 |
  |
     |
Enrico Banducci's Legendary hungry i Lives Again!
hungry i Exhibition
From March 27 - August 25, 2007 the San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum staged an exhibition celebrating the history of San Francisco's legendary nightclub. In the 1950s and 1960s, the hungry i in North Beach was considered the hippest spot in the country, introducing some of the greatest performing talents of the era.
Under the inspired management of Enrico Banducci, the hungry i evolved from a bohemian haven for folk-singers to ground-zero for the comedy revolution and introduced the pioneering talents of Mort Sahl, Bill Cosby, Shelley Berman, Jonathan Winters, Dick Gregory, Tom Lehrer, Phyllis Diller, Lenny Bruce, Bob Newhart, Nichols & May, and Woody Allen.
Major musical acts such as The Kingston Trio, The Limeliters, Peter, Paul & Mary, and cabaret artists ranging from Mabel Mercer to the then virtually unknown Barbra Streisand played the club. In its heyday, hungry i enjoyed an international reputation and is credited with playing a major role in fueling the countercultural politics of its time.
The exhibition, curated by Brad Rosenstein and Gerald Nachman, will include materials from Enrico Banducci's personal collection, SFPALM, and other archives and lenders. Performers and staff from the hungry i will augment the exhibition with their own recollections and memorabilia. Opening reception Tuesday, March 27, 2007. The exhibition will be on view from March 28, 2007 - August 25, 2007.
co-curator Brad Rosenstein
SFPALM exhibitions and related programs are made possible in part through the generous support and assistance of The Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation, Compton Foundation, Inc., Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, George Frederick Jewett Foundation, San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund/Grants for the Arts, Wallis Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation, the Russell Hartley Society, the board and staff of the War Memorial Performing Arts Center, and the members of the Performing Arts Library.
Enrico Banducci and Mart Sahl recently sat down with
exhibition curators Brad Rosenstein and Gerald Nachman
to reflect on their nights at the hungry i. The taped interview
is part of the exhibition, and on view at the Library.
August highlight of the hungry i exhibition was a wonderful film festival featuring productions related to the club
August 2 - ”hungry i Reunion” (1980)
Including panel discussion & Q&A featuring Enrico Banducci, producer/director Thomas A. Cohen, hungry i house musicians Don Asher, Dean Reilly, Faith Winthrop, and host Michael Stepanian
August 9 - ”Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition” (1989)
August 16 - ”Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth” (1998)
August 23 - ”Phyllis Diller's Farewell Performance” (2006)
The Unknown Jonathan Winters: On the Loose (2000)
August 30 - The Kingston Trio Story: Wherever We May Go (2006)
Including panel discussion & Q&A featuring John Stewart of The Kingston Trio and record producer Alec Palao
(for more about these films, see the INFO section)
And Experience your own hungry i reunion with the wonderful DVD featuring commentary by Enrico Banducci and performances by The Kingston Trio, Limeliters, Mort Sahl, jonathan Winters, Stan Wilson + rare Lenny Bruce footage. Just click the icon to order direct from Amazon!
