January 30, 2006

The strange secrets of humor, fear and a guy who makes big money making little people laugh A very interesting article from the Washington Post that is well worth the read. From that unmentionable place.

"There are dozens of professional children's entertainers in the Washington area, but only one is as successful and intriguing, and as completely over-the-top preposterous, as the Great Zucchini. And if you want to know why that is -- the hook, Vicki, the hook -- it's going to take some time." Here's the Zucchini's website. Sorely lacking compared to the article, though. I found this on Meta and just had to share. This is a great story from a great writer.

posted by Darshon 18 years ago
  • I read this at... the other place. It's so damn good, I'm gonna read it again. Thanks, Darshon.
  • Wow, that was a good story. Thanks!
  • That is a great story. I just annoyed all the people I care about with a link and an e-mail. Thanks.
  • He speaks with a gentle, liquid "l" that tends to put children at ease and seems to work with adults, too. Ls are kind of inherently liquid sounding, so I'm not sure what this means but it made me curious.
  • Some people have mentioned spyware problems on The Great Zucchini's home page. These may have been fixed by now, but click at your own risk. And yes, that was a great article. Funny, touching, disturbing. Makes me want to meet the guy.
  • Very poignant.
  • Adults who are super-good with small children scare me just a little bit.
  • Much in the same way that scarecrows scare me just a little bit.
  • When I first read "that unmentionable place," I thought Darshon was talking about Victoria's Secret.
  • I always thought Victoria's Secret was that she had a penis.
  • I'm pretty sure we're not supposed to mention that.
  • Dirty-minded freaks. I bring something nice to this place and you.......you......well, your all a bunch of poo-poo-heads!
  • Mommy! Darshon said poo-poo! Thanks for the fine story.
  • What a shame he has that addiction to gambling. Isn't it amazing how we all have the tendency to shoot ourselves in the foot?
  • I found this to be heartbreaking..... "The sight that I could not get out of my head was the Great Zucchini hunched over the craps table, lost in that flagrant illusion, flinging dice with his right hand, his left hand pressing that book hard to his chest, white knuckled, like a man holding on for dear life."
  • Maybe he should duct tape the notebook to his body. By the way his performances are described, I would think 2-6 year olds would be great fans of the Three Stooges as well. Perhaps if it was in color. And if you curtained off the play room. And banned mac n' cheese from the area. ;-)
  • The piece in the FPP is really, really good. Hits a bit too close to home for comfort in some areas.
  • Superb. Thanks.
  • Great post!
  • Ls are kind of inherently liquid sounding... Yeah that confused me, as well, as much as: "...goofy, sonorous voice..." I suppose voices make sounds.. or goofiness can be impressive sounding.. or there are varying levels of any combination. But both gripes are just splitting hairs, considering I'm nitpicking such an immensely engaging story. Normally I wouldn't read journalism of this length about something I could care less about... before reading.