Paul Krassner
Paul Krassner calls himself an investigative satirist. Don Imus labeled him “one of the comic geniuses of the 20th century.” And, According to the Los Angeles Reader, “Krassner delivers 90 minutes of the funniest, most intelligent social and political commentary in town.”
On the other hand, a couple of FBI agents went to one of his performances and stated in their report, “He purported to be humorous about government policies.” His FBI files indicate that after Life magazine published a favorable profile of him, the FBI sent a poison-pen letter to the editor, complaining: “To classify Krassner as a social rebel is far too cute. He’s a nut, a raving, unconfined nut.”
“The FBI was right,” says George Carlin. “This man is dangerous--and funny; and necessary.”
ABC newscaster Harry Reasoner wrote in his memoirs, “Krassner not only attacks establishment values; he attacks decency in general.” So Krassner named his one-person show Attacking Decency in General, receiving awards from the L.A. Weekly and DramaLogue. He is the only person in the world ever to win awards from both Playboy (for satire) and the Feminist Party Media Workshop (for journalism). When People magazine called Krassner “Father of the underground press,” he immediately demanded a paternity test. Actually, he had published The Realist magazine from 1958 to 1974. He reincarnated it as a newsletter in 1985. “The taboos may have changed,” he wrote, “but irreverence is still our only sacred cow.” The final issue was published in Spring 2001.
A Satirical History of the Counterculture: Part One
Paul recaps the Revolution! Highlights include: Mad Magazine; religious rationalizations of the sex urge; acid flashbacks; Timothy Leary meets G. Gordon Liddy; New Age fads; The Pentagon Exorcism, and the unusual suspects like Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Jerry Garcia, Courtney Love, John Lennon, Bill Graham, Lenny Bruce, Ken Kesey, Hunter S. Thompson ; Chicago Conspiracy Trial.
A Satirical History of the Counterculture: Part Two
The Revolution is still with us! Paul raps on the Feminist Movement; alternative pornography; The Simpsons; The Magic Mushroom Bust; The Rebirth of Irony; Krishnamurti, Ralph Nader, Marilyn Manson, William Bennett, Anne Coulter; Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam; gay marriage; healers; The Crackdown on Indecency, and The Geezerstock Festival.
