Book Read Free

Becoming Richard Pryor

Page 67

by Scott Saul


  Burbank studios, 430, 452

  programming deals with RP, 408, 412, 415, 427–28

  RP and censorship, 430, 435–37, 438, 453, 457, 556n438

  RP and SNL, 362–63, 375, 379

  RP meltdown and legal suit, 361

  RP prime-time special, 412–15

  RP series, 427–39, 434, 439, 448, 452, 454–62, 460

  Negro Ensemble Company, 232

  Negro Liberty League, 10

  Newhart, Bob, 482

  Newsweek, 313, 409, 411

  Cosby interview, 113, 114

  The Richard Pryor Show and, 427

  Newton, Huey, xvi, 221–23, 242, 244, 290, 293, 338

  Newton-John, Olivia, 466

  New West magazine, 396

  New York City. See also Greenwich Village

  Harlem, 116

  RP arrives in (1963), 115, 116

  RP in, 115–44, 116, 122, 148–54, 163, 183, 282–88

  New Yorker, 306, 320, 390, 470

  New York Herald Tribune, 119

  New York magazine, 382, 423

  New York Times, 136, 255, 382, 391, 392, 431, 453, 458

  review of Which Way Is Up? 463–64

  RP’s 1977 interview, 40, 430

  on RP’s death, 481

  19 Necromancers from Now (anthology), 256

  Nixon, Richard M., 336, 338, 339

  “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” (song), 159

  Northridge, CA, 384–85

  Oakie, Jack, 308, 311, 385

  Oakland, CA, 289, 290, 292, 293–94

  Oakland Coliseum, 329

  Oakland Tribune, 217

  obscenity laws, 12, 135, 180, 339–40, 483

  O’Donoghue, Michael, 375

  Oh, God! (film), 549n391

  Omit the Logic (documentary), xvi, 482

  On Broadway Tonight (TV show), 130–35, 132, 133

  O’Neal, Ryan, 157

  Open City (alternative newspaper), 192

  Operation: Entertainment (TV show), 179, 212

  Opium Exclusion Act, 11

  Ostin, Mo, 194

  Oswald, Russell, 265, 533n267

  “The Button Down Mind of Russell Oswald” (RP’s sound collage), 267

  Our Show of Shows (TV show), 281, 282, 283

  Outkast, 292

  Oz (HBO series), 532n267

  Pack, Harvey, 170

  Page, LaWanda, 111

  Pappas, Helen and Michael, 7–8, 17

  Paramount Studios, 386, 391

  Parker, Charlie, 558n463

  Parker, Harold, 41, 44, 44, 95–99, 97, 98, 103, 104–5, 159

  Parker, Margaret “China Bee,” 41

  Parton, Dolly, 148

  Partridge Family, The (TV show), 211, 230, 242–43

  Pat Boone Show, The (TV show), 179

  Patterson, Floyd, 106

  “people-ology,” 95

  Peoria, IL, 18, 25, 336–37

  Ashanti Umoja Center, 340

  Black Power movement in, 228

  black residents in, 23, 57–58, 104

  black underworld of, 41–45, 58, 63–64

  Bumboat and city government, 19

  burial of Marie Bryant, 471

  China Bee’s (brothel), 55, 57

  corruption in, 22, 23, 26, 57

  curfew in, 80–81, 507n80

  George Washington Carver Community Center, 66–74, 67, 142, 228, 340

  history and culture, 20–24

  Hotel Pere Marquette, 77, 79, 164, 507n77

  industry in, 21

  interracial socializing in, 44–45

  Lakeview Museum, 71

  map, 20

  map, North Washington Street District of the 1940s, 42

  Marie Bryant and family arrive in, 21

  Marie Bryant running brothels in, 8, 25–26, 30, 39–40, 51, 57–58

  movie theaters, 37

  the Oasis brothel in, 18

  police brutality in, 24, 80–81

  public records on RP and family, xv

  racism in, 23–24, 50, 53–54, 63–65, 76, 503n50

  reform movements in, 29–30, 56–58, 144

  “Richard Pryor Days,” 340–41

  RP born in St. Francis Hospital, 28

  RP leaves (1962), 107–8

  RP as product of, xvi, 108

  RP returns (1966), 164

  RP returns (1969), 226–29

  RP returns (1974), 340–41

  RP returns (1977), 416

  RP returns and has heart attack (1977), 465–66

  RP’s family’s avoidance of disclosure, xiii–xiv

  RP’s generosity to, 340

  RP’s summation of, 424

  schools and education of black children, 50, 58–63, 66, 75–76, 157, 159, 486, 503n50

  sex trade in, 22–23, 24, 29–30, 39, 52, 55, 57

  Shrine Mosque, 340

  Thomas family moves to, 27

  underground economy in, xiii, 22, 57, 58

  urban renewal in, 56–57, 58, 144

  vice district, 8, 18–19, 26, 29, 52, 56, 67, 72, 104

  World War II and, 29, 499n29

  Peoria Journal, 22, 63

  Peoria Journal Star, xiv, xv, 164, 165, 220, 226, 227, 228, 466

  Peoria Star, 70

  Perry, Tyler, 464

  Persian Fuckers, 246, 262

  Petry, Ann, 356

  Philadelphia Tribune, 118

  Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School, xi

  Pilot, IL, 27

  Piper, Abner (great-great-grandfather), 8

  Pleshette, Suzanne, 157

  Poitier, Sidney, 128, 131, 168–69, 215, 327, 363–65, 394, 486, 508n82

  Poole, Robert, 288, 290, 291

  Powell, Colin, 84

  Presley, Elvis, 352

  Prinze, Freddie, 342, 343, 350

  Pryor, Deboragh McGuire (third wife), 417, 428, 429

  leaves RP, 465

  marriage to RP, 447, 448–53, 451, 465

  marriage to RP ends, 466–67

  Pryor, Dee (aunt), 31, 473

  Pryor, Denise (cousin), 165, 190, 190

  Pryor, “Dickie” (uncle), 7, 14, 25, 27, 31, 58, 88, 92, 165, 342, 347, 465

  arrest and imprisonment for narcotics, 63–64, 504n63

  Pryor, Elizabeth (daughter), 172, 348, 516n142

  Pryor, Gertrude Thomas (mother), 19, 26–28, 31, 229, 499n28

  appearance, 27

  birth of RP, 28

  divorce and custody fight, 32–36, 500n36

  domestic violence and, 32

  marriage to Buck Pryor, 30

  RP in Springfield with, 33, 36, 51

  RP visits (1969), 227–28

  working in Marie’s brothel, 27

  Pryor, Herman (granduncle), 80, 228

  Pryor Jennifer Lee (fourth wife), xv, 429, 449

  conflict with RP’s children over estate, 481–82

  relationship with RP, 449–51, 465, 467, 467, 480–81

  Pryor, Leroy “Buck,” Jr. (father), 31

  appearance, 25, 27–28

  arrest for keeping house of prostitution, 184

  birth, 12

  birth of RP, 19, 28

  childhood, 14

  children fathered by, 29, 34, 79, 93, 190–91

  death of, 205, 206–8

  death of wife, Ann, 184, 189, 190

  divorce from Gertrude Thomas and custody fight for RP, 32–36

  domestic violence and, 32, 220

  love affair with Gertrude Thomas, 19, 27–28

  marriage to Ann Hurst, 55

  marriage to Gertrude Thomas, 30

  relationship with RP, 28–29, 46–47, 53–54, 65, 73, 76, 77–79, 92–93, 101, 145–46, 164, 184, 189, 484

  RP buys new house for (1319 Millman), 146, 190, 517n146

  RP’s marriage to Patricia Watts and, 101

  in RP’s routines, 47, 78, 81, 229

  RP thrown out by, 107

  sexual abuse of daughter Sharon, 191, 203–5

  sex
ual cynicism of, 79

  in U.S. Army and dishonorable discharge, 30, 31–32, 499n31

  violence and criminality of, 32

  women and, 28

  work in the sex trade, 25, 58, 92, 144–45, 184

  Pryor, Maxine (aunt), 14, 25, 27, 190, 190, 206, 330, 471

  Pryor, Patricia Watts (first wife), 100–103, 141, 509–10n101

  birth of son, 104

  child support suit by, 235

  divorced by RP, 155, 518n155

  left behind in Peoria, 108

  RP beats, 102

  Pryor, Rain (daughter), 232–33, 348, 480

  Pryor, Richard, xiii

  biographers of, xiii–xiv, 493nxii, 493nxiv

  bitterness of, 164, 247, 307

  censorship and fight for free speech, 216, 322–24, 339, 341, 342, 361, 375, 435–37, 438, 453, 457, 556n438

  charisma as performer, 373

  as childlike and uninhibited, 214, 459

  creativity of, 3, 124–25, 171, 194–97, 214, 216, 221, 237, 247, 249, 258, 259, 266, 283, 286, 290, 291, 320, 322, 327, 358, 404–6, 454, 475, 483–84, 485, 486

  dark side of, 213, 308, 459, 481

  Decatur, paternal ancestors and family in, 7–19

  depression and, 83, 90, 349, 424–25, 455, 472, 474

  fear of heights, 340, 369

  interviewers and, xiii

  money, carefree attitude toward, 130, 140

  “nigger” used by, 52, 209–10, 216–17, 236, 239, 249, 285–86, 303, 329, 332–33, 373, 378, 387, 537n303

  personality, as mercurial, contradictory, antic, 3, 87, 130, 174, 306, 326–27, 391–92, 458

  as trickster, 72, 210, 213, 226, 283, 316, 337, 469

  violence and, 89–90, 126, 130, 173–75, 183, 213, 295, 361, 375, 420–21, 422, 461

  violence by, against women, 102, 107, 112–13, 140, 141, 220, 234, 280, 287, 297–98, 310, 348, 349

  womanizing by, 102–3, 171–72, 233, 310, 348, 465, 529n242, 559n465

  —1940–1962 (PEORIA YEARS), 28–108

  adolescent affair and first child born (1957), 79

  alcohol use, 77–78, 80, 94, 105

  ambitions and dreams of, 55, 77, 91, 107, 108

  appearance, 51, 80

  “the backside of life” (brothels, gambling, vice), 25, 51, 71, 72, 77, 498n25

  birth of, in Peoria, 28

  birth of son, Richard Jr., 104

  Blaine-Sumner elementary school, 58–63, 66, 157, 159, 486

  childhood as “hell,” 38–39, 92

  Collins Corner job, 105–8

  comedy as means of acceptance for, 50, 59–63

  comedy stand-up routines, 80

  drug use begins, 103

  education and schools attended, 50–54, 55–66, 60, 75–76, 501n39

  exposure to adult sex, 40, 55

  expulsion from high school, 76

  false memories of custody battle for, 34–35, 36

  Famous Door tavern and, 42–43

  fantasy life of, 49, 54–55

  father’s relationship with, 28–29, 46–47, 53–54, 65, 73, 76, 77–79, 92–93, 101

  father throws him out, 107

  fear and, 39, 46–47, 79–80

  first jobs, menial, 77, 79, 91

  friendships with white children, 51–52, 53–54, 61–63, 66

  Glow Girls and, 61–63

  grandmother’s brothel and, 30, 36, 38, 39–40, 51

  grandmother’s relationship with, 28, 38–39, 45–46, 50, 65, 77–78

  health and physical condition, 83

  income, money situation of, 92, 93, 102, 105, 107

  influence of teacher, Margaret Yingst, 58–63

  leaves Peoria for good, 107–8

  legitimated by marriage, 30

  mother’s relationship with, 28, 32–36, 51, 499n28

  movies, love of and cinema heroes, 37–38, 48–49, 54–55, 93

  neighborhood and characters of early years, 40–45, 42

  nightclub debut and comedy sets at Harold’s Club, 95–96, 102–3, 486

  Patricia Watts, affair, pregnancy, and marriage, 100–103

  Peoria characters used in comedy routines, 94–95, 99

  Peoria nightclub world and, 93–96, 103–4

  as a prankster and rule-breaker, 52–53, 54, 72–73

  punishment and beatings, 46–47, 77–78

  racism and, 53–54, 63–64, 65

  rat incident, 47–48

  Rumpelstiltskin production, 69–70, 142

  school performances, 59–63, 64–65

  self-image, 81

  sexual abuse incident, 48

  sexual mores, Germany, 88

  sister Sharon and, 93

  stepmother’s relationship with, 55, 499n28

  stigma of family’s business and, 55–56

  stint in family prostitution business, 107

  truancy of, 65

  in U.S. Army, 82–91, 509n87

  witness to domestic violence, 33

  Youth Theater Guild, Carver Community Center and, 66–74, 67

  —1962–1971 (DEFINING HIMSELF), 111–270

  acting roles, 163–64, 211, 219, 229–32, 242–43, 269–70

  appearance, 118, 129–30, 142–43, 158, 187, 225, 232, 261–62, 516n143

  arrest for assault and battery and jail, 112–13, 513n112

  arrest for marijuana, 172, 521n172

  Attica prison uprising, impact on RP, 265–69, 533n267

  Bay Area friends, 255–56

  Bay Area year (1971), xi–xii, 245–70

  bench warrant for default of legal fees, 235

  Berkeley friends, 245

  breaks with nightclub circuit, 235–36, 249

  child support suits against, 235

  Chitlin Circuit and on the road, (1962), 111–15, 511n112

  comedian friends, 120–23, 126–27, 154, 214–15

  Cosby and, 113–15, 168

  counterculture and, xii, 117–18, 151, 169, 192, 211–12, 240, 247, 248

  crack-up, Aladdin hotel, 175–80, 181, 182–83, 194, 332, 339, 472, 522n180

  daughter Elizabeth born, 172

  daughter Rain born, 232–33

  debts to drug dealers, 237

  divorces wife Patricia, 155, 518n155

  family in Peoria and, 135, 145–46, 183–84

  fantasy version of his life, 131, 165, 515n130

  father’s death and, 206–8

  father’s relationship with, 145–46, 164, 184, 189

  finances and, 140, 144, 173, 177, 213, 226, 522n173

  friendship with Alan Farley, 248–50

  friendship with Bobby Darin, 159–62, 160, 519n159

  friendship with Cecil Brown, 254–57

  friendship with Henry Jaglom, 123–26, 135, 136–38, 147–48, 518n148

  friendship with LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), 136–38

  friendship with Paul Mooney, 214–15, 217–18, 220, 305

  Gallin as agent, 148, 154, 157, 167, 182, 183, 212, 213, 523n183

  General Artists as manager, 143, 148

  Hollywood friends and hangouts, 155–57, 245

  identity issues, 211–13, 221, 245, 257–58, 332

  industry reputation as unmanageable, 213

  King memorial benefit, Hollywood Bowl and controversy, 193–94, 211, 524n194

  meltdowns and self-destructive behavior, 167, 175–80, 181, 182–83, 212, 232, 332, 472 (see also substance abuse below)

  as “Mr. Congenialty,” 128–46, 332

  Peoria visits, 164, 187, 189–91, 190, 206–8, 226–29

  playing in Ontario, 113

  politics of, 135, 138, 167, 170, 211, 212, 223, 250–52, 257, 265–69

  relationship with his mother, 227–28, 229

  relationship with Maxine Silverman, 138–41, 155, 171–72, 183, 235, 516n138, 516n142

  relationship with Patricia Heitman, 265–66, 269

  relationship with Shelley Bonis, 187–89, 190, 191–92, 220–21, 232–34, 235, 240

 
residences, 118, 155, 159, 167, 172–73, 188, 213, 233, 241–42, 248

  Roberts as manager, 178, 194, 197, 200, 213

  Roth as manager, 119, 128–35, 143

  Sammy Davis, Jr. advice to, 112

  singing onstage, 159

  substance abuse and (cocaine, alcohol, marijuana), 117, 125, 147–48, 172, 173, 175, 196, 213, 215, 216, 217, 220, 226, 241, 245, 257–58, 261, 266, 518n148, 522n173

  Sunset Towers assault charge, 173–75, 183

  TV appearances, 141, 143, 148–54, 157–59, 158, 179, 210, 211, 212, 257

  TV debut, 130–35, 132, 133

  —1971–1975 (HOLLYWOOD STARDOM), 273–358

  acting roles, 276–80, 290, 294–97, 299–300, 320–27, 323

  appearance, 275, 279, 281, 321

  arrest for obscenity, 339

  “black goes first” chess incident, 315–16

  at Cannes Film Festival, 314–17, 315

  comedy, concerts, 327–29

  comedy, touring, 338–41

  cottage at Yamashiro, 280–81, 290, 297–98, 305, 317, 347

  DeBlasio as manager, 305–6, 314, 327, 329, 334, 338, 339, 349–50

  finances and, 292, 341, 349–50

  Franklin as manager plus, 350–53

  friendship/feud with Billy Dee Williams, 309, 368, 372

  jail sentence for tax evasion, 334–35

  lack of professionalism, 279–80, 294, 307

  meltdowns and self-destructive behavior, 294–96, 307 (see also substance abuse below)

  in Monaco, 316

  Pay Back Inc. founded, 341, 352

  Peoria return (1974), 340–41

  politics of, 304

  Queen Booking as agent, 329, 347

  relationship with Patricia Heitman, 275, 275–76, 280, 297–98, 305, 309–10, 317, 347–49

  “Richard Pryor Enterprises,” 352

  “Richard Pryor Salute,” 306

  screenwriting opportunities, 281–88, 290–94, 320–27

  as sensation, hot item, 347

  substance abuse, 275–76, 280, 282, 287, 291, 294, 307

  testing new collaborators, 318–19

  TV appearances, 314, 320–27, 342–47

  Watergate scandal, Nixon presidency, and, 336–37

  —1975–1978 (THE PLANET’S FUNNIEST MAN), 361–470

  acting roles, 363–73, 380–403, 417–26

  in Barbados, 404–7

  career peak, 430

  car shooting by, 461, 466, 468

  comedy recordings, 373–75, 397

  concerts and club dates, 374

  conflict with TV networks, 361–63

  as crossover artist, 363, 367, 374–75, 380, 383, 414

  death of grandmother, and her message to him, 470, 471–72

  education sought, 404

  finances and, 384, 396, 415

  Franklin as manager, 362, 368, 392, 395, 415, 428

  gay sex and, 442–46, 558n457

  gifts to Peoria friends and family, 416

 

‹ Prev