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starroute

(12,977 posts)
3. Don't forgot the magnificent Wavy Gravy
Sat Mar 3, 2012, 08:27 PM
Mar 2012

One set of random Wikipedia excerpts can't do him justice. Just google on the name. He's an inspiration to all of us.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavy_Gravy

Wavy Gravy (born Hugh Nanton Romney) (born May 15, 1936) is an American entertainer and activist for peace, best known for his hippie appearance, personality and beliefs. . . . Romney's clown persona resulted from his political activism. Frequently being arrested at demonstrations, he decided he would be less likely to be arrested if he dressed as a clown. "Clowns are safe," he said. . . .

Romney founded and co-founded several organizations, including Camp Winnarainbow, the Seva Foundation and the Hog Farm, an activist commune. He was also the official clown of the Grateful Dead and has two radio shows on Sirius Satellite Radio's Jam On station. . . .

His early career was managed by Lenny Bruce. For a time he shared an apartment with singer-songwriter Tom Paxton in Greenwich Village, and Romney was one of Bob Dylan's earliest friends in New York City. One of Bob Dylan's girlfriends from the University of Minnesota, Bonnie Beecher, now Jahanara Romney, became Gravy's wife in 1965. They have a son, Jordan Romney (born in 1971 as Howdy Do-Good Gravy Tomahawk Truckstop Romney). .. .

At the first Woodstock Festival, Gravy and the Hog Farm Collective accepted festival executive Stan Goldstein's offer to help with preparations. Gravy called his group the "Please Force," a reference to their non-intrusive tactics at keeping order, e.g., "Please don't do that, please do this instead". When asked by the press — who were the first to inform him that he and the rest of the Hog Farm were handling security — what kind of tools he intended to use to maintain order at the event, his response was "Cream pies and seltzer bottles" (both being traditional clown props; he may have been referring to the silent film era Keystone Kops in particular). In Gravy's words: "They all wrote it down and I thought, 'the power of manipulating the media', ah ha!"



Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

In the late 60's unionworks Mar 2012 #1
I was thinking of the yippies when I saw that picture from Greece. Luminous Animal Mar 2012 #2
Don't forgot the magnificent Wavy Gravy starroute Mar 2012 #3
Humor is the best weapon. n/t ellisonz Mar 2012 #4
Yes it is!!! Magoo48 Mar 2012 #8
Here's a mock protest from a week ago... pinboy3niner Mar 2012 #5
Nice! Luminous Animal Mar 2012 #6
Color me VERY Mockupy-Friendly ... This rocks my cradle 99th_Monkey Mar 2012 #7
That is VERY COOL! KoKo Mar 2012 #9
What am I missing? obliviously Mar 2012 #10
You are not missing anything. It's just a fun photo to share about tactics. Luminous Animal Mar 2012 #11
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Occupy Underground»I'd like to see more Mock...»Reply #3