GUEST: I collaborated with Lenny Bruce from 1956 until the night he died in 1966. I collaborated on three film scripts and on the comedy material in the first three comedy albums. This document is one of several contracts between us at that time.
APPRAISER: And this contract basically sets out the terms of the agreement that he was making with you.
GUEST: Yes, my position with him would fluctuate from a co-author to director of cinematography to assistant director of the production, depending upon whether we were mad at each other or not at the moment. At one point, we had a big fight and I gave him all of the materials that I had done up to that time, which was rather foolish of me.
APPRAISER: There are a number of contracts that I was able to find that Lenny Bruce signed, but they were all typewritten or pre-printed. This was the only one that I found that was entirely handwritten. And I understand that “The Leather Jacket,” which this contract specifically refers to, was never made?
GUEST: It was filmed, but never released.
APPRAISER: And what was the premise of “The Leather Jacket”?
GUEST: “The Leather Jacket” was an attempt to do a low-budget film and simulate the artistry of silent movies, which we were both fans of silent movies. But Lenny was always infuriated if we ever referred to it as a Chaplin-esque film.
APPRAISER: Lenny Bruce was one of our most seminal early comedians. He basically set the bar for people like Richard Pryor and other more risqué comedians-- Dave Chappelle. But he was a true original, and he left us far too early. This contract I would estimate at auction at between $5,000 to $6,000. And I really am glad that you brought it into ROADSHOW for us to see. Thank you very much.
GUEST: Thank you.
