Lotus Weinstock

Marlene Weinstock (1943[1] – August 31, 1997[2] more commonly known by her stage name Lotus Weinstock was an American stand-up comedian, author, musician, and actress.

Weinstock was born in Philadelphia.[3] Her parents were Robert and Lucille Weinstock.[4] She studied at the Philadelphia Dance Academy.[5]

Early in her career she changed her name to Maurey Haydn.[6] Under this name, one of her songs was recorded by Richie Havens.[1] After moving to Los Angeles, she regularly performed at The Comedy Store and the LA location of The Improv. She performed on The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show.[7] At The Comedy Store's Belly Room she was considered a "den mother" to the roster of female comics.[8] She is often cited along with Paul Mooney as a mentor to Sandra Bernhard, whom she met performing in Los Angeles at the Ye Little Club.[9] Bernhard and Weinstock would go on to collaborate on an act where they would perform a catfight onstage.[8] She wrote a book titled "The Lotus Position" in 1982, which had sold over 60,000 copies at the time of her death in 1997.[2] The LA Improv had a memorial for her a week after her death.[3]

She was the fiancé of comedian Lenny Bruce at the time of his death in 1966 and later married filmmaker David Jove, with whom she had a child, the violinist Lili Haydn.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Weide, Bob. "A Lotus By Any Other Name". Whyaduck Productions. Whyaduck Productions, Inc. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 Variety Staff (September 10, 1997). "Lotus Weinstock". Variety.
  3. 1 2 3 Oliver, Myrna (September 4, 1997). "Lotus Weinstock; Comedian and Author". Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles Times).
  4. ↑ Slesin, Suzanne. "Chintz Galore: Just What She Wanted". New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Christon, Lawrence. "COMEDY : A Room of Their Own". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Pinn, Jamie (June 22, 1984). "The making of two Jewish comediennes". The Jewish Floridian of South Broward-Hollywood: 8. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Krier, Beth Ann. "The Unfunny Struggle of Some Aspiring Comediennes". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 Knoedelseder, William (July 27, 2010). I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-up Comedy's Golden Era (reprint ed.). PublicAffairs. pp. 136–137. ISBN 1586488961.
  9. ↑ Trauring, Michelle. "Sandra Bernhard Brings A Whole Lot Of Brass To East Hampton". 27east.com. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
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