Enrico Banducci
Enrico Banducci | |
|---|---|
Banducci outside the hungry i theater, Ghirardelli Square, 1969 | |
| Born | Harry Charles Banducci February 17, 1922 Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 2007 (aged 85) |
| Occupation | Impresario |
| Known for | Owner of the hungry i |
Enrico Banducci (born Harry Charles Banducci; February 17, 1922 – October 9, 2007) was an American impresario. Banducci operated the Hungry I nightclub in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood after purchasing the club from its founder, Eric "Big Daddy" Nord, in 1950.
During Banducci's ownership, the Hungry I helped launch the careers of numerous acts, including The Kingston Trio, Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Bill Cosby, Jonathan Winters, and Barbra Streisand, and featured Woody Allen and Dick Cavett before they were well-known. The club is also credited with originating the "brick wall" backdrop, popular in Stand-up comedy presentations.
Banducci later also started the Clown Alley hamburger stand as well as Enrico's Sidewalk Cafe on Broadway, a restaurant and jazz club.