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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Lehrer, musical satirist, dies at 97
Tom Lehrer, an acerbic songwriter and Harvard-trained mathematician who rose to fame in the 1950s and '60s by pillorying the sensibilities of the day, has died at age 97. Lehrer died at his home in Cambridge, Mass., on Saturday. His death was confirmed by friends on Facebook. No cause of death was given. The bespectacled Lehrer began performing on college campuses and clubs across the country in the 1950s, playing the piano and singing darkly comedic numbers that he penned on topics such as racial conflict, the Catholic Church and militarism, earning him the sobriquet of "musical nerd god." In "National Brotherhood Week," which lampooned the brief interlude of imposed tolerance celebrated annually from the 1930s through the early 2000s he wrote: Oh, the white folks hate the black folksand the black folks hate the white folks,to hate all but the right folks is an old established rule …But during National Brotherhood Week (National Brotherhood Week),Lena Horne and Sheriff Clark are dancing cheek to fun to eulogizeThe people you despise,As long as you don't let 'em into your school. Lehrer's songs also took aim at then-taboo subjects such as sexuality, pornography and addiction. In 1953, his self-released album 'Songs of Tom Lehrer" became an underground hit. Produced for $40 and promoted by word of mouth, the cover image was of Lehrer in hell playing piano as the devil. It eventually sold an estimated 500,000 copies and sparked demand for concert performances around the world. During the mid-1960s, Lehrer contributed several songs to the satirical NBC news show 'That Was the Week That Was,' hosted by David Frost. The show inspired Lehrer's third album, 'That Was the Year That Was.' Released in 1965, it reached the 18th spot on American music charts. On the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2018, Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik wrote that Lehrer's lyrics were written "with the facility of William S. Gilbert and tunes that evoked the felicity of Sir Arthur Sullivan. Lehrer's work bounced the absurdities and paranoias of that period back at us, in rhymed couplets and a bouncy piano beat." Thomas Andrew Lehrer was born in New York City on April 9, 1928, to a middle-class family. His father James Lehrer was a successful necktie manufacturer. As a child he took piano lessons but preferred Broadway show tunes — with a particular affection for the works of Gilbert and Sullivan — to the classics. After entering Harvard University at age 15, his penchant for sardonic humor surfaced in his parody song "Fight Fiercely Harvard," which challenged the football team's reputation for toughness and earned him a measure of renown on campus. For a time he followed a dual track, music and academia, though he never completed the PhD thesis he began while pursuing doctoral studies at Harvard and Columbia University. After a two-year break between 1955 and 1957 when he served in the Army, Lehrer once again performed concerts across the U.S., Canada and Europe. In a 1959 Time article, the magazine described Lehrer and fellow comedians Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl as the symbols of a new 'sick' comedy. 'What the sickniks dispense is partly social criticism liberally laced with cyanide, partly a Charles Addams kind of jolly ghoulishness, and partly a personal and highly disturbing hostility toward all the world." Lehrer's work opened the door for generations of musical satirists including Randy Newman and 'Weird Al' Yankovic and exerted an influence on everything from the musical skits of "Saturday Night Live" to the mockumentary "This Is Spinal Tap." "He set the bar for me — and provided an example of how a nerdy kid with a weird sense of humor could find his way in the world,' Yankovic once said of Lehrer. 'Done right, social criticism set to a catchy tune always makes politics easier to digest,' Lizz Winstead, co-creator of "The Daily Show," told Buzzfeed in an article examining Lehrer's influence on modern satirical comedy. But Lehrer was first and foremost an academic, over the course of his career teaching math and musical theater at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UC Santa Cruz and working for a time at the Atomic Energy Commission. He viewed entertainment largely as a sideline, and by the late 1960s had grown weary of life in the public eye. After several pauses to focus on his academic pursuits, he stepped off the stage in 1967 following a concert in Copenhagen. In 1971, he wrote songs for the PBS children's series "The Electric Company." His last turn in the spotlight was a year later. After performing at a presidential campaign rally for the Democratic nominee, South Dakota Sen. George S. McGovern, he gave up performing for good. Lehrer explained his retreat from the stage by saying that 'political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize." In an interview with the New York Times, he elaborated: 'The Vietnam War is what changed it. Everybody got earnest. My purpose was to make people laugh and not applaud. If the audience applauds, they're just showing they agree with me.' But audiences were not through with Lehrer. After nearly a decade in self-imposed exile, Lehrer became a hit once again in the early 1980s when Cameron Mackintosh, the British theatrical producer, created "Tomfoolery," a revue of Lehrer's songs that opened in London's West End before going to to play New York, Washington, Dublin and other cities. Despite the public acclaim, Lehrer maintained a fiercely private life. He never married nor did he have children. In 2020, Lehrer announced through his website that he was making all of the lyrics he wrote available to download for free without further permission, whether or not they were published or retained a copyright. Two years later he went further in relinquishing his rights, saying: 'In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs. So help yourselves, and don't send me any money.' Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 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Time Out
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Let me tell you—I'm more thankful than ever for NYC's free things to do this summer
'Let Me Tell You' is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. Last time, Things to Do Editor Rossilynne Skena Culgan asserted that the summer solstice is the best day of the year. Living in New York City has long been an expensive endeavor, but this year it feels like someone is plucking the cash from our wallets bill by bill. Rents are going up at least 3 percent for 1 million rent-stabilized apartments this fall. And if you aren't lucky enough to live in a rent-stabilized unit, there's no limit on how much your landlord can raise your rent—literally the sky is the limit, folks! The average one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan already costs a staggering $5,309 a month, per RentCafe. Just leaving the house seems to cost $100, as TikTokers have joked about —and that's especially true in NYC. There's a lot to lament about our city's affordability crisis, but it's not an intractable situation; it's one our city leaders can improve if we demand it. In the meantime, these circumstances have made me even more thankful for NYC's long list of free events this summer. So allow me to highlight five of my favorite free things to do this summer and how to make the most of the experience because even if your wallet is feeling light, the summer fun doesn't have to be. Visit The Whitney during free hours Not only are NYC's museums bastions of culture, they're also oases of air conditioning. Visiting can cost a pretty penny, but not if you know when to go to take advantage of free hours at NYC's best museums. This summer, my top pick is The Whitney in the Meatpacking District. This American art museum is now free for visitors every Friday evening from 5 to 10pm and on the second Sunday of every month. Even better, visitors 25 and under are always free. Just be sure to reserve your tickets in advance. Go see: ' Amy Sherald: American Sublime ' open through August 10 with nearly 50 paintings, including the artist's famous Michelle Obama portrait Hit the beach in The Bronx or Queens While I adore Brooklyn's Coney Island, it's easy to overspend there—the amusement park rides, the funnel cakes, the Boardwalk vendors, it all adds up. So for these purposes, I'm going to recommend one of the city's quieter beaches. My top picks are Rockaway Beach in Queens and Orchard Beach (a.k.a. The Riviera of New York) in The Bronx. Keep it cheap: If you go to Orchard Beach, food options are limited with just concession stands, so you'll definitely want to pack a cooler with your lunch. As for Rockaway, head to Tacoway Beach where you can get two excellent tacos for $12. Celebrate all the fun of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Seeing great live music doesn't have to require taking out a personal loan, even if that's what some influencers will have you believe. Forget Coachella and Glastonbury and have your own festival experience right here in Brooklyn's Prospect Park at the Lena Horne Bandshell. Most of the shows in BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn 's lineup are free—and pretty impressive, too. On the lineup: A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Wiz (July 26), Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices (August 1), Gogol Bordello (August 2), Nick Hakim (August 16)—all completely free. Bring with you: Blankets, food and factory-sealed plastic bottles are allowed (no alcohol, though!), so pack a picnic to keep costs down. Catch a free movie at Brooklyn Bridge Park The aptly named Movies with a View series is back at Brooklyn Bridge Park with stunning views and a solid lineup on Thursdays in July and August. This year's theme is 'Women in Hollywood,' with movies made by and starring famous leading ladies like Judy Garland, Sigourney Weaver, Meryl Streep and more. Where and when to go: It's at Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn. The series draws big crowds, so it's best to arrive early. The lawn opens at 6pm, with opening credits rolling at sunset. On the lineup: July 10: Bottoms; July 17: Alien; July 24: Waitress; July 31: The Matrix; August 7: The Wizard of Oz; August 14: Trainwreck; August 21: Hidden Figures; August 28: Public Choice: Vote for Julie & Julia, Marie Antoinette, or Pretty in Pink. For even more free flicks: Here's our full list of free movies around NYC this summer, including movies on an aircraft carrier! Meditate in this Manhattan park One of the best free amenities in the city? NYC's vast system of parks. Of course, you know about the big ones— Central Park, Prospect Park and whatever patch of grass is within walking distance of your apartment. But it's worth strolling through Madison Square Park this summer where artist Lily Kwong created a beautiful oasis called Gardens of Renewal in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. Now through Labor Day, you wan walk along spiral paths that invite reflection and solitude. Go deeper: Maybe you've noticed how unbearably hot it's been this summer? That's climate change, baby, and Kwong doesn't shy away from highlighting the crisis in her work. As you walk through, you'll encounter a planting palette made up of increasingly rare—and nearly disappearing—native species.
