47-page photocopy typecript, in blue paper binder. Plus 5 treatments for other projects, etc.
Unrecorded collaboration between Lenny Bruce and fellow comedian/comedy writer Frank Ray, i.e. Frankie Ray Perilli (1925-2018). Because the UN building in NYC is considered to be "international territory", a gambler sets out on a fool-proof scheme to open a casino inside. Ray was a comedy writer for Don Rickles, Shecky Greene, and Bruce, among others, and sometimes served as Bruce’s manager. He began his career as a standup comic in the nightclubs of Chicago’s North Side and appeared on several major television shows including The Ed Sullivan Show. His acting career included more than a dozen feature films, some of which he wrote or produced. It is unknown whether Bruce was personally involved in the five additional projects here or whether these are simply association copies given to him by his sometime partner. The collection includes a letter from Ray to Bruce thanking Bruce for his comments - although the letter does not refer to these particular titles:
The "other projects" include:
i. “The Day of the Lord is at Hand” one-page typed synopsis for a proposed film project with typed production notes and cost estimates. Unsigned/undated.
ii “The Flea” - typed synopsis for a screenplay; [original title, lined out, was ‘Lightnin’ Strikes the Army’.]
iii. Typed carbon of another story idea by Ray “Dracula a Go Go”
iv. Typed notes/outline about an untitled short film concerning jazz, Adolphe Menjou, Norman Granz... 8 pp with corrections in purple ink -- some of the corrections appear to be in Bruce’s hand, but most are not.
v. A small file of typed carbon business correspondence between Ray and others about possible future projects, including a proposed film about Fatty Arbuckle to star Jonathan Winters.