The Making Of The FIRST EVER Dysfunctionells Music Video: Trying To Give Credit Where It Credits Due While You Are Actually Stealing Another's Work

I am making a video for the Dysfunctionells recording of "Little Richard's World of Mirth". A little background on the band fist and then on the song. I think I will be writing a definitive history of The Dysfuncitonells, the butt ugliest band in Chicago, the band that no one wanted as part of this blog. But for now let's just say the band featured: myself on lead vocals and amplified acoustic guitar; Vernon Tonges on lead vocals, hollow body Gibson electric F-hole guitar, banjo and pedal steel; Oliver Steck on accordian, harmonic and trumpet; Russell Clark on bass, and Vence Edmunds on drums.

Early on in The Dysfunctionells epic struggle to secure historical irrelevance from of the gaping jaws of posterity, Vernon came over for dinner. He shared a story of one summer job he had had working at a carnival in Pennsylvania. The carnival was called "Little Richard's World of Mirth". His story was captivating…tales of the ride jockeys and the possum belly queen, a wedding on the ferris wheel between the contortionist and another carnival workers, tales about beating up townies, tales about his hawking "Dukes of Hazard Tees" out of the window of a trailer where he slept at night. There were tales about plans for arson, local farmers being upset that "Little Richard didn't bring the Girlie Show this year". Hopefully Vernon will read this blog and contribute more tales from the carnival.

After hearing this great story, my first thought I shared with him was "This should be a song, Vern. It could be a really great song." He discouraged the idea immediately and was certainly not going to write the thing himself. The idea never left me, as most ideas don't.

At some point after that conversation I decided to have at the song. I wrote the music mostly on the piano in the chapel in the basement of Children's Memorial Hospital on nights on call, and would work on lyrics during the days. Vernon contributed all the ideas and stories in the song, all of which were true as I understand it. Vernon however did not collaborate on the music, and he wrote only one couplet: "It's a rough untutored hand that attends a most unholy birth / So careless with the forceps at Little Richard's World of Mirth". Everyone in the band however contributed greatly to the song's arrangement.

Eventually the whole thing came together, and the band enjoyed it despite the wierdness of the chord progression and breaks. When The Dysfunctionells finally got it together to record a band demo cassette it was one of the songs we recorded. It was the best sounding track we got out of that session for sure. So hopefully with this little video can keep our recording of "Little Richard's World of Mirth" beating and breathing on.

Making A Music Video

Joe Winston once told me that "making a music video is a filmmaker's version of a pie in the face"…basically a prat fall…a physical joke. Maybe he is on to something. I know nothing about the rules that attend to copyright protections and artistic infringements that making a video out of bits of video I find on YouTube. I am not sure how much it matters unless the video ends up with some monetary value, which seems absurd to say the least.

But I thought I could at least take the trouble to site the people who can be accounted for who either collected the footage in the first place and also the circus folk who ended up in the film, if only for 1-2 seconds each. Then I figure I will collect all this information up in some coherent text file and stick it on the web where someone can refer to it if they see the film.
I think Frank "Cannonball" Richards has up to 5-10 seconds in the film so I will do him first.
The following information comes from the "Old Time Strong Man" website with some additional information from wikipedia & J. Tithonus Pednaud fine website "The Human Marvels" 

"Frank "Cannonball" Richards isn't a household name but chances are you have seen him before. You may have seen his picture on the cover of the Van Halen "III" CD. He was the inspiration for that Simpsons episode "Homerpalooza" in Simpsons season seven where Homer became part of a travelling freak show.

"In 1932 Frank ‘Cannonball’ Richards exploded onto the vaudeville entertainment scene with his remarkable act and his bombastic belly. Frank’s claim to fame was his seemingly ironclad gut and his act consisted of little more that taking heavy blows to his belly.
"However, these were no gentle taps. Richards subjected his belly to physical abuse that would put the average man into hospitalized traction for days – if not weeks.
"Richards began his strange journey into belly abuse by allowing his friends to punch him in the gut. His perceived imperviousness to the trauma prompted him to take the act a step further until, eventually, he was enduring and absorbing body blows from heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey.

'‘Cannonball’ Richards steadily increased the level of distress he subjected his belly too. He soon allowed spectators to jump on his stomach. Following that he allowed himself to be struck by a two-by-four and then, later, he was able to endure repeated sledgehammer blows. From all reports and records, there were no gimmicks at work during these performances.
"Finally, in a feat that ‘Cannonball’ Richards would forever be remembered for, Richards took to being shot in the belly with a cannonball. It is important to note, however, that ‘Cannonball’ Richards used a spring-loaded cannon to fire his cannonball. But equally, the velocity at which the ball traveled was still beyond the limits of sanity and would likely have killed or severely injured an average man.


"The image of this feat, performed twice daily during his time of greatest popularity, remains a near iconic photograph demonstrating the extremes possible in physical pain tolerance. It is also regarded, incorrectly, and the epitome of stupidity and ultimate example of a fame without talent or ability. It is a shame that most modern audiences have not realized the dedication and daredevil spirit required to perform the stunts Cannonball Richards performed. So unique was his ability that no comparable act has existed since."


Here is the film link on YouTube of 'Cannonball' Richards. Enjoy…




PS


Don't forget the Beatles Comic Book Trivia Question…still no answer yet.


And let me know is anyone knows who any of these people are?

These are presumably sideshow performers from Riverview Amusement Park in Chicago, and film of them appeared in a documentary called "I Remember Riverview" shown on WTTW Channel 11 in 1984. The film was produced by Phil Ranstrom. Jim Polanski has a credit in it too! Feel free to leave comment here, or e-mail me at richard.krueger@yahoo.com.
Here is the Riverview film link…