Biography
Elayne Boosler entered the standup world during an era when nice girls avoided such work entirely. Observers frequently credit her as the very first young, unmarried female comic who arrived onstage in date-night attire. She became the first woman to secure her own standup comedy special, yet networks refused to bankroll the project, assuming viewers would stay away. Undeterred, the performer launched Brooklyn Productions and independently created Party of One for Showtime. The special drew enough viewers that cable outlets soon aired a wave of additional female comedy programs, among them the well-known HBO series Women of the Night.
Four more one-hour specials followed, one of them Elayne Boosler: Comedy Superstars-Live Nude Girls, later issued on VHS. She wrote and performed in two half-hour Cinemax films titled Comedy From Here and The Call, and she hosted the ninety-minute New Year’s Eve broadcast Elayne Boosler’s Midnight Flour from Town Hall. Her writing credits include material for Rodney Dangerfield and Barbra Streisand. She first encountered the comedy scene while waiting tables at a Brooklyn club and attending assorted acting classes in Manhattan. Andy Kaufman, who performed at the venue, urged her to try the stage; the pair later dated. In 1976 Jimmy Walker took her on as a client, after which her career advanced steadily.
Early tours took her through clubs and college venues. Her initial television spot came on the Tonight Show under guest host Helen Reddy. Additional appearances include Night Court, Sisters, and Living Single, and she occupied a square on Hollywood Squares for a period. She also issued the children’s album Mother Goose Rock ’N Ryhme. She has served as a guest play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers and maintains active support for the SPCA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Four more one-hour specials followed, one of them Elayne Boosler: Comedy Superstars-Live Nude Girls, later issued on VHS. She wrote and performed in two half-hour Cinemax films titled Comedy From Here and The Call, and she hosted the ninety-minute New Year’s Eve broadcast Elayne Boosler’s Midnight Flour from Town Hall. Her writing credits include material for Rodney Dangerfield and Barbra Streisand. She first encountered the comedy scene while waiting tables at a Brooklyn club and attending assorted acting classes in Manhattan. Andy Kaufman, who performed at the venue, urged her to try the stage; the pair later dated. In 1976 Jimmy Walker took her on as a client, after which her career advanced steadily.
Early tours took her through clubs and college venues. Her initial television spot came on the Tonight Show under guest host Helen Reddy. Additional appearances include Night Court, Sisters, and Living Single, and she occupied a square on Hollywood Squares for a period. She also issued the children’s album Mother Goose Rock ’N Ryhme. She has served as a guest play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers and maintains active support for the SPCA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Albums
