Lewis Michael Friedman (June 30, 1944 – January 3, 1992) was a leading cabaret impresario in New York City in
the 1970's and 80's.Partner Bruce W. Aukerman
Queer Places:
Columbia University (Ivy League), 116th St and Broadway, New York, NY 10027
Reno Sweeney, 126 W 13th St, New York, NY 10011
Riverview Cemetery, 1809 W Schantz Ave, Dayton, OH 45409
Lewis Michael Friedman (June 30, 1944 – January 3, 1992) was a leading cabaret impresario in New York City in
the 1970's and 80's.
An accomplished pianist and composer, Friedman created the trend-setting New York cabaret Reno Sweeney, which he owned and operated from 1972 to 1978. There he introduced and presented a wide range of performers, including Melissa Manchester, Peter Allen, Ellen Greene, Patti Smith, Diane Keaton, the Manhattan Transfer and Blossom Dearie. As Vito Russo wrote, "Once upon a time, a club in Manhattan called Reno Sweeney was the center of the universe during the now-legendary cabaret revival of the early ‘70s. Everybody who was anybody either played its famous Paradise Room or sat in the audience to watch."
In 1980, he opened the rock club Snafu, also in Manhattan, which he operated for four years. In 1984 he moved to California, where he owned and operated the Sweet Life Cafe in Santa Rosa.
Friedman was born in Dayton and graduated from Columbia University in 1967.
His companion was Bruce W. Aukerman.
He died on January 3, 1992, at his home in Cazadero, Calif. He was 47 years old. He died of AIDS.
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