But this is no ordinary place. This was the former home of “Cafe Au Go Go.” This is where the infamous comedian Lenny Bruce was arrested in 1964 for using obscenities in his act. It was a landmark case focused on the first amendment. The even more famous Dustin Hoffman played in a movie of Bruce's life. Read about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071746/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_53. The comedian George Carlin was a regular here as well.
The real club was actually in the basement of this building. Its at 152 Bleecker Street. Not open long, from 1964 to 1969 it featured a large list of famous performers. This was where the Grateful Dead first played in NYC! Other notables who played here were Linda Ronstadt when she was in the Stone Poneys and Jimi Hendrix. Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, the Youngbloods, John Hammond, Jr., The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Michael Bloomfield, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Canned Heat, The Fugs, Country Joe and the Fish, all played here.
These places are thrilling yet sad to walk by. Times are changing and things just aren’t as thrilling as the days when places like this were hangouts and nothing great was on TV or on a cell phone. Plus a person could get as drunk or high as they wanted and barely get into trouble. Now you can't even have two drinks in a club without feeling paranoid that you may get into trouble.
Wonder how much those tiny apartments go for above. It would be a cool place to live!
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