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No matter where they are, people are proud of their town’s characters. There was a great response to the two previous posts How to Be a Local Character and 7 Fascinating Local Characters. Here are 9 more.
1. Baton Bob
Baton Bob is claimed as a local character by both St. Louis and Atlanta. Bob Jamerson was the only male baton twirler in his high school marching band in Virginia. As an adult in St Louis, he created the character of Baton Bob because he enjoys performing and wants to make people smile. Jamerson calls himself the “Ambassador of Mirth”. He now makes a living as a floral designer in Atlanta. Baton Bob marches in the streets wearing various costumes (often including a tutu), and twirls a baton. He was well-known in St. Louis, but after dealing with several incidences of harassment, Baton Bob made a name for himself all over again when he moved to Atlanta in 2005. Image by Cliff Dix, Jr.
2. and 3. The Brown Twins
Marian and Vivian Brown are 81-year-old identical twins who live together in San Francisco. They revel in their twin identities. Marian and Vivian dress alike every day, and walk around their Nob Hill neighborhood together. The Brown sisters have appeared in quite a few television ads. Image by Ian Brown.
4. Tuba Man
Edward Scott McMichael was a Seattle busker everyone knew as Tuba Man. A talented musician from childhood, McMichael played in his college band, a youth symphony, and in the several professional symphonies. He was best known for playing in front of sports arenas. The Tuba Man was 53 when he was attacked and beaten by several teenagers on October 25, 2008. He died of his injuries on November 3rd. Three 15-year-old boys were arrested; two others were not found. More than 1,500 people attended his memorial service, including several tuba players, who played a couple of songs to honor the Tuba Man. Image by Sean O’Neill.
5. St. Cloud Superman
St. Cloud, Minnesota has its own superhero. He’s John Michael Fillah, better known as Superman. He began hanging out on the streets of St. Cloud in full Superman costume after the 9/11 attacks as a way to encourage people and to promote patriotism. In 2007, Fillah proved himself a true superhero when he talked a man out of committing suicide. Visit his MySpace page.
6. Johnny Haysman
The best known character in Adelaide, Australia is Johnny Haysman. Haysman is known for his one-of-a-kind fashion sense. he can be seen walking the streets, miles every day, wearing nothing but Speedos and boots in warm weather, or mismatched plains and stripes at other times. A Facebook group, The Johnny Haysman Appreciation Society has over 10,000 members!
7. Beatle Bob
Robert Matonis, or Beatle Bob, attends concerts in St. Louis and does a characteristic dance. Although he wears his hair in a 60s Beatle style, his nickname has been with him since grade school. Matonis does more than dance -he writes about music and emcees concerts and other events. He sometimes dances on stage at festivals around the country. Matonis is somewhat mysterious in that he doesn’t divulge many facts about his life. Some don’t like his concert behavior; others just know that he has great taste in music. See him in action in this video.
8. The Naked Cowboy
Robert John Burck, better known as the Naked Cowboy is the only local character listed so far that I’ve encountered personally. Burck can be seen in Times Square in Manhattan, where he plays guitar a little and poses for pictures a lot, wearing only his cowboy hat and boots and tighty whities. He also makes occasional appearances in the streets of New Orleans, Cincinnati, and other cities, as well as sporadic TV appearances. The Naked Cowboy was recently ordained as a minister and will perform wedding ceremonies for as little as $499.00. You can hear his music at his MySpace page.
9. The World Famous Bushman
San Francisco busker David Johnson is known as The World Famous Bushman. Since 1980, he has made a living by jumping out from behind foliage and startling passers-by at Fisherman’s Wharf. Johnson estimates that he’s been arrested a thousand times over the years, but was never convicted. See Johnson at work in this video. He was seen being taken away by ambulance on March 24th, but there’s no word of his condition.
Other posts in this series:
How to Be a Local Character: 5 Basic Examples had characters from Memphis, New York City, St. Petersburg, FL, Lexington, KY, and Maggie Valley, NC.
7 Fascinating Local Characters brought you profiles from New Orleans, Boston, Toronto, Austin, Ann Arbor, MI, Anderson, SC, and Wellington, NZ.
7 More Unforgettable Local Characters has colorful characters from Peoria, IL, San Marcos, TX, New Haven, CT, Wheeling, WV, Ocean City, MD, Omaha, NB and Montreal.
6 of Your Favorite Local Characters profiles people you’ve seen in Seattle, Austin, Madison, WI, Jacksonville, NC, and one you are too young to have ever met from San Francisco.
Comments (30)
Comment
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I live in St. Louis and had encountered Baton Bob several times. I thought he was quite entertaining and you can’t help but smile when he’s blowing his whistle and dancing in his tutu. I was sad that he left St. Louis after being harassed, as he was a well-known figure and didn’t bother anyone.
posted by Elizabeth on 4-2-2009 at 8:25 am
I would also like to mention another local character. His name is Boardwalk Elvis (actually, the site I have linked to above says his name may actually be Norman). He is (or was, if you believe the death rumours) a man who walked the boardwalk of Ocean City Maryland in his black jumpsuit with a kazoo and boombox blaring Elvis music. I remember seeing him during family trips to the beach as well as Senior Week way back in 1991. Everybody loved BE – I just hope that if he is still alive, he makes another appearance. I’ll be looking for him this weekend when I head to OCMD for my brother’s bachelor party. Hope to see you BE!
posted by Ian on 4-2-2009 at 8:42 am
Regarding Ian’s post, I’ve met Boardwalk Elvis several times in Ocean City, he’s the greatest!! He really needs to be on one of these posts. I hope he’s still around too, I haven’t been to that boardwalk in several years.
posted by Greg on 4-2-2009 at 9:11 am
I wouldn’t say Beatle Bob didn’t bother anyone. Didn’t harm anyone, maybe, but he bothered a lot of people, especially when he insisted on being in the front row madly dancing away during incredibly crowded shows at the Duck Room.
Especially when you consider he’d lie and cheat his way into a lot of shows, thus not actually supporting the artists, him making the shows unpleasant for the people who actually paid to be there was kind of a crap move.
posted by Jacquilynne on 4-2-2009 at 9:20 am
Am I the only one who’s a little frightened by the Brown Twins?
posted by TBV on 4-2-2009 at 9:24 am
The Naked Cowboy grew up down the street from me (in Greenhills, OH) and has been doing this for years at festivals throughout Cincinnati – I remember watching him get thrown out of our local festival, even though every one knew who he was and liked having him there. It also made it even better to finally see him make it to Times Square (even better to run into him there), since his only real goal is to be famous.
posted by James on 4-2-2009 at 9:50 am
Throughout the mid-90’s, I lived in Northern NJ and worked on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I would drive to work every day, going over the George Washington Bridge, down the FDR Drive. Around 130th St., right along the FDR, there was a man I called The Artist. He would arrange whatever discarded items he could scrounge and arrange them in various states (tastefully I may say). I remember an old pink panda carnival bear having tea, sitting on old crates, discard diner table, with a Cabbage Patch doll as it’s guest, while The Artist was milling about with a tray in one hand looking for items to serve them. He’d always put a smile on my face.
posted by Annie on 4-2-2009 at 10:34 am
I moved to Atlanta in 2005 and Baton Bob was most definately a staple of downtown. On the warmest days, you will find him walking the streets with his earphones on, his baton twirling and bringing smiles to all that see him. If you honk at him, he will wave back to you. He has been in several commercials for the City of Atlanta and is always at every public event in the city. Thanks Bob!
posted by Michelle on 4-2-2009 at 10:46 am
The St. Cloud Superman is freaky-weird! And he is *very* nasty to women. Not a hero at all, but certainly a bit of local color.
posted by Pithecanthropus on 4-2-2009 at 10:53 am
I go to OC MD quite a bit and have not saw Boardwalk Elvis in about 6 or 7 years. He was always very entertaining. His boom box was about half as big as him. He definitley deserves a spot on this feature.
posted by QuincyK on 4-2-2009 at 11:02 am
The Tuba Man’s death was very, very sad. I loved seeing him on my way to Mariners games, sitting outside the Kingdome and then Safeco Field, booping away on his tuba. He had a super deep voice (very reminiscent of his brass instrument, as I think about it), and he’d talk to you and brighten your day.
It was amazing to learn that he was indeed an accomplished musician, and that playing on the street was how he supported himself – and apparently pretty well. It was quite a tribute to see an article about his death printed in the New York Times. What a sad loss for Seattle.
posted by khiddy on 4-2-2009 at 11:15 am
I am deeply saddened that someone would attack and beat up a tuba player. they are just about the most easy going and friendly (mostly) members of the band. for shame.
there is a similar character that i personally encountered while staying and performing at the Iowa State Fair. The Tubador! i have a picture that i rescued from the trash of the Tubador posing with a replica of himself made entirely of balloons.
posted by the creature on 4-2-2009 at 11:36 am
I’m glad to see the old link to Popcorn Sutton on here . . . being from Waynesville, NC.
Part local character, part criminal, Popcorn recently killed himself supposedly to avoid going to prison as he was scheduled to do.
Oh, but how the border counties of NC and TN to love their Popcorn.
posted by Leah Piatt on 4-2-2009 at 12:34 pm
I have to say (with a little bias) Johnny is by far the most true “local characters”.
Other than Johnny all the rest are promoting themselves for some reason.
Johnny is a true character in the sense that he has absolutely nothing to gain by walking the streets of Adelaide in a speedo and rubber boots, he is just out there doing his thing.
posted by Michael on 4-2-2009 at 12:39 pm
I used to waitress at the Johnny Rockets on Fisherman’s Wharf in SF, across the street from where the Bushman did his thing. I could spend an entire shift watching him scare the daylights out of unaware tourists and laughing at their reactions…good stuff. I really hope he has recovered and is back on the Wharf soon!
posted by Corinne on 4-2-2009 at 12:47 pm
Another Atlanta legend is Willy Terry. He has a two part biography on youtube. He hangs out at the corner of Ponce and Briar Cliff in white biker shorts and is well known for his “package”
posted by Will on 4-2-2009 at 1:45 pm
I missed the original local characters posts, or I would have suggestedLamar Wilson, The Peanut Man of Mobile, Alabama. Drive down Old Government Street and you couldn’t miss the little old man with the giant picnic basket full of little brown bags of peanuts. There was even a book written about him, “Men are from Mars, but the Peanut Man is Definitely from Mobile”. Sadly he passed away a few years ago. The link in my name goes to his obituary.
posted by David on 4-2-2009 at 1:54 pm
@Will – Are you talking about Mr. Potato Pants?
posted by David on 4-2-2009 at 1:56 pm
I live near Piedmont Park in Atlanta, where Baton Bob can often be spotted. I’ve been wondering for years how he made a living and afforded all his fancy costumes. Thanks for clearing it up!
posted by Tom on 4-2-2009 at 2:17 pm
The Bushman got me REALLY good in San Francisco the first time I went. When we had gotten to the wharf, I’d seen this guy bundling up branches and I figured he was going to be doing some performance art or something. Little did I know, that a few beers and hours later, I would be part of his something. I was just walking along, chatting, not a care in the world when he parted the barnches and yelled at me. I jump about 3 feet in the air and screamed and then, of course, immediately started cracking up. I wish I had been a spectator watching me, because I would’ve peed my pants laughing at me.
I hope he’s alright. It would be sad not to see him every year on my vacation.
posted by nikki on 4-2-2009 at 2:31 pm
We had someone in Madison, WI named Scanner Dan that would roam the main street near campus. I wonder if he’s still there…
posted by Alicia on 4-2-2009 at 4:27 pm
Has anyone heard of Chicago’s famous ChickenMan?
posted by harold on 4-2-2009 at 4:41 pm
Leslie is the crossdressing perpetual mayoral candidate in Austin, Texas. they like to say, “Keep Austin Weird” and Leslie is definately doing his/her part.
posted by Charlie on 4-2-2009 at 5:27 pm
I’ve seen Baton Bob at a few parades and festivals in St. Louis. I knew I hadn’t seen him for quite a while (didn’t realize he had moved to Atlanta).
I’ve never seen Beatle Bob, but then I don’t go to too many concerts.
Nice article! Thanks!
posted by Jonco on 4-2-2009 at 5:56 pm
Yay Leslie shoutout! i was going to myself!
I actually have the magnets on my fridge.
posted by chrilew on 4-2-2009 at 6:17 pm
How very very sad about Tuba Man…he just liked playing his tuba… = (
posted by Zelda on 4-2-2009 at 6:53 pm
In Wheeling, WV, we have a local character that goes by the name of Moondog, who rides a bike with various flags attached to the back and wears a hard hat and fireman’s jacket. He sees himself as a super hero who patrols the city of Wheeling, keeping the citizens safe. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked out of a bar, and there will be Moondog, escorting people with a flashlight across a dark street. He also is the last rider in the city Christmas parade every year and hands out candy to the kids. He’s a legend in this town.
You can check out Myspace, where a fansite has been set up in his name.
posted by KellyL. on 4-2-2009 at 9:38 pm
The Flower Lady of New Haven, CT.
She would stand near restaurants trying to sell flowers for a dollar. The proceeds ostensibly went towards her lunchtime sandwich.
At one point she even had a delightfully creative song to accompany her sales pitch. It went:
Would you liiiike
to buy a flowerrrr
so I can get sOMething
to Eaaaat?
posted by grover on 4-3-2009 at 12:55 am
Once while I lived in california the family decided to take a trip to fisherman’s wharf. Well needless to say we saw the bushman and he scared the shit out of us. About five minutes later we were in tears with laughter and my grandmother peed her pants from laughing so hard… I heard he had passed away though :(
posted by Alexandra on 4-3-2009 at 10:53 pm
I’m from the SF Bay Area, so it made me really happy to see the bushman- it almost seems like that guy has just always been there. It’s nice to just sit and watch him at work on a nice day!
posted by Endorphin Annie on 4-20-2009 at 8:43 pm