Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), known professionally as Lenny Bruce, was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist.
He was noted for his open, freestyle and critical kind of humour which incorporated satire, politics, religion, sex, and vulgarity.
His 1964 conviction in an obscenity trial was followed by a posthumous pardon, the first in the history of New York State, by Governor George Pataki in 2003.
Bruce set the way for counterculture era comedians. His prosecution for obscenity is viewed as a landmark for freedom of speech in the United States.
In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine rated him third (after followers Richard Pryor and George Carlin) in its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.
Early life
Lenny Bruce was born Leonard Alfred Schneider in Mineola, New York, and was raised as a Jew. He grew up in the nearby town of Bellmore and attended Wellington C. Mepham High School.
His parents divorced before he turned ten, and he spent the next decade living with a variety of different relatives.
His father, Myron (Mickey) Schneider, was born in England and worked as a shoe clerk, thus the two only saw each other on rare occasions.
In addition to being a stage performer, Bruce's mother, Sally Marr (legal name Sadie Schneider, born Sadie Kitchenberg), had a significant influence on his professional life .
After spending time working on a farm, Bruce enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 16 in 1942, serving during World War II aboard the USS Brooklyn (CL-40) in Northern Africa, the USS Palermo (Italy) in 1943, and the USS Anzio (Italy) in 1944. Bruce was awarded the Purple Heart in 1945.
His commanding authorities were unhappy after he put on a comic show for his shipmates in which he dressed as a woman in drag.
After convincing his ship's medical officer that he was experiencing homosexual urge, he was discharged from the Navy in July 1945, which he found to be a disappointment.
In 1959, while filming the first episode of Hugh Hefner's Playboy's Penthouse, Bruce talked about his Navy service and showed a tattoo he received in Malta in 1942.
He had not admitted to or been found guilty of any violation of naval regulations and had successfully applied to have his discharge changed to "Under Honorable Conditions... by reason of unsuitability for the naval service"
After spending a brief period of time with his father in California, Bruce relocated to New York City in order to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian.
But he struggled to distinguish himself from the throngs of other show-business hopefuls who crowded the city's streets and alleys.
A gathering place for them was Hanson's, the diner where Bruce first met the comedian Joe Ancis, who had a significant impact on Bruce's approach to comedy.
Many of Bruce's later routines reflected his meticulous schooling at the hands of Ancis.
According to Bruce's biographer Albert Goldman, Ancis's humour consisted of stream-of-conscious sexual fantasies and references to jazz, among other elements .
A few nights later, Bruce took the stage at the Victory Club in the role of "Lenny Marsalle," filling in as the master of ceremonies for one of his mother's shows.
His impromptu remarks elicited a few laughs. He went on to appear on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts radio programme in 1947, shortly after changing his last name to Bruce, where he earned $12 and a free spaghetti dinner for his first stand-up performance in Brooklyn.
He was later a guest on the show, where he was introduced by his mother, Sally Bruce, who called herself "Sally Bruce.
" Lenny created a piece, "The Bavarian Mimic," which was influenced by Sid Caesar and featured impressions of American cinema stars (e.g., Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Edward G. Robinson)
Brice Amway, Ron Amway, and Lynne Amway are three people who have been instrumental in the expansion and development of the Amway Corporation. Brice, Ron, and Lynne Amway are all members of the Amway family. Amway is a direct selling corporation that operates in more than one hundred countries throughout the world and offers a wide variety of products for personal care, including those related to one's health, appearance, and home. Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos established the company in 1959, and since then, it has grown to become one of the most successful direct selling businesses in the world.
It was Brice Amway.
1932 marked the year of Brice Amway's birth in Ada, Michigan. Rich DeVos, one of the co-founders of Amway, was his older brother, and he was Rich's younger brother. Brice Amway played a crucial part in the early years of the company, working alongside his brother and Jay Van Andel to create Amway as a successful direct selling enterprise. During these early years, the company was known as Amway International.
At the beginning of the 1960s, Brice Amway was instrumental in the establishment of the first international operations for the company. He helped set up Amway businesses in Canada and other countries. Additionally, he was instrumental in the development of the product line of the company, working closely with the company's suppliers to develop high-quality health and beauty items that would appeal to customers.
Brice Amway was well-known for his shrewdness in business as well as his capacity to forge solid connections with other individuals. Within Amway, many of the company's distributors looked up to him as a guide, and he enjoyed a high level of respect overall. He left Amway in 1984 and passed away in 2003 after a long and successful career there.
Ron Amway
Rich DeVos is the uncle of Brice Amway's son, Ron Amway, who is also known as "Ron Amway." He was born in 1959 and spent his childhood in the city of Ada in the state of Michigan. Since his initial employment with Amway in 1984, Ron Amway has held a number of increasingly responsible positions within the company.
The role that Ron Amway played in the development of the Amway Global brand was one of the most significant contributions that he made to the company. Amway went through a significant rebranding campaign in the early 2000s, which consisted of merging its many different regional brands under a single global brand. Ron Amway served as the project's leader and collaborated closely with many advertising agencies and other partners to develop a fresh brand identity that would ring true with customers located all over the world.
In addition, Amway's founder, Ron Amway, has been active in the company's charitable endeavors. The Amway One by One Campaign for Children is a global project that gives resources and support to disadvantaged children and families. He serves as the chairman of the Amway One by One Campaign for Children.
Lynne Amway
In addition to being Ron Amway's wife, Lynne Amway has contributed significantly to the growth of the Amway Corporation over the course of its history. She is well-known for her work in the field of corporate social responsibility and has participated in a variety of humanitarian causes over the course of her career.
In 2005, Lynne Amway was responsible for the launch of the Amway Women's Initiative, which is widely considered to be one of her most significant professional accomplishments. The purpose of the program was to encourage and facilitate the professional growth of the company's female employees by furnishing education and other resources specifically geared toward that end.
In addition to her work within the corporation, Lynne Amway has been involved in a variety of charitable activities outside of it. She has formerly held a position on the board of directors for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and is currently a member of the board of directors for the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Foundation.
To summarize, Brice, Ron, and Lynne Amway have each made substantial contributions to the expansion and development of the Amway Corporation. Their humanitarian activities have had a positive impact on an innumerable number of people and places all over the world, and their leadership, vision, and passion have helped to build Amway as one of the world's greatest direct selling enterprises.
