Swami X

Swami X is an American boardwalk performer and stand-up comedian. Active from the 1970s to 1985, he performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, and New York. He was known for bawdy sexual humor and political invective.[1][2]

Swami X's act involved blasphemy, profanity, and attacking "sacred cows"—producing "pleased shock and delighted outrage" in observers.[2] His notable lines include:

He was known for appearing on the Venice Boardwalk, at the UCLA and U.C. Berkeley campuses, in San Francisco, and at Washington Park in New York City. He retired in 1985.[1] In 2009 the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, presented him with an official proclamation.[4]

Swami X appears as a character in Roger L. Simon's mystery novel, The Straight Man[5] and is referenced in Pat Hartman's volume of Venice vignettes, Call Someplace Paradise.[6]

Contents

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "SWAMI X - Comedian". KCET website. http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/venice/the-crumbs/swami-x---comedian.html. Retrieved 29 November 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c Campbell, Patricia J (1981). Passing the Hat - Street Performers in America. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385287715. OCLC 7461199. 
  3. ^ Weiss, Stefanie Iris. (2010). Eco-sex : go green between the sheets and make your love life sustainable. New York: Ten Speed Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-58008-118-4. 
  4. ^ "Villaraigosa "Honors Swami X; Blows Off Officially Running for Gov". The Venice Paper. 22 June 2009. http://www.venicepaper.net/pmt_more.php?id=454_0_1_0_M "Villaraigosa. 
  5. ^ Simon, Roger L. (1986). The Straight Man. Villard Books. pp. 46, 88, 91. ISBN 9780394558370. 
  6. ^ Hartman, Pat (2000). Call Someplace Paradise. Xlibris. p. 93. ISBN 9780738820057. 

Further reading

External links