Richard Pryor, the stand-up comic and actor, has been called "The Picasso of our profession" (Jerry Seinfeld) and "the seminal comedian of the last 50 years" (Bob Newhart). His life, however, was defined by tragedy, drug addiction, and violence. This website created under the supervision of Pryor's biographer, Scott Saul, examines Pryor's early years in Peoria, Illinois, where he grew up in his family's brothel. While the site revolves around Pryor, the designers do a wonderful job bringing mid-century Peoria to life, with stories of family, segregation, organized crime, and much more. Readers may like to start with Pryor's biography, which is located in the More section. From there, it is fascinating to browse the People, Places, Eras, and Themes that provide the context for the man. Teachers of 20th century history with an interest in race, segregation, and the arts will find much to explore here, as will anyone with a love of hard-hitting comedy.