Hoax Museum Archives
Hoax Museum Hall of Fame
|
Cranial Painting
Status: Hoax
In 1966, before becoming a regular on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and before launching his perennial campaign for the US Presidency, comedian Pat Paulsen got into newspapers by pretending to be a "cranial painter". From the March 6, 1966 Mansfield News Journal:USING HIS HEAD -- Artist Pat Paulsen, who shuns more traditional means of painting, demonstrates how he produces masterpieces -- with "cranial painting." The 35-year-old San Franciscan, now appearing at the Ice House in Glendale, Calif., smears paint on his beard. top: really gets down to heavy work, center, and winds up, bottom, with as much paint on his kisser as on the canvas.
Another, slightly better quality of Paulsen cranial painting, is below.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Page 1 of 1 pages
Pat Paulsen was also known for doing finger shadows on the radio.
He ended every live performance with the line, "I just want to add that today's my birthday, and I've never had a standing ovation." It always worked.
I think Paulsen was also the first to promote this position on gun control: "Let everybody have as many guns as they want, and lock up all the bullets."
Posted by Big Gary in Brazos, Texas on Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 08:18 AM
He ended every live performance with the line, "I just want to add that today's my birthday, and I've never had a standing ovation." It always worked.
I think Paulsen was also the first to promote this position on gun control: "Let everybody have as many guns as they want, and lock up all the bullets."
Alex, cranial painting wasn't really a "hoax," inasmuch as he really did smear paint around with his head.
Shouldn't the status of this item be soemthing more like "stunt" or "gag"?
Posted by Big Gary in Brazos, Texas on Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Shouldn't the status of this item be soemthing more like "stunt" or "gag"?
Gary, that did cross my mind. I figure if he was representing himself to the media as a serious artist then it's a hoax. (A satirical take on modern art, like the disumbrationist hoax.)
But if he never pretended to be an artist, just a comedian, then it would be a gag.
Problem is, I can't find much info about the stunt. Only the 1966 article. And that simply describes him as an artist.
Posted by Alex in San Diego on Fri Dec 05, 2008 at 08:48 AM
But if he never pretended to be an artist, just a comedian, then it would be a gag.
Problem is, I can't find much info about the stunt. Only the 1966 article. And that simply describes him as an artist.
Of course it's art! Look at the guy strumming the guitar in the background.
Posted by Mr Henderson in Teddington, UK on Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Now this is what I call a “perfect creation”. Wonderful work of art. You do well with your hands and imagination with passion in painting. Keep it up. You serve as an inspiration to those who are aspiring to become like you.
Posted by canvas on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 06:01 AM
Hahaha I love this.
Posted by Jerry in Ann Arbor, MI on Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 07:58 AM
Page 1 of 1 pages