Compiled by Earl Rivers

April 5, 1906

Richard Myrle Buckley born, weight: 14 lbs, in Tuolumne, California, son of William Buckley, originally of Manchester, England, and Annie Laurie Bone Buckley, whose parents had imigrated to Seatle from Cornwall, England.

April 18, 1906

San Francisco Earthquake. The planet's delayed reaction

early 1920's

Buckley works as lumberjack in California forests

late 1920's

Buckley enters show business with performances in medicine shows and tent shows. Starts working speakeasies in Chicago as Dick Buckley.

1932-1938

Dick Buckley, and Red Skelton, are the leading MC's for Dance Marathons and Walkathons, popular Depression era entertainments. He continues his club work, becoming increasingly involved with the jazz scene.

1940

Buckley starts working at Chicago's Club DeLisa, a leading jazz venue with primarily black performers and clientele.

1941

On tour with Gene Krupa in Reno, Buckley is arrested for public drunkenness and fined.

1942-1945

Tours in USO shows with Ed Sullivan, who becomes a close friend.

1943

Arrested for marijuana possession in Chicago, but charges are dismissed when Ed Sullivan intervenes.

mid 1940's

Relocates to New York

1946

Marries for the sixth (?) and last time. Meets his wife, Lady Elizabeth Buckley, nèe Hanson, while touring with "The Passing Show."

1946

Plays Loew's State Theatre on Broadway as part of vaudeville tour.

1949

First television appearance on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town"

1951

First recordings released on Vaya Records.

1952

Recording - "The Parabolic Revelations", including The Nazz

1954

Moves to Topanga Canyon and founds "The Church of the Living Swing."

1955

RCA recordings released.

August 8, 1955

Buckley appears on the "Tonight" show hosted by Steve Allen

1958-1959

Buckley takes part in experiments with LSD

February 12-14,1959

Ivar Theatre, Los Angeles, concerts recorded, later released by World Pacific Records as "Buckley's Best" and "The Bad Rapping of the Marquis de Sade"

1960

Buckley relocates to San Francisco Bay area.

October 1960

Buckley booked to play The Jazz Gallery in New York City.

October 19, 1960

His "Cabaret Card" revoked by New York City Police, purportedly because of his 1941 arrest but more likely because of failure to pay required bribe, Buckley is barred from performing.

November 3, 1960

Hearing on Buckley's Cabaret Card suspension is attended by over thirty witnesses and journalists. It is adjourned and rescheduled for November 14.

Saturday, November 12, 1960

Lord Buckley dies in New York City after suffering a stroke aggravated by malnutrition and a kidney ailment.

Sunday, November 13, 1960

Enraged by the treatment of Lord Buckley a "Citizens' Emergency Committee" meets in the apartment of George Plimpton to fight the Police Department Cabaret Card system.

Monday, November 14, 1960

Hearing for posthumous reinstatement of Buckley's cabaret card results in a raucous confrontation between Police Commissioner Kennedy and a large crowd of writers, musicians and others enraged at the Police Department's treatment of Buckley. The publicity leads to the reform of the licensing system, the abolition of the "Cabaret Card," and the removal of Kennedy.

December 1960

Memorial for Lord Buckley at The Village Gate in New York City is attended by many cultural luminaries. Dizzy Gillespie and Ornette Coleman perform.