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American Prankster — Documentary
American Prankster

There aren’t very many original Beatniks left on planet earth and as of this writing, Wavy Gravy is one of the last original Beatnik poets standing. But Wavy isn’t just an original Beatnik poet – he’s also a improv comedy trailblazer and international comedic activist who’s antics included running a pig for president. This series travels from Wavy’s childhood to the Gaslight Café Beatnik years to San Francisco where the convergence of psychedelic and comedy history collided, steering Wavy to Hollywood where his comedy career soared, propelling him to the famed Acid Tests and the birth of his Hog Farm commune, bringing Wavy to the Woodstock Peace and Music Festival’s stage enshrining him as a global symbol for peace, love and Rock’n’Roll. Wavy’s historic and hilarious adventures include his involvement in countless cultural watershed moments in American history… like the fabrication of snapping for applause, the introduction of granola to hippies and in fact, the actual creation of the ethos of the hippie. American Prankster is a chronological deep dive with Wavy, unfolding never-before-heard stories about his life that even he had forgotten until interviews with Rainbow Valentine from Disorganized Crime: Smuggler’s Daughter, retrieved them. Stories about Wavy’s psychedelic shenanigans with countless icons like: Lenny Bruce, Groucho Marx, BB King, Janis Joplin, Tiny Tim, Del Close, Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, Margo St. James, Thelonius Monk, Bob Dylan, Ram Dass, Albert Einstein, Peter, Paul & Mary, Marlene Dietrich, Severin Darden, Joan Baez, Martha Graham, Alice Cooper, David Crosby, Jackson Brown, Abbie Hoffman, Bob Weir, Mama Cass, John Coltrane, Grace Slick, Jerry Garcia, Paul Krassner, Bill Graham, Tim Harden, Robin Williams, Viola Spolin, Pink Floyd and many more. Guests on this series include members of the Hog Farm, the Merry Pranksters, Grateful Dead Family, KMPX, The Committee, the Family Dog, the Medicine Ball Caravan, the Yippies and other counter culture institutions. Produced by Rainbow Valentine Studios, www.rainbowvalentine.com

Copyright: © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Ep 02: Wavy and his Celebrity Friends May 05, 2023

Released in celebration of Wavy Gravy’s 87th birthday!

Wavy tells us about a few celebrity friends not discussed in the first 11 episodes, including Robin Williams, Bo Diddley, Sly and the Family Stone, the Jefferson Airplane, Joan Baez, Mimi Farina and more. Plus The Committee’s psychedelic adventures in Big Sur, Wavy goes Down Under and infamous West Coast LSD chemist, Owlsey, gives LSD to hippies headed to hot springs…. With music by Noodle McDoodle, Will Collins, Hope for a Golden Summer and The Ukulady.

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Bonus Ep 01: World Peace Through Smoking Jell-O Dec 09, 2022

Step inside the psychedelic mind of original Beatnik-Hippie Icon-Comedy Pioneer and Pioneering Activist Wavy Gravy as Producer Rainbow Valentine continues bringing curated Wavy to your ears with non-chronological stories of Wavy’s rainbow chompers, the origin of his ektar and Jell-O with the High Times magazine founder. Plus Wavy breaks down the Architecture of Comedy, gushes about Gilda Radner, SNL, Mr. Rogers and gets into his Simpsons moment of glory. Also, find out what Beatniks drank for breakfast, hear about Wavy’s hit single by the Ace of Cups and Hog Farmer, Casper Vandermei tells us about growing up on a hippie bus with Wavy. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 11: The Labyrinth Jul 15, 2022

After the death of his comedy manager, Lenny Bruce in 1966, standup comedian, Hugh Romney, retreats to the Hopi Indian Reservation where he discovers the master plan of the universe…leading to Wavy Gravy’s lifelong obsession with labyrinths…. In our final episode Wavy gets into the projects he’s most proud of, unpacking the origin stories of his legacies: Camp Winnarainbow, Seva and planet Earth. Plus, Mutant Sponges, Harvey Milk, the Grateful Dead, the history of the Answering Machine and Rainbow Valentine investigates Wavy’s ultimate secret for over 75 years, unknown to anyone (except his wife)… his hated childhood nickname… Will Wavy reveal his abhorred-kiddie nickname along the master plan of the universe? Find out! With special guests Hog Farmers, Jordan & Jahanarah Romney, Casper Vandermei, Taliah Sykes and Dr. Larry Brilliant. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 10: Too Weird to Arrest Jun 17, 2022

Running the first black and white candidate for president, Pigasus, was merely Wavy’s first foray into national politics… in this episode we get into Wavy’s theatrical, activist extravaganzas, criss-crossing the country promoting Nobody for President, challenging the status quo with the belief Nobody should run the country because Nobody should have that much Power and Nobody Keeps All Campaign Promises…. Plus Wavy and the Hog Farm redefine family with the birth of over a dozen hippie kids, Santa Claus under arrest, FBI spies, Wavy’s prison talent shows with Jackson Browne and more. Guests, Jordan Gravy, Casper Vandermei, Jahanarah Romney and Susie Barsotti join Wavy Gravy and Rainbow Valentine to weave the saga of how Wavy uses humor as a weapon. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 09: The Psychedelic Silk Road May 27, 2022

After playing Canterbury with Pink Floyd, Wavy and the Hog Farm adventure in psychedelic buses across Europe through the Middle East to the Himalayas, having countless adventures and providing basic human needs along the way as they endeavor to deliver emergency supplies to hurricane victims in Bangladesh. Stories of golf in Pakistan, hashish in Afghanistan, Turkish prisons, Salvador Dali, Nepalese monks and an uncommon cruise over the Khyber Pass. Guests include Hog Farmers, Jahanarah Romney, Dorje Bond and Dr. Larry Brilliant. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 08: Woodstock on Wheels May 20, 2022

This episode unfolds Wavy’s pivot from Hollywood Beatnik Comedian to Rock’n’Roll Humanitarian Hippie Clown, providing basic human needs at festivals, saving the planet and more. We dig into the Texas Pop Fest ’69, Altamont and the Medicine Ball Caravan documentary, which aimed to recreate Woodstock in rural towns across America before depositing Wavy and friends in Europe, setting the stage for their international hippie bus caravan to the Himalayas. Wavy shares stories of his relationships with Jerry Garcia, Bill Graham, BB King, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, the Jefferson Airplane and more. Special guests include KMPX/KSAN radio pioneer, Raechel Donohue and Hog Farmers, Dr. Larry Brilliant, Jahanarah Romney and Dorje Bond. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 07: The Woodstock Unicorn May 13, 2022

Why do hippies eat granola and wear tie dye? Because of the Woodstock Peace and Music Festival in 1969, when Hugh Romney became a global symbol for Peace, Love and Rock’n’Roll! After Wavy and the Hog Farm commune are hired to work at the iconic music festival, American’s opinions of hippies shift, along with the ethos of festival-partying. Diving into Woodstock’s unicorn moments, this episode unfolds why Woodstock was a unicorn and how Wavy and the Hog Farm commune were instrumental in the event’s success as they helped transform America’s notions of hippies, establishing a conscious, humanitarian way to party imitated by today’s festivals worldwide PLUS how granola and tie dye became synonymous with hippies. With guests Lisa Law, Jahanarah Romney, Laura Foster Corbin, Erica Miller and Jean Nichols. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives

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American Prankster 06: Hog Farm High-Jinks May 06, 2022

40 psychedelic houseguests in Hugh and Bonnie Jean’s 1 bedroom apartment leads to eviction, propelling Wavy and the Merry Pranksters to a literal hog farm as they morph from Beatniks into a new subculture the media calls “Hippies”. Starting with Hugh and Bonnie Jean’s 1966 wedding and honeymoon, Wavy unfolds origin stories of the Hog Farm commune and their groundbreaking theatrical parties, which attract attention from the media, movie stars and murderers. Hollywood windfall launches The Hog Farm and Friends Open Celebration, a traveling college roadshow tour PLUS Wavy joins forces with Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies, challenging the core of American politics when they run America’s first black and white candidate for president: Pigasus the Immortal! Episode guests include Abbie Hoffman’s archivist, Adrian Marin, Hog Farmers Dorje Bond, Laura Foster Corbin and Jahanarah Romney. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 05: Can You Pass the Acid Test? Apr 29, 2022

Hollywood and Psychedelic history collide when comedian Hugh Romney, moves to LA where Lenny Bruce becomes his manager, improv icon Del Close becomes his roommate and writer-LSD-enthusiast Ken Kesey, becomes his fan! Wavy tells stories of Lenny’s tragic demise plus theatrical psychedelic shows and shenanigans with Del introducing history’s early laser light displays. Find out why The Byrds were involved in Hugh’s courtship of his lifelong love, Bonnie Jean aka Jahanarah and how the infamous Acid Tests (accompanied by house band, The Grateful Dead) evolved when 40 Merry Pranksters appeared unannounced on Hugh and Bonnie Jean’s doorstep, ushering in the memorable question, “Can You Pass the Acid Test?”. Guests include Sunshine Kesey, original Merry Pranksters Denise Kaufman and Laura Foster Corbin, historian, Dennis McNally and more. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 04: Goon King Brothers Dimensional Creamo Apr 22, 2022

Comedy and psychedelic history converge in 1964 when Hugh Romney moves to San Francisco to join The Committee Improv Theater in North Beach, where Wavy’s performance meat suit precluded Lady Gaga’s by 45 years. In this episode we unpack Wavy’s best friend and biggest influence, John Brent, a little-known comedy genius who’s feet John Belushi literally kissed and Wavy shares psychedelic stories from the transformative mid 60’s when the SF’s North Beach neighborhood birthed the world-famous counter-culture. Amazing tales about DMT, San Francisco’s most famous brothel, Tibetan magic and a secret society fueled by historic Owlsley LSD.... Episode guests include members of The Committee, Merry Pranksters, Hog Farm and more. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 03: Only Love - The Beatnik Poet Apr 15, 2022

Following his blackballed university theater teachers, Hugh Romney moves to New York City in the early 1960’s where he blossoms into a Beatnik poet comedian in Greenwich Village at the Gaslight Café when his career takes off beside chums like Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Tiny Tim and fans like Lenny Bruce and Marlene Dietrich. These formative years include truth-is-stranger-than-fiction stories about the invention of snapping for applause, the Mafia, a wild kangaroo, Wavy’s first marriage and leads to Hugh Romney’s stand-up comedy-poet career opening for his jazz heroes and more. Special guest includes historian Dennis McNally. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 02: Baby Wavy the Bebop Boy Apr 08, 2022

Episode 2 dives into Wavy’s childhood, youth and teen years with stories of his parents, brothers, childhood BFF & neighbor, Albert Einstein. Wavy tells us about his obsession with bebop, jazz, radio comedy and how they influenced his life. Plus, Wavy’s Army stint, where his earliest outside-the-box-behavior, thinking and public pranksterism emerged and he gets into his college years, when he encountered marijuana, Martha Graham, improvisation and started beatnik jazz & poetry shows on the East Coast. Ep 2: Baby Wavy the Bebop Boy, includes Dr. Larry Brilliant & historian, Dennis McNally. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster 01: More Than an Ice Cream Apr 01, 2022

Who is Wavy Gravy? Episode 1 introduces listeners to the hippie icon who introduced hippies to granola and provides an overview of his inspiring, historic and hilarious life using humor as a weapon to change the world for the better. Wavy Gravy, best known from the Woodstock Peace & Music Festival in 1969 and as a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor, is an original Beatnik poet from NYC’s Gaslight Café, an improv comedy trailblazer and a pioneering activist, along with being an iconic figure who helped form the ethos of the counter culture. More Than an Ice Cream is for the Wavy novice, friend and fan, sharing highlights from Wavy’s life, including Beatnik history, why police called Wavy “Too Weird To Arrest”, how he became an Acid Test shaman, ice cream flavor and the Rock’n’Roll origin of his name. Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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American Prankster: The Trailer Mar 31, 2022

American Prankster is a deep dive with the iconic Wavy Gravy, unfolding his fascinating,historic and hilarious lifestory as an original Beatnik, comedy pioneer, hippie icon and pioneering activist who uses humor as a weapon.

Sharing stories that even he’d forgotten with producer/host, Rainbow Valentine, of Disorganized Crime: Smuggler’s Daughter, Wavy gets down to the very nit of the grit and reminds us what it means to be human.

From Ben and Jerry’s ice cream to Woodstock to the Acid Tests and running a pig for president, Wavy Gravy is an essential part of American counter culture history and more.

You will hear stories of his childhood, teen, army, college and beatnik years with Bob Dylan, Tiny Tim, Martha Graham plus tales of his comedy life with Lenny Bruce, Del Close, Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and his friendships with music icons like Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Mama Cass, Joan C. Baez and more!

Wavy shares absurdist yarns from his lifelong activism using humor as a weapon, along with pals, Abbie Hoffman, Jackson Browne, the Yippies and traveling roadshows of hippies. Plus how psychedelic globetrotting led to the SEVA Foundation and Camp Winnarainbow. Wavy’s 8+ decades of embodying American Pranksterism, inspiring millions down the tie-dye colored path of life and spreading his ethos of Basic Human Needs, is a fundamental part of American, comedy, activist, music, food and global history. Plus he’s hilarious and a born storyteller.

"When you get to the very bottom of the human soul, when the nit is slamming into the grit and you are sinking but you reach down to help someone else, that is when everyone gets high and you don't even need LSD to do that...and that's when I passed the acid test." – Wavy Gravy, American Prankster

"He's like our Rabbi..." - Trixie Garcia

Presented by Rainbow Valentine Studios and Hemlock Creatives.

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