A while ago, I wrote about London Lee, the iconic young Jewish comic of the mid and late 60s. I'm afraid for those just a few years younger than me, his name means nothing.
London Lee was huge. He was on Sullivan. He was on the Tonight Show. He was a comic on a meteoric rise... and then... you know... stuff happens.
There must not be a lot written about London Lee, because when people search his name, they often end up here. Most notes begin by acknowledging he was drop dead funny. I've heard from his friends, relatives, a few folks who despise him (London, trust me, stay clear of your cousin in Boca) and a woman who claims to have known him in Europe.
London Lee was really the son of a wealthy garment center guy. His real name was Alan Levine and he lived on Central Park South NYC. That was in 1960-1-2.
My boyfriend at the time, who was a hustler and pool sharp (later to be a heroin addict), was staying with London in his studio there and that was how I met Alan/London.
I was impressed when I first saw him on TV and surprised at how really funny he was. I guess it was because it was all true stories and insecurities.
Amazingly, he does seem to have fallen off the face of the earth. Would have been in his mid to late 70's I wonder if he is still alive.......
Maybe Miami Beach?
Sondra
He's alive. I believe it's Broward County, just to the north of Miami Beach. By the way, isn't it more than a little unnerving to read her boyfriend/heroin reference of 45 years ago!
Today I got this:
Thought your friend who e-mailed you might be interested.
Barry
So, obviously he is alive an well. There is quite a "Borscht Belt II" circuit playing for retirees in South Florida. He is in good company.
The real reason I'm posting this is this remarkable photo I got from Harry Watts. How lucky am I that Harry took it in August 1968, kept it safe all these years, digitized it and then sent it to me via email nearly 40 years after the fact?
The scene is the Boardwalk in pre-casino Atlantic City. This photo is looking north and the ocean is off camera to the right. Back then A.C. was a hopping resort town.
Steel Pier was, and is again, located at Virginia and Boardwalk. It was known for it's diving horse (whether it was actually a free will diving horse is another story) and it's big name acts.
Appearing along with London Lee was John Fred and his Playboy Band. Their hit, "Judy in Disguise" went to number one in January 1968. Also on the bill, somewhat incongruously, was Don Glasser's Orchestra, a "smooth as glass" dance band.¹
The photo is a one of a kind, and I'm deeply grateful to Harry for allowing me to post it.
Take a look at the people and what they're wearing. Atlantic City was where you went, even on this gray summer day, to get away from the heat, forget about the rest of the world, and have a little fun.
¹ - Amazingly, Don's band still performs, though without Don.
Because this page is so often searched and found, it has been reopened for comments.
Wow! Two heartwarming stories, not only in a row, but the same morning. I'm not sure if this is the result of your illness, or your trip to Las vegas, or 24 hours a day for over a week with Helaine, but it's thumbs up from me . . .
DO YOU REMEMBER THE LONDON LEE JOKE/
Wow! I have not seen London Lee since the Catskills. He was such a hoot, in those days, when I used to go visit Kim Irwin, during his Summer stints.
God, I feel old....
I used to see London Lee all of the time. My good friend and neighbor's father was one of the 2 set guys for the Garry Moore Show, so we went to the tapings every Saturday in NYC for years.
London Lee was VERY funny and I remember him well.
I am surprised there isn't more information about him on the Internet. A true talent and class act.
I believe, as is often the case with people of his generation, London isn't promoting on the web. However, I get emails all the time from people who have seen him or soon will be seeing him perform (Florida and in the NYC metro area).
The reviews have been good.
I remember seeing him as an opening act for some English rock group back in the 60's. He was a scream, I loved him -- but the groupies and stoners weren't paying attention.
However, he was soooo freakin' funny, that ultimately he won them over. The whole audience was singing his battle cry:
London Lee will set you free!
London Lee will set you free!!
London Lee will set you free...
But who is London Lee??
Well, maybe you had to be there, but this guy was stone cold funny.
Gilbert Gottfried today credited London Lee with inspiring him into comedy on the Howard Stern show.
He was among so many of his generation who have either passed on, retired or faded into obscurity. Names like Myron Cohen, Jackie Vernon, Jack E. (Fat Jack) Leonard [the original insult comic, before Don Rickles], George Gobel, Jack Carter, Shelly Berman, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Jackie Mason, Stanley Myron Handelman, Sandy Baron, Jan Murray, Frank Gorshin, Ron Carey, Buddy Hacket, Mort Sahl, Sam Levinson, Red Buttons, Nipsey Russell, Red Foxx, Flip Wilson, Allan & Rossi, Allan Sherman, Norm Crosby, Stan Freberg, Corbett Monica, Morey Amsterda, Totie Fields, Wayne & Schuster, Nancy Walker, Henny Youngman (the king of one-liners), Rodney Dangerfield, Alan King, Richard Pryor, Jerry Lester, George Carlin, Rich Little, John Byner, Will Jordan, Joe E. Lewis. What a different world it was, both on and off TV. It might as well have been a hundred or a thousand years ago, compared to the current dumbed-down, trashy, sensationalized fare to which we are feted, even if foolish or bored enough to watch.
Good to hear that London is still around. He must have enough stories to get a book deal or appear on some talk shows.I wonder about : London Lee - The Missing Years.
This is a fond personal memory. I attended high school in New York City with London Lee's niece, Toni. For her sixteenth birthday (1968?), her family threw an extravagant party. I kept my party favor for many years because it was a 14K gold and amethyst locket! Anyway, London dropped by during the party, greeting all of us with, "Hello, Toni's girlfriends." Needless to say, all the silly giggling schoolgirls were thrilled:)
I remember on one of the many Dean Martin "Roasts", Norm Crosby's opening line; "You do realize that if this building and everyone in it is destroyed tonight, London Lee can write his own ticket."
I meet London Lee about 15 years ago at the Brigantine Golf Linx in New Jersey. A friend and I were teamed up with him, his son in law and his grandson, who rode along with us. I had know clue who he was, but questioned him when I saw his huge golf bag with his name. He then told us that he was this big comedian and was playing at one of the casinos. He was a supper nice and funny guy, but we really didn't believe he was this great comic. At some point he noticed that I didn't have a sand wedge and gave me one from his bag to use for the round. He told me that he got it from Chi Chi Rodregus when he played with him at some celebrity tournament. Once again I really didn't believe his story, but i used the wedge and it worked out great. He offered to sell me the wedge for $5.00 and I agreed. He inturn handed the $5.00 to the guy who cleans you clubs after the round. I still have and use the wedge and its name is Chi Chi. He invited my friend an I to meet him at the casino and we would hang out. Again didn't beieve him, so we never meet up with him. Two weeks later I took my wife to the MET in NY City and afterwards we stopped in Little Italy to have some dinner. My wife and I were seated and I look up and see a picture of London Lee from the sixties next to celebs like Sanatra, Deano and so many others. To this day I wished that I would have meet him at the casino and hung out with him for awhile.
Thanks for the wedge London Lee. I am glad to hear your still up there making people laugh.
TomS
For your London Lee admirers and inquirers, London Lee (Alan Levine) lists his age as 73. I've known Levine/Lee since 1964. He was older than I then, and I suspect he still is. I'm nearly 77. London maintains that he was a pilot in the US Air Force during WWII, which would put him well into his 80's. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) That pilot story may be apocryphal as he was always a bit of a whack job and a great prevaricator. Last time I saw him was appearing in a review at Merv Griffin's resorts in Atlantic City 1990. His complexion was dark gray and he had a wisp of white hair that was barely visible from the audience. He had dropped the "rich kid" act, which I had always felt was inconsistent with his heavy Brooklyn accent, and instead was doing a lot of stock jokes, "the best of everybody." Needless to say, he killed the Atlantic City crowds, and should do well on the South Florida retirees circuit. Lots of luck, London Lee Levine.
Jake
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To the forgotten Irwin,
You might like to hear than I also knew Kim Irwin, a lovely fellow, when he was house singer at the Downbeat club in Montreal. I dated the secretary to a local agent, who evidently had dated Irwin. (The sec'y, not the agent.)
I gathred this because all during our lovemaking she kept calling out, "Kim! Kim!"