Louis Gottlieb
Encyclopedia
Dr. Louis Gottlieb was bassist and lofty comic spokesman for The Limeliters
. He was considered one of the so-called "new comedy" performers such as Mort Sahl
, Nichols
and May
, and Lenny Bruce
: a new generation of unabashed intellectuals.
Lou's special trademark on stage was a delightful burlesquing of the university pedant
, the sort of teacher who knocks himself out over the jokes in Chaucer while his restless and puzzled class has nothing on its collective mind that happened earlier than last night's date. "Many of the things I have been enthusiastic about," agreed Gottlieb, "mean absolutely nothing to most people."
In July, 1959, The Limeliters
appeared as a trio for the first time at the "hungry i
" in San Francisco
, with Gottlieb as "the comic-arranger- musicologist, Glenn the golden-voiced tenor and guitarist, and Alex the instrumental virtuoso" (to quote from one of their song collections, "Cheek In Our Tongue"). San Francisco music critic John Wasserman said the Limeliters "attained a stature equalled perhaps only by the Kingston Trio and the Weavers." The group's biggest hit was "A Dollar Down" in 1961, but was well known for its 15 records albums and its concerts during the 1960s. The group disbanded after a near-fatal plane crash in Colorado in December, 1962.
During the 1970s, The Limeliters embarked on a series of yearly reunion tours with Glenn Yarbrough
. These were so successful that, in 1981, Lou and Alex decided to get back into the mainstream of entertainment. It was then they introduced an outstanding new tenor, Red Grammer
, and another come-back began.
After a brief stint reviewing concerts for the "San Francisco Chronicle
," he moved to Morning Star Ranch
, his 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) ranch in Sonoma County
, in 1966. Folk singer Malvina Reynolds
and her husband Bud had alerted him to the property. Many people will remember fondly "The Digger
Farm," as it came to be called, and the impact Lou had as the "resident piano player," as he referred to himself. Gottlieb attempted to leave the land he owned to God. A series of court appeals culminated in the 9th district court ruling that he could not. The ruling centered around the fact that if God was named owner on a quit claim deed, there would be no recourse for the collection of property taxes. The finding, therefore, was that God has no property rights in the state of California.
with Peter Sellers
, and in Blume in Love
with George Segal
in 1973. He grew up in La Crescenta, completed his B.A. at UCLA, performed as jazz pianist, then sang with "The Gateway Singers," whom he left to take a Ph.D. in music at U.C. Berkeley
in 1958.
, at the age of 72.
The Limeliters
The Limeliters are an American folk music group, formed in July 1959 by Lou Gottlieb , Alex Hassilev , and Glenn Yarbrough . The group was active from 1959 until 1965, when they disbanded. After a hiatus of sixteen years Yarbrough, Hassilev, and Gottlieb reunited and began performing as...
. He was considered one of the so-called "new comedy" performers such as Mort Sahl
Mort Sahl
Morton Lyon "Mort" Sahl is a Canadian-born American comedian and actor. He occasionally wrote jokes for speeches delivered by President John F. Kennedy. He was the first comedian to record a live album and the first to perform on college campuses...
, Nichols
Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols is a German-born American television, stage and film director, writer, producer and comedian. He began his career in the 1950s as one half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film The Graduate...
and May
Elaine May
Elaine May is an American film director, screenwriter and actress. She achieved her greatest fame in the 1950s from her improvisational comedy routines in partnership with Mike Nichols...
, and Lenny Bruce
Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
: a new generation of unabashed intellectuals.
Lou's special trademark on stage was a delightful burlesquing of the university pedant
Pedant
A pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with formalism and precision, or who makes a show of his or her learning.-Etymology:The English language word "pedant" comes from the French pédant or its older mid-15th Century Italian source pedante, "teacher, schoolmaster"...
, the sort of teacher who knocks himself out over the jokes in Chaucer while his restless and puzzled class has nothing on its collective mind that happened earlier than last night's date. "Many of the things I have been enthusiastic about," agreed Gottlieb, "mean absolutely nothing to most people."
The Limeliters
Gottlieb's doctoral thesis on 15th century cyclic masses was completed when he heard Hassilev and Yarbrough sing together at Hollywood's Cosmo Alley nightclub. He joined the group, which named themselves after the Limelite Club in Aspen, Colorado.In July, 1959, The Limeliters
The Limeliters
The Limeliters are an American folk music group, formed in July 1959 by Lou Gottlieb , Alex Hassilev , and Glenn Yarbrough . The group was active from 1959 until 1965, when they disbanded. After a hiatus of sixteen years Yarbrough, Hassilev, and Gottlieb reunited and began performing as...
appeared as a trio for the first time at the "hungry i
Hungry i
The hungry i was originally a nightclub in North Beach, San Francisco. It was launched by Eric "Big Daddy" Nord, who sold it to Enrico Banducci in 1950.-The name:How the club's name came about is something of a mystery...
" in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, with Gottlieb as "the comic-arranger- musicologist, Glenn the golden-voiced tenor and guitarist, and Alex the instrumental virtuoso" (to quote from one of their song collections, "Cheek In Our Tongue"). San Francisco music critic John Wasserman said the Limeliters "attained a stature equalled perhaps only by the Kingston Trio and the Weavers." The group's biggest hit was "A Dollar Down" in 1961, but was well known for its 15 records albums and its concerts during the 1960s. The group disbanded after a near-fatal plane crash in Colorado in December, 1962.
During the 1970s, The Limeliters embarked on a series of yearly reunion tours with Glenn Yarbrough
Glenn Yarbrough
Glenn Yarbrough is an American folk singer. He was the lead singer with The Limeliters between 1959 and 1963, and had a prolific solo career, recording on various labels.-Biography:...
. These were so successful that, in 1981, Lou and Alex decided to get back into the mainstream of entertainment. It was then they introduced an outstanding new tenor, Red Grammer
Red Grammer
Red Grammer is a singer and songwriter. He is best known for his music for the children. His music teaches human values including truthfulness, responsibility, kindness and fairness...
, and another come-back began.
After a brief stint reviewing concerts for the "San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
," he moved to Morning Star Ranch
Morningstar commune
Morningstar Commune was an active open land counterculture commune in Sebastopol near San Francisco. Morningstar was part of the changing society of young adults in the 1960s that traveled back and forth between the Haight-Ashbury district and Sebastopol...
, his 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) ranch in Sonoma County
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
, in 1966. Folk singer Malvina Reynolds
Malvina Reynolds
Malvina Reynolds was an American folk/blues singer-songwriter and political activist, best known for her song-writing, particularly the songs "Little Boxes" and "Morningtown Ride".-Early life:...
and her husband Bud had alerted him to the property. Many people will remember fondly "The Digger
Diggers (theater)
The Diggers were a radical community-action group of activists and Improv actors operating from 1966–68, based in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. Their politics were such that they have sometimes been categorized as "left-wing." More accurately, they were "community anarchists"...
Farm," as it came to be called, and the impact Lou had as the "resident piano player," as he referred to himself. Gottlieb attempted to leave the land he owned to God. A series of court appeals culminated in the 9th district court ruling that he could not. The ruling centered around the fact that if God was named owner on a quit claim deed, there would be no recourse for the collection of property taxes. The finding, therefore, was that God has no property rights in the state of California.
Movie roles
Gottlieb performed in the 1968 movie I Love You, Alice B. ToklasI Love You, Alice B. Toklas
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas is a 1968 comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by Hy Averback and featuring music by Harpers Bizarre. The film is set in the counterculture of the 1960s. The addition cast includes David Arkin, Jo Van Fleet, Leigh Taylor-Young, in her film debut, and a cameo by...
with Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
, and in Blume in Love
Blume in Love
Blume in Love is a 1973 film written and directed by Paul Mazursky. It starred George Segal and Susan Anspach. Also in the cast were Kris Kristofferson, Marsha Mason and Shelley Winters.-Plot:...
with George Segal
George Segal
George Segal is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:George Segal, Jr. was born in 1934 Great Neck, Long Island, New York, the son of Fannie Blanche and George Segal, Sr. He was educated at George School, a private Quaker preparatory boarding school near Newtown, Bucks County,...
in 1973. He grew up in La Crescenta, completed his B.A. at UCLA, performed as jazz pianist, then sang with "The Gateway Singers," whom he left to take a Ph.D. in music at U.C. Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1958.
World Folk Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award
In 1995, Gottlieb received the World Folk Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award.Death
Gottlieb died after a short illness on July 11, 1996 in Sebastopol, CaliforniaSebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, approximately north of San Francisco. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, totaling about 50,000 people...
, at the age of 72.