by David Henry
Shales, Tom, and James Andrew Miller. Live from New York: An Uncensored History of “Saturday Night Live” as Told by Its Stars, Writers & Guests. Boston: Little, Brown, 2002.
Slim, Iceberg [Robert Beck]. Pimp: The Story of My Life. 1969. Reprint. Los Angeles: Holloway House, 2007.
Smith, R. J. “Richard Speaks! Chasing a Tune from the Chitlin Circuit to the Mormon Tabernacle.” In This Is Pop: In Search of the Elusive at Experience Music Project, edited by Eric Weisbard, 75–89. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004.
Stein, Charles W., ed. American Vaudeville as Seen by Its Contemporaries. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
Stone, Laurie. Laughing in the Dark: A Decade of Subversive Comedy. Hopewell, NJ: Ecco Press, 1997.
Szwed, John F. Space Is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra. New York: Da Capo Press, 1998.
Tafoya, Eddie. The Legacy of the Wisecrack: Stand-Up Comedy as the Great American Literary Form. Boca Raton, FL: BrownWalker Press, 2009.
Tate, Greg. “Richard Pryor, 1940–2005: Used to Be a Genius, I Ain’t Lying, Booked the Numbers Didn’t Need Paper or Pencil.” Village Voice, December 6, 2005, www.villagevoice.com/2005-12-06/news/richard-pryor-1940-2005/.
Trav, S.D. [Stewart, Donald Travis] No Applause—Just Throw Money, or, The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous: A High-Class, Refined Entertainment. New York: Faber & Faber, 2005.
Upton, Julian. “Extinguishing Features: The Last Years of Richard Pryor.” Bright Lights Film Journal, 56 (May 2007), www.brightlightsfilm.com/56/richardpryor.php.
Van Gelder, Lawrence. “Theater Review: Replaying the Days of Black Vaudeville.” New York Times, January 29, 1999.
Wahl, Greg, and Charles Bobbit. It Didn’t Play in Peoria: Missed Chances of a Middle American Town. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2009.
Watkins, Mel. On the Real Side: Laughing, Lying, and Signifying. The Underground Tradition of African-American Humor That Transformed American Culture, from Slavery to Richard Pryor. New York: Touchstone, 1994.
———. “The Whole Cookie.” APF Reporter 3, no. 1 (1980), n.p., http://aliciapatterson.org/APF0301/APF0301.html.
Weiler, A. H. “Movie Review: ‘You’ve Got to Walk It . . .’: Genial Put-Down of Establishment.” New York Times, September 20, 1971.
Wilde, Larry. The Great Comedians Talk about Comedy. New York: Citadel Press, 1968.
Wilder, Gene. Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005.
Williams, Elsie A. The Humor of Jackie Moms Mabley: An African American Comedic Tradition. New York: Garland, 1995.
Williams, John A., and Dennis A. Williams. If I Stop I’ll Die: The Comedy and Tragedy of Richard Pryor. New York: Thunder’s Mouth Press, 1991.
Wolfe, Tom. “Las Vegas (What?). Las Vegas (Can’t Hear You! Too Noisy). Las Vegas!!!!” In Smiling through the Apocalypse: Esquire’s History of the Sixties, edited by Harold Hayes, 201–18. New York: McCall, 1969.
Wolff, Craig. “At Home with Richard Pryor; Still Laughing through the Pain.” New York Times, February 18, 1993, www.nytimes.com/1993/02/18/garden/at-home-with-richard-pryor-still-laughing-through-the-pain.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.
X, Malcolm. End of White World Supremacy: Four Speeches. Edited with an introduction by Benjamin Goodman. New York: Merlin House, 1971.
X, Malcolm, and Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Ballantine, 1965.
Zoglin, Richard. Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-Up in the 1970s Changed America. New York: Bloomsbury, 2008.
Recordings
Bruce, Lenny. The Real Lenny Bruce. Reissue produced by Ralph J. Gleason. Fantasy Records (F-79003), 1975.
Cosby, Bill. Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow, Right! Produced by Allan Sherman and Roy Silver. Warner Bros. Records (1518), 1963.
Foxx, Redd. You Gotta Wash Your Ass. Produced by Redd Foxx. Atlantic (SD 18157), 1975.
Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me!: Narrative Poetry from the Black Oral Tradition. Recorded and edited by Bruce Jackson. Rounder Records (CD 2014), 1998.
Mooney, Paul. Race. Recorded live at the Punchline Comedy Club, San Francisco. Produced by Bill Stephney. StepSun Music/Tommy Boy (3005), 1993.
Page, LaWanda. Pipe Layin’ Dan. Laff Records (A150). Uproar, 2001.
———. Preach on Sister, Preach On! Laff Records (A173), 1973.
Pryor, Richard. “Am I Drunk or Are You Pregnant Raymond.” 45 rpm, promotional only. Produced by David Banks. Warner Bros. Records (PRO-S-2089), 1983.
———. . . . And It’s Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968–1992). Nine-CD boxed set containing Richard Pryor, That Nigger’s Crazy, . . . Is It Something I Said?, Bicentennial Nigger, Wanted: Richard Pryor—Live in Concert (2 CDs), Live on the Sunset Strip, Here and Now (with previously unreleased interview recorded at the Comedy Store, 6/5/83), and That African-American Is Still Crazy: Good Shit from the Vaults. Warner Bros. Records & Rhino Entertainment Co. Warner Archives (R2 76655), 2000.
———. Are You Serious??? Produced by David Drozen. Laff Records (LAFF A196), 1977. Reissued as Island Records (314-528 064-2), 1995.
———. Bicentennial Nigger. Recorded live at the Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, CA., July 1976. Produced by David Banks. Warner Bros. Records (BS 2960), 1976.
———. Black Ben the Blacksmith. Produced by David Drozen. Laff Records (LAFF A-200), 1978. Reissued as Island Records (314-526 213-2), 1994.
———. Craps (After Hours). Recorded live at the Redd Foxx Club, Hollywood, CA. Produced by David Drozen. Laff Records (LAFF A146), 1971. Reissued as Island Records (314-526 214-2), 1994.
———. Evolution Revolution: The Early Years (1966–1974). Original sessions produced by Richard Pryor, Robert Marchese, and David Drozen. Rhino (R2 78490), 2005.
———. Insane. Laff Records (LAFF-LP-209), 1976.
———. . . . Is It Something I Said? Recorded live at the Latin Casino, Cherry Hill, NJ, May 26, 1975. Produced by David Banks. Reprise (MS-2227), 1975.
———. L.A. Jail. Tiger Lilly (TL-14023), 1977.
———. Live on the Sunset Strip. Produced by Richard Pryor and Biff Dawes. Warner Bros. Records (BSK 3660), 1982.
———. Outrageous. Laff Records (LAFF A206), 1979.
———. Rev. Du Rite. Produced by David Drozen. Andasol Records, 1976. Laff Records (LAFF A216), 1981.
———. Richard Pryor. Recorded live at the Troubador, West Hollywood, CA, September 1968. Produced by Robert Marchese. Dove/Reprise (RS 6325), 1968.
———. Richard Pryor Meets Richard & Willie and the SLA!! Produced by David Drozen. Laff Records (LAFF A188), 1976.
———. Supernigger. Laff Records (LAFF A224), 1983. Reissued as Island Records (314-528 062), 1995.
———. That Nigger’s Crazy. Recorded live at Don Cornelius’s Soul Train, San Francisco. Produced by Richard Pryor. Partee/Stax (2404), 1974. Reissued as Reprise (MS-2241), 1975.
———. Wanted: Richard Pryor—Live in Concert. Produced by Richard Pryor and Biff Dawes. Warner Bros. Records (2BSK-3364), 1978.
———. Who Me? I’m Not Him. Produced by David Drozen. Laff Records (LAFF A198), 1977. Reissued as Island Records (314-526 215-2), 1994.
———. The Wizard of Comedy. Reissued as Island Records (314-528 063-2), 1995.
Williams, Bert. “Elder Eatmore’s Sermon on Generosity.” On Bert Williams, The Remaining Titles: 1915–1921. Document Records (DOCD-5661), 1999.
X, Malcolm. A Message to the Grass Roots. Recorded at King Solomon Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan, November 10, 1963. Detroit: AFRO Records (AA-1264).
Referenced Films Starring or Featuring Richard Pryor
Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings. Directed by John Badham. Motown Productions, Universal Pictures, 1976. Universal Home Entertainment (21773), 2002.
Black Brigade (aka Carter’s Army). Directed by George McGowan. Thomas/Spelling Productions, 1970. Westlake Entertainment Group (WLV 305
7 S), 2003.
Blue Collar. Directed by Paul Schrader. TAT Communications Company, Universal, 1978. Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2000, with audio commentary by Paul Schrader and Maitland McDonagh.
Bustin’ Loose. Directed by Oz Scott and Michael Schultz (uncredited). Richard Pryor Productions, Universal Pictures, 1981. Universal Studios (61024179), 2005.
The Busy Body. Directed by William Castle. William Castle Productions, Paramount Pictures, 1967. Legend Films, 2008.
Car Wash. Directed by Michael Schultz. Universal Pictures, 1976. Universal Studios, 2003.
Dynamite Chicken. Written, produced, and directed by Ernest Pintoff. Tango Entertainment, 1972. Colossal Entertainment (COL #114), 2001.
Greased Lightning. Directed by Michael Schultz. Third World Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, 1977. Warner Home Video, 1992. Reissued as Comedy Double Feature: “Moving/Greased Lightning,” Warner Home Video, 2006.
Hit! Directed by Sidney J. Furie. Paramount Pictures, 1973. Olive Films (OF377), 2012.
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling. Produced and directed by Richard Pryor. Columbia Pictures, 1986. RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (60683), 1996. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (06673), 2002.
Lady Sings the Blues. Directed by Sidney J. Furie. Motown Productions, Sidney J. Furie Productions, Paramount Pictures, 1972. Paramount Home Video special edition, 2005.
Lost Highway. Directed by David Lynch. Lost Highway Productions, Asymmetrical Productions, CiBy 2000, October Films, 1997. Universal Studios Home Video, 2008.
The Mack. Directed by Michael Campus. Harbor Productions, Cinerama, 1973. New Line Home Video, 2002.
Mad Dog Time. Directed by Larry Bishop. Dreyfus/James Productions, Skylight Films, United Artists, 1996. MGM Home Entertainment, 2004.
The Phynx. Directed by Lee H. Katzin. Cinema Organization, Warner Bros. Pictures, 1970. Accessed at www.veoh.com/watch/v20443766nY2MZZwr
Richard Pryor Here and Now. Directed by Richard Pryor. Delphi Films, Columbia Pictures, 1983. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (06674), 2002.
Richard Pryor Live & Smokin’. Filmed at the New York Improvisation on April 29, 1971. Produced and directed by Michael Blum. MPI Home Video (MP7233), 1984.
Richard Pryor—Live in Concert. Filmed at the Terrace Theater, Long Beach, California, December 28, 1978. Directed by Jeff Margolis. Special Event Entertainment, Inc., 1979. MPI Home Video (DVD7084), 1998.
Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip. Filmed at the Hollywood Palladium, October 22-23, 1981. Directed by Joe Layton. Columbia Pictures, 1982. DVD released by Columbia TriStar Home Video (40909), 1999.
Silver Streak. Directed by Arthur Hiller. Frank Yablans Presentations, Miller-Milkis Productions, Twentieth Century Fox, 1976. 20th Century Fox (2221490), 2004.
Some Call It Loving. Written, produced, and directed by James B. Harris. James B. Harris Productions, Two World Film, 1973. Video Supply Depot, a division of the Monterey Movie Company (V763).
Some Kind of Hero. Directed by Michael Pressman. Paramount Pictures, 1982. Paramount Home Video (VHS 1118), 1998. Legend Films, 2008.
Stir Crazy. Directed by Sidney Poitier. Columbia Pictures, 1980. Image Entertainment, 2010.
The Toy. Directed by Richard Donner. Rastar Pictaures, Delphi Films, Columbia Pictures, 1982. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 2001.
Uncle Tom’s Fairy Tales (aka “Bon Appétit,” aka “The Trial”). Directed by Richard Pryor and Penelope Spheeris. 1969. Unreleased. Whereabouts unknown.
Uptown Saturday Night. Directed by Sidney Poitier. Verdon Productions, Ltd., First Artists, Warner Bros. Pictures, 1974. Warner Home Video, 2004.
Wattstax. Directed by Mel Stuart. Stax Records and Wolper Productions, 1973. Warner Home Video, 30th Anniversary Special Edition (34997), 2004. Audio commentaries by Chuck D and Rob Bowman; Mel Stuart, Al Bell, Isaac Hayes, and Larry Clark.
Wild in the Streets. Directed by Barry Shear. American International Pictures (AIP), 1968. Reissued as MGM Presents Midnite Movies Double Feature: “Wild in the Streets/Gas-s-s-s” (1004881), 2005.
The Wiz. Directed by Sidney Lumet. Motown Productions, Universal Pictures, 1978. Universal Studios Home Entertainment, 2010.
You’ve Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You’ll Lose That Beat. Written, produced, and directed by Peter Locke. J. E. R. Pictures, 1971.
Notable TV Appearances
Away We Go. Summer replacement for The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Buddy Rich, Buddy Greco, and George Carlin. Richard Pryor appeared as a guest on the third of the show’s seven episodes. CBS. Aired June 24, 1967.
The Barbara Walters Special. Richard Pryor interview. ABC. Aired May 29, 1979, December 2, 1986, http://youtu.be/3MTAQwBL0Gw.
Chicago Hope. “Stand.” Richard Pryor received an Emmy nomination for his role as a patient suffering from multiple sclerosis. CBS. Aired November 20, 1995.
The Ed Sullivan Show. Richard Pryor stand-up performance as “militant black poet.” Included on The Very Best of The Ed Sullivan Show, Volume One: Unforgettable Performances. Buena Vista Home Video (1345). CBS. Aired February 8, 1970.
The Kraft Summer Music Hall. Summer replacement for The Andy Williams Show. Richard appeared as a guest in 1966 and 1968 when it was known simply as The Kraft Music Hall. NBC. Aired August 8, 1966, and July 3, 1968.
Lily. CBS. Aired November 2, 1973. Reissued as The Lily Tomlin Special—Vol. 1, Karl Home Video (VHS 054).
The Mike Douglas Show. Richard Pryor (guest host), Juliette Whittaker, Milton Berle, George C. Scott, Trish Van DeVere, and Tuffy Truesdale with Victor the Wrestling Bear. Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. Aired November 25, 1974. Accessed at the Paley Center for Media, New York, June, 9, 2011.
Mod Squad. “The Connection.” ABC. Aired September 14, 1972.
NBC’s Saturday Night. NBC. Aired December 13, 1975. Reissued as Saturday Night Live: Richard Pryor, Guest Host. Warner Home Video (29003), 1989.
On Broadway Tonight. Richard Pryor’s national TV debut. CBS. Aired August 31, 1964.
The Partridge Family. “Soul Club.” Guest stars Richard Pryor and Louis Gossett Jr. as brothers whose Detroit nightclub is in peril of being taken over by the mob. ABC. Aired January 29, 1971. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2005.
Pryor’s Place. Richard’s unlikely foray into Saturday morning children’s TV featured guest appearances by his friends Lily Tomlin, Scatman Crothers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Willie Nelson, Robin Williams, and Sammy Davis Jr. The show ran for ten weeks and won two Daytime Emmys—for art direction and costume design. CBS. Aired September 15–December 8, 1984. Rhino Home Video, 1998.
The Richard Pryor Show. Indigo Productions, Burt Sugarman, Inc. NBC. Four episodes aired September 13, 20, 27, and Oct. 20, 1977. Image Entertainment (IDO165BMDVD), 2004.
The Richard Pryor Special? Indigo Productions, Burt Sugarman, Inc. NBC. Aired May 5, 1977. Image Entertainment (IDO165BMDVD), 2004.
A Time for Laughter: A Look at Negro Humor in America (ABC Stage 67). Produced by Harry Belafonte. ABC. Aired April 6, 1967. Accessed at the Paley Center for Media, New York, June, 9, 2011.
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Guests Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase promote their NBC specials. NBC. Aired May 4, 1977.
The Wild Wild West. “The Night of the Eccentrics.” CBS. Aired September 16, 1966.
The Young Lawyers. Pilot episode. ABC. Aired October 28, 1969.
Published by
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Post Office Box 2225
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515-2225
a division of
Workman Publishing
225 Varick Street
New York, New York 10014
© 2013 by David Henry and Joe Henry. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-1-61620-271-2
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