Lost in the Funhouse
Page 41
Moreover, I cannot begin to express my love and appreciation for my family, who helped me survive the straits and perils of this journey. And Carrie Lynn Secrist, who bolsters my heart and teaches me life, I thank you for waiting in the tunnel of love.
SPECIAL NOTE: Three volumes of Andy’s own writings—The Huey Williams Story, God and Other Plays, and Poetry and Stories—are now available for ordering at http://AndyKaufmanPrint.com or, for further information, contact Zilch Publishing, 1465 Route 23, Suite 101, Wayne, NJ 07470.
A note about source material: In addition to the two hundred-plus interview subjects who recreated their colorful memories of Andy Kaufman for this project, it should be stated that virtually every one of his television appearances described in this book and countless personal audiotapes of concert performances were meticulously transcribed to serve the author. Furthermore, hundreds of print reviews—scores upon scores of which are cited in the text—were also plumbed for content. (Frankly, there are simply too many to list here.) Besides having access to thousands of magical pages that contained Andy’s private writings (which opened secret portals into his unique sensibility and fully inspired the intimate prose style of this work), the author found essential pieces of the subject’s own musings and recollections captured in the print reporting of the following brave souls:
Allen Steve. Funny People: Chapter: “Andy Kaufman.” Stein & Day: 1981.
Blumenthal, John. “We Wuz Robbed!: In One Corner a Playmate, In the Other, the Intergender Wrestling Champion of the World.” Playboy: February 1982.
Bonko, Larry. “Unfunny Funny Guy—That’s Kaufman.” Ledger-Star: March 7, 1979.
Boosler, Elayne. “Andy: A Farewell to Andy Kaufman—By One Who Shared the Ride.” Esquire: November 1984.
Carter, Betsy. “Hide-’n’-Seek in Andy Kaufman’s Fun House.” Washington Post: July 1, 1979.
Christgau, Robert. “Andy Kaufman’s Miracle Show.” Village Voice: May 14, 1979.
Clifton, Tony (no really). “Laughter from the Toy Chest: Andy Kaufman, Comedy’s Stand-up Pirnadello.” Time: May 28, 1979.
Coleman, Janet. “Don’t Laugh at Andy Kaufman.” New York magazine: September 11, 1978.
Darvi, Andrea. “Taxi’s Andy Kaufman: He’s a Gas!” Family Weekly: February 28, 1982.
Firstman, Richard C. “The Lifelong Childhood of Andy Kaufman.” New York Newsday: June 6, 1984.
Harris, Harry. “The World According to Kaufman.” Philadelphia Inquirer: October 8, 1978.
Hicks, Jack. “He Loves to Get Hate Mail: Andy Kaufman.” TV Guide: June 6, 1981.
Hirshey, David. “Andy Kaufman: Beyond Laughter.” Rolling Stone: April 30, 1981.
Jares, Sue. “For Taxi’s Andy Kaufman, The Time Isn’t Always Prime for His Zany Kitsch-22 Act.” People: Septemer 7, 1981.
Kart, Larry. “Andy Kaufman: Humor’s Con Man Toys with Our Idea of What’s Real.” Chicago Tribune: May 17, 1981.
Kart, Larry. Foreign Man, Tony Clifton, Latka: Kaufman Circles in His Loony Orbit.” Chicago Tribune: August 12, 1979.
Kilgore, Michael. “Andy Kaufman Takes His Performances to The Edge.” Tampa Tribune: October 16, 1978.
Knoedelseder, William K. Jr. “The Identity Crisis of Andy Kaufman.” Los Angeles Times: December 10, 1978.
Kort, Michele. “Andy Kaufman Wrestles with Racquetball.” Racquetball Illustrated: Decmeber 1980.
Leogrande, Ernest. “Will Carnegie Hall Survive Kaufman’s Gig?” New York Daily News: April 20, 1979.
Liska, A. James. “Kaufman’s Not a Comedian, So Don’t You Laugh at Him—Come On Now, Stop Laughing.” Valley News: August 17, 1979.
Lovece, Frank. Hailing Taxi: The Official Book of the Show. Prentice Hall Press: 1988.
Mendelsohn, John. “Andy Kaufman Does de Elvis.” Rolling Stone: January 12, 1978.
Metcalf, C.W. “A conversation with Andy Kaufman.” Oui: April 1980.
Musto, Michael. “Andy Kaufman: ‘I Sing, Dance, Tell Jokes…’” Soho Weekly News: April 19, 1979.
Nolan, Tom. “All Shook Up! … Andy Kaufman Must Be in There Somewhere.” Crawdaddy Feature: April 1979.
Nolan, Tom. “‘I Think They Consider Me Nut’: Is It Andy Kaufman’s Bizarre Antics That Scare Network Officals? His Latest, Uh, Offbeat Ideas? Or What?” Panorama: April 1981.
Nulman, Andy. “Andy Kaufman’s a Serious Comic.” Circus Weekly: May 1, 1979.
O’Melveny, Don and Sheraton, Shelley. “Andy Kaufman.” Unpublished article: 1978.
Robins, Wayne. “Andy Kaufman’s Complete Variety Show.” New York Newsday: April 22, 1979.
Sorensen, Jeff. The Taxi Book. St. Martin’s Press: 1987.
Weisbord Cavestani, Laura. “Is This The Weirdest Interview Ever …?” Los Angeles Free Press: March 9, 1978.
White Timothy. “Andy Kaufman’s Broadway Bout.” New York Daily News: April 3, 1983.
Young Charles M. “Andy Kaufman’s State of Confusion.” Rolling Stone: June 14, 1979.
Zurawik, Dave. “What’s Andy Like? A Good Question.” Detroit Free Press: July 29, 1979.
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Copyright © 1999 by Bill Zehme
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