, 263–264
115, 257, 267
strike/picketing, 184–187, 189–202,
early work, 21–23, 62
203–207, 209, 211–212, 218–221,
Improv, 21–23, 62, 179, 257
223–229
Improv fire/benefit and, 179
strike vote, 184–187
SNL, 59, 103
strikebreakers, 195, 197–198,
success, 103–104
204–207, 218–221, 223, 226, 228
Taxi (TV show), 104, 127
venues for comedians, 214–217,
The Tonight Show, 103
218–219, 231–232
Keaton, Diane, 101
See also Comedians for Compensation Keaton, Michael, 60, 73, 107, 111
(CFC); Dreesen, Tom/labor dispute;
Kellogg, Anne, 78
Shore, Mitzi/labor dispute; specific
Kent, Roberta, 78, 194
individuals
King, Alexander, 10
Lacey, Mike, 216
King Tut (Martin), 102
Lady Sings the Blues (film), 149
Kinison, Sam, 258, 260, 267
Laff Stop, 112, 166, 167, 168, 169, 216
Kirchenbauer, Bill, 85, 131–132,
Lamour, Dorothy, 35
133, 256
Landesberg, Steve
Klein, Robert, 11, 12, 20, 25, 34, 88, 125
background, 161
Komack, James, 34
Comedy Store, 23, 40, 111, 120, 157
Kushnick, Helen, 55, 57
Lewis and, 43
Kushnick, Jerry, 55, 57
Shore and, 120, 157
Lange, Jim, 56
Laboe, Art, 83–84, 88
Langston, Murray, 52, 214, 256
Labor dispute
Larrabure, William, 97–98
beginning talks, 117–123
Last Laugh, The: The World of Stand-up
bomb scare, 206
Comics (Berger), 125
Browning (lawyer), 154–155, 158,
Late Night (TV show), 3–4, 208, 258
184, 190, 195, 200–201, 217–218,
Late Show with David Letterman, The, 3, 234
262–263
CFC goals, 214
Laugh Factory, 2, 4, 6, 255, 260–261, 262
choosing sides, 165–166, 169–173
Laugh In (TV show), 91
exclusivity agreements and, 216, 232
Leadbetter, Huddie (Leadbelly), 84
first meeting with Shore, 147–151
Leadbetter’s coffeehouse, 84
Improv fire and, 176–180, 206
Lear, Norman, 65, 66, 105–106
meeting at union hall, 137–140
Leno, Jay
meetings, 137–140, 147–151,
after strike, 2–4, 256–257,
153–154, 155–157, 212–214
258–259, 262
negotiations, 147–151, 162–163,
Arngrim and, 114
174, 190, 191, 211–212, 213–214,
Binder and, 7, 89, 125–126, 130,
217–218
219, 220–221, 261
publicity/PR, 158, 160, 163–164,
Boosler and, 73, 120–121
181–184, 190, 192, 194, 196–197,
Caesar’s Palace, 108–109
198–200, 201, 203–204, 212,
Canter’s, 76
214, 223
Carson and, 67
Robin’s (waitress) information,
Comedy Store/Shore, 40–41, 52,
171–172, 178
54–55, 62, 73, 75, 111, 114, 118,
settlement end, 253–254
125–126, 267
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275
early work, 20–21, 24–26, 41,
move to LA, 48, 49
54–55, 56
NBC holding deal, 119
Ebony Genius Management and,
The Late Show with David Letterman, 3, 55, 74
262–263
Improv/Friedman, 20–21, 60, 61,
The Starland Vocal Band (TV show), 91
62, 72
The Tonight Show appearances/guest
Klein and, 88
hosting, 107–108, 170–171, 193,
labor dispute, 118, 120–121, 122–123,
208–209
138–139, 157, 158, 159, 165, 172,
The Tonight Show/Leno conflict,
194–195, 203, 206, 215, 223,
2–4, 258
228–229
Turn of the Century club, 57–58
Late Night with David Letterman, 3–4
Letterman, Michelle, 48, 52
Letterman and, 2–4, 51, 54–55,
Levant, Oscar, 10
258–259
Levine, Emily, 78, 213–214
Los Angeles Times article, 238
Levinson, Barry, 33–34
Lubetkin’s suicide and, 243–244, 253
Lewis, Jerry, 9
Maynard “hitting,” 228–229
Lewis, Richard
Miller’s memorial, 2–3, 4, 7
416th, The (TV show), 170
move to LA, 40–41, 47
background/family, 9–14
movies, 106
Boosler and, 72
Prinze and, 82–83
Brenner and, 23, 32
props and, 86
Comedy Store, 125–126
The Tonight Show appearance, 89–90
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO series), 2
The Tonight Show/Letterman conflict, Dairy of a Young Comic (movie),
2–4, 258
141–146
The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno, 3, early career, 12–13, 16, 17, 32, 42–44
4, 55
Improv/Friedman, 12–13, 16, 17, 32,
Leonard, Sugar Ray, 106
44, 72, 93
Let’s Get Small (Martin), 102
labor dispute, 170
Let’s Make a Deal (TV show), 71
Letterman and, 3
Letterman, David
Los Angeles Times article, 238
after strike, 2–4, 256, 258–259,
Lubetkin and, 13, 15–17, 32, 41–42,
262–264
43, 44, 96–97, 109, 142–144, 167,
attorney, 154
236, 241
background, 48
Lubetkin’s suicide/memorial and, 243,
Boosler and, 73
247, 248, 249, 251–252, 262
Canter’s, 76
Miller’s memorial, 2
Carson and, 49, 107
move to LA, 62–63
Comedy Store/Shore, 49–51, 52, 54,
Nina van Pallandt and, 94, 96,
55, 62, 72, 75, 87, 106–107, 111,
145, 243
118, 267
Sonny and Cher, 62–63, 94–96
Dreesen and, 3, 49, 51–52, 55, 56, 69,
style, 132
107–108, 208–209, 262–264
The Tonight Show, 42–44, 90–91, 144
early career, 49–51, 55–58
Williams and, 104
Ebony Genius Management, 55, 74
Winger and, 93–94
labor dispute, 120, 123, 165, 170–171,
Life magazine, 94
193, 201, 209, 215
Little House on the Prairie, 113, 114
Late Night, 3–4, 258
Long Goodbye, The, 94
Leno and, 2–4, 51, 54–55, 258–259
Lonow, Mark
Los Angeles Times article, 238
An Evening at the Improv
Miller and, 1, 2, 3, 6, 128, 201
(cable series), 257
Miller’s memorial and, 2–3
background, 77, 160
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Lonow, Mark (continued)
suicide/suicide note, 240–242
clubs/Friedman and, 255, 257
Susan Evans and, 63–64, 97, 109,
labor dispute, 158, 159–160, 173, 189,
142–143, 168, 194, 225, 236–237,
223, 226–228, 229, 239, 265
238, 241
on Shore, 265
The Tonight Show/Johnny Carson,
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor,
31–32, 41–42, 97
226, 234
Lubetkin, Ziviah, 15
Los Angeles Herald Examiner, 192
Lubetkin & Evans, 97, 98–99, 109, 166
Los Angeles Times, 1, 55, 102, 105, 157, 158, 163, 164, 181–182, 192, 194,
Mandell, Howie, 60
196, 211, 214, 233, 238, 257, 260,
Margaret, Ann, 33
266, 267
Marshall, Gary, 105
Lubetkin, Barry
Martin, Dean, 9, 84
background/brother and, 14, 15,
Martin, Steve, 101–102, 105, 106, 130
38–39, 96, 97–98, 166–167,
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (TV
238–239, 241
show), 66, 111
brother’s suicide, 242, 245, 246–247,
Mary (TV show), 107
248–249
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
Lubetkin, Evelyn, 14, 15, 238, 241
(TV show), 103
Lubetkin, Ginny, 238, 241, 245, 246,
Masada, Jamie, 6, 255, 260–261, 264
247, 248
Mason, Jackie, 22, 83, 115, 215
Lubetkin, Jack
Match Game (TV show), 92
background/son and, 14, 15, 38, 39,
Mathis, Johnny, 67, 90
97–98, 109, 196, 241
May, Elaine, 10
son’s suicide, 245, 248–249
Maynard, Biff, 85, 116, 129, 172, 178,
Lubetkin, Steve
197, 226–228, 259
1978, 109–110
McCartney, Paul, 106
after labor “settlement,” 235–236, 237,
McCawley, Jim, 34, 90
238–240
McGraw, Barbara, 176
background/family, 14–15, 38–39
McMahon, Ed, 154, 208
Comedy Store, 39, 62, 110, 143, 166,
Merv Griffin Show, The (TV show),
194, 195–196
47, 92
Dante Shocko movie, 42, 64, 96–98,
Metro club, 16
166–167, 242
Michaels, Lorne, 103, 141
Diary of a Young Comic and, 142–143
Midler, Bette, 12
Improv, 13, 16, 17
Midnight Special (TV show), 92
labor dispute, 166, 169–170, 193–194,
Migden, Chester, 231
195–196, 197, 224–225
Mike Douglas Show, The (TV show), 92
letter to father/brother, 166–170
Mila 18 (Uris), 15
Lewis and, 13, 15–17, 32, 41–42, 43,
Miller, George, 39
44, 96–97, 109, 142–144, 167,
after strike, 1, 2, 3, 256, 260, 261
236, 241
background, 52–54
Lubetkin & Evans, 97, 98–99, 109,
Canter’s, 76
166
manifesto on CFC/comedians,
Comedy Store, 40, 49, 52, 62, 69,
224–225
72, 107
memorial services/burial, 245–249
drugs, 4, 6, 128
mental state/seeing faces, 236–237,
illness/death, 1, 2, 6
238–239, 249
labor dispute, 120, 123, 140, 147–151,
move to LA, 31–32, 38–39
157, 158, 165, 201, 223, 229,
“straight jobs,” 109–110
237, 239
suicide effects, 251–252, 253, 262
Letterman and, 1, 2–3, 6, 128, 201
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memorial, 1, 2, 4–7, 262
People magazine, 105, 131, 182–183
props and, 86
Peppard, George, 43
The Tonight Show, 1, 126
Pickle Barrel store, 36
Mind of the Married Man, The (HBO
Pip’s club, 16
series), 2
Plaza Four restaurant, 215, 218–219
Mitchelson, Marvin, 38
Plummer, Christopher, 24
Montieth, Kelly, 6
Pointer Sisters, 71
Mooney, Daryl/Dwayne, 51
Poison Ivy (film), 141
Mooney, Paul
Polizzi, Frank, 28
Comedy Store, 51, 87, 91
Polizzi’s Tavern, 28
labor dispute, 140, 147–151, 158, 161,
Posh Bagel, 126–127
163, 164, 172–173, 189
Prater, Ollie Joe
Pryor and, 161, 172–173
after strike, 255, 256, 259–260
Moore, Dudley, 24
borrowing material, 132–133
Mora, Danny, 226–227, 229
Comedy Store/Shore, 85, 129
Mork & Mindy (TV show), 105, 130
labor dispute, 171, 172, 178, 197,
Morra, Buddy, 11
206–207
Morris, Garrett, 59
Preminger, Michael, 23, 61, 126
Mr. Woodley’s club, 186
Presley, Elvis, 21, 33, 35
Mudryck’s (bar), 28
Price, Vincent, 67
Muledeer, Gary, 6, 60, 86, 131
Prinze (Pruetzel), Freddie
Mull, Martin, 101
Can You Hear the Laughter? The Freddie
Murphy, Maureen, 78
Prinze Story (movie), 219
Murray, Jan, 56
career, 21, 34–35, 39, 40–41, 44,
62, 108
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB),
death, 81–83
254, 265
drugs/guns, 81–83
National Lampoon magazine, 101
Kathy (wife), 81
Nelson, Alan Jay, 226
The Tonight Show, 34–35, 85
Nelson, Craig T., 33–34
Pryor, Richard
Nelson, Willie, 106
albums/videos, 87, 259
New Christy Minstrels, 84
burn accident/after, 259
New York Stickball Team comedy
Comedy Store/Shore, 87–88, 89,
troupe, 78
106, 118, 129, 140, 148, 161, 259,
Newman, Larraine, 59
266, 267
Newsweek magazine, 105
early work/career, 20, 198, 199
Nicholas II, Czar/family, 160
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