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« In Which We Try to Accept a Psychic Challenge The RantsMicrosoft's Next "Office" »

Elmo Busted for Being Annoying
2005.12.06 (Tue) 19:30

Hell, we saw this one coming since his very first appearance on Sesame Street:

In plain sight of children and tourists, Elmo -- or at least, a man named Don Harper in a knockoff Elmo costume -- was arrested here by the Los Angeles Police Department. Elmo was taken down by a special task force created to combat a growing nuisance in the Hollywood tourist district: famous costumed characters who try to be photographed with tourists and sometimes badger them relentlessly for tips.

LAPD officers, posing as clueless foreign tourists in front of Mann's Chinese Theater, also busted Mr. Incredible, the superhero from the animated hit "The Incredibles," as well as a man dressed as the villain from the "Scream" movie franchise. All three icons were arrested and could face charges ranging from illegal vending to aggressive begging.

And if this weirdness isn't enough for you, it turns out there's an entire subculture of fictitious characters and dead celebrities wandering Hollywood Boulevard.

But today, police estimate anywhere from 70 to 80 characters work the one-block stretch that includes not only the Chinese Theater, but also the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards) and a new retail and entertainment center called Hollywood & Highland.

...

The characters -- whose roster now includes everyone from Catwoman to Shrek's Princess Fiona and the murderous doll Chuckie -- have gotten more aggressive both with tourists and each other. Fights erupt over precious sidewalk space, especially when two of the same characters show up. Characters grab tourists as they walk down the street. Some of the scarier costumed entertainers jump out at the crowd and frighten children. Perhaps most worrisome is the practice of demanding tips from foreign tourists who don't know the custom, language or currency.

Apparently, it's a pretty tough world in which these Characters live.

Mr. Harper, the 40-year-old Elmo, says he was set up by the cops. But upon returning to his spot a day after his arrest, he conceded that things are tense these days among the characters, who form cliques and alliances to defend their turf and make money. Mr. Harper, for example, says his Elmo is a foe of Batman and Superman, but in cahoots with Mr. Incredible, SpongeBob SquarePants and at least one of the half-dozen Spider-Men who prowl the street.

You know, we actually might pay cash to see Elmo and SpongeBob SquarePants get the crap beaten out of them by Superman and Batman, while a dozen Spider-Men square off in a nearby alley. This is prime entertainment, folks.

But not all the Characters are in it for the money.

Some are weekend hobbyists who take their performance seriously and aren't so concerned about getting paid...

...[like] two very passable Johnny Depp impersonators -- Jim Calibur, who portrays Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean" and Brandon Hillock, who plays Willy Wonka from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" -- who work together. They pool their resources and give tourists a double dose of Mr. Depp. Both men have spent more than $1,000 on their costumes.

... They never mention tips -- either before or after tourists snap their pictures -- and blame the full-time characters for poisoning an atmosphere that is supposed to be fun.

[our emphasis]

Now come on, which is actually scarier — the folks who dress up as a fictional character and wander the streets for a living, or the folks who spend over a grand on their costumes and wander the streets without asking for money? Now that's a toss-up.

Thanks to Lore for the link. Reading that article was one of the most surreal experience we've ever had.


— • —
[  Filed under: % Media & Censorship  ]

Comments (10)

Mrs. Fan-man, 2005.12.06 (Tue) 21:25 [Link] »

My husband enjoys reading your site when his sports aren't on the TV, so I thought I'd check it out. This topic is right up my alley!
To Elmo and his pathetic, prowling band of beggers, there is a better way. A perfectly good minimum wage is to be had for those willing to dress up in a hot, smelly character suits for the local theme park. I was Hong Kong Fooey for $4.75/hour while in high school and nothing beats it for weight loss I was a perfect size 0 back then!



The Two Percent Company, 2005.12.06 (Tue) 23:18 [Link] »

Nice to meet you, Mrs. Fan-man! We've had a good time reading your husband's comments over the past few months.

You raise an excellent point — there is a safe and legitimate way to dress up in costume and pester people, and you're guaranteed to get money for it if you do. We're sure all those theme parks are always looking for good costumed characters (as you know, wearing those costumes can be brutal, so there must be a demand), and the Hollywood Boulevard contingent certainly has the necessary experience.

Of course, the downside is that the theme parks probably don't let fights break out between Goofy and Buzz Lightyear. Which, we have to admit, would be the highlight of a Hollywood Boulevard experience.

The good news is that if you and Fan-man are ever in need of extra cash, you've got the required skillset to work on Hollywood Boulevard. After all, we haven't seen any mention of there already being a Hong Kong Phooey out there!



Fan-man, 2005.12.07 (Wed) 15:37 [Link] »
Now come on, which is actually scarier — the folks who dress up as a fictional character and wander the streets for a living, or the folks who spend over a grand on their costumes and wander the streets without asking for money?
I can draw a parallel between these characters and the characters that are priests, reverends etc. etc. In the case of folks who dress up like fictional characters and beg for money, they are very similar to the clergymen of any church. Both annoying. Both looking for a larger audience to entertain. Both looking for your money. Clearly the scariest. Those folks who dress up as fictional characters for the fun of it are like honorary ordained clergymen who preach only to alcoholics, VFW halls and third cousins' weddings. Kinda like Reverend Run from the rap group Run DMC. You know, you kinda appreciate that they care enough to reach out, but still know they're full of shit. Less scary by far. Definately the lesser of two evils.


The Two Percent Company, 2005.12.08 (Thu) 19:44 [Link] »

Well, when you put it that way, Fan-man, it is clear which group is scarier!



mels, 2006.02.21 (Tue) 00:57 [Link] »

aw come on. i met jim at his comic store and he was the highlight of the whole hollywood trip. man, that place is a hole. plus, his costume is Awesome.



c. dennis, 2007.03.27 (Tue) 13:35 [Link] »

superman paid $1300 for his tights and $350 for his cape and $850 for the boots and another $350 for his belt that comes to $2850.00that superman on hollywood blvd. paid for his outfit and his house is a superman shrine its awesome



Mountain Girl, 2007.03.27 (Tue) 19:09 [Link] »

Paying $1300 for tights is awesome, how? To me, that sounds self-indulgent or desperately delusional AT BEST.
I know some pretty damn self-indulent people and they're paying that much for Rolexes, maybe, but TIGHTS?!

That said, I was "Barbie" in college. Not my proudest moment, especially as a feminist, but how else is a 21-year-old undergrad going to make 20 bucks an hour on the weekends and keep her clothes on? Sure, said clothes were a pink prom dress and platinum wig... The little girls who can to get my autograph were so happy and excited. Of course, I'd rather they be happy and excited to meet a more enlightened "role-model", but it was all pretty harmless. I was hired by Toys-R-Us so it's not like it wasn't legit...



MissDeLuca, 2007.04.17 (Tue) 03:40 [Link] »

Jim is an amazing person, his attempt as Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the best i have ever seen, not all of the impersonators are like Elmo.
I went to Hollywood alone, and Jim was kind enough to show me around and look after me.

The amount of effort he goes to is amazing, i would rather see an authentic looking Jack Sparrow, instead of one that looks like they just wlaked out the disney store. I'm sure people will agree with me.



Jeff from the Two Percent Company, 2007.04.17 (Tue) 10:48 [Link] »

No real offense to Jim Calibur meant, MissDeLuca — our parting comments (on the Characters who don't do it for money) were somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

I do appreciate those who just enjoy doing this sort of thing as a hobby, honestly; hell, I've been known to do stranger things than dress up in character and wander Hollywood Boulevard. I just question the wisdom of the venue, especially with the conflicts (both verbal and physical) that apparently flare up from time to time. There would seem to me to be much safer outlets for this kind of advanced cosplay (for instance, I guarantee you there are at least twenty party-planning companies within spitting distance of Jim's route, any of which would kill to get a passable Jack Sparrow!), and distancing themselves from the crazies on the Boulevard of Broken Giant Character Heads would probably be a great idea for Jim and Brandon, if they're as good at their respective Depp looks as advertised.

Another thing that comes to mind: having personally known dozens of struggling actors who are constantly trying to find the gimmick that will give them a "break," I'd rather see Jim and Brandon trying to parlay their reportedly excellent impersonations into something bigger. Hey, it's not my decision, obviously, and if they don't want the money or fame for it, I'm cool with that — but it seems like they could do a lot more with it than wander around with a bunch of idiots who don't put any real effort at all into their Characters. I think it's this association that makes the more interesting folks in that scene worry me a little more than the scruffy muppets and spandex Spider-Men — I'm used to idiots doing shit like this (living on this planet, you become accustomed to idiocy rather quickly), whereas I'd like to see people who really put work (and over a thousand dollars?!) into something like this do more with it.



MissDeLuca, 2007.04.21 (Sat) 04:58 [Link] »

Im sorry, i just got a bit annoyed with people assuming that all the characters were like that.

I do understand people's points of views however, i was very annoyed with a "Zorro" Who leapt on me, and was kissing my hand... Not the thing i really wanted.

What i must stress however, is that Jim Calibur, and a few more, including Davy Jones, Darth Vader and the storm trooper just stand there. They dont actually walk around pestering people.

I spent a two days on the boulevard, i was waiting for Jim to finish up, but being a people person i was watching the tourists and the characters.

There was a guy, who wasnt really dressed up as anything, he just wore a long coat and a massive black afro, and he was pestering people and even scaring kiddies. A few of the street characters told him to calm down or leave, but he carried on.

We have to remember that each of the street characters do not really like one and another, especially when you have two Jack Sparrows for example.
However it was quiet spectaular to watch, Darth Vader, Captain Jack Sparrow, a storm troooper, catwoman, and the little mermaid all approach this afro guy and show him where to sling his hook.

A lot of the performers and characters detest the atmosphere around the boulveard now, especially with guys like the above. I found that the characters who have been doing this for a while are the better behaved ones, whereas the people who are labelled as the "one dayer's" tend to bug tourist and passersby as they are doing this just to get some extra cash.
(plus their costumes are crap aswell!)

I refer to your quote of "(Over one thousand dollars?!)"

Maybe there is some exgeration over that cost, however i know that Jim makes his costumes, and he spends money for the fabric and prop replicas. He has everything down to the last bead; his shirt is authentic, the jacket, the plastic sword, and the replica guns. He spends a lot of time perfecting his costume, because if you cant do it, dont do it at all.

Because of the resemblance to Johnny Depp, Jim also works ona website, hired out for party and do's, where he and a few other pirates will turn up and pillage and plunder your party. So this is his weekend thing, actually you wont find him on the boulveard every weekend as most party's happen on the weekend too. If this was his fulltime job then, yes i would be worried.
I know that Spongebob and Elmo walks the streets during the weekday too, which does worry me.

Im quiet spilt over the idea of street characters, i'd long to dress up as Elizabeth Swann (PotC) and stand next to Jim, and have photos taken. However I wouldnt like to be associated with the whole look on the boulveard now.

The people who do get arrested and pester the tourists shouldnt be allowed on the boulveard, as they could ruin the whole perception a tourist has on Hollywood.

Oh, and no offense taken about Jim, i just felt i needed to stick up for the guy and correct a few wrongs!




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