UnBooks:Comedic Serial Killers: Vicious Murderers or Unsung Funny-men (An Overview)
- By: Rev. Buffalo
Historically, serial killers are noted for their heinous acts of violence and mayhem. To the contrary, recent studies have uncovered evidence that most murdering masochists may have a funny side. We've all heard stories of John Wayne Gacy dressed as a clown and attending children's parties. But he wasn't the only jocular jokester in the annals of crime history. So, what do Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Jeffery Dahmer have in common? They all attempted a career in stand up comedy.
The Joke Hut in Los Angeles, 1967, was a starting gig for many California comedians. Charlie Manson, recently released from Terminal Island, was in desperate need of a career change. His years in the federal correctional institution were spent practicing the guitar and writing songs. The last remaining member of the Ma Barker Gang, Alvin Karpis, taught him basic guitar chords and song structure. Musical instruction from the cellmate was the beginning of Charlie's well known music endeavors. In an interview with Tom Snyder in 1981, he revealed another side of his personality that most people weren't aware existed. The section of the interview was omitted from the broadcast due to time constraints.
"In prison," Manson said, "I learned more than just music and how to punk the guards. I was digging Alvin's funny vibes, man. A friend smuggled in a hit of groovy acid and I started tripping. As I watched Al's face melt I had this vision that life is funny. You know man--its like, love and happiness is all around us, like just crazy man. You know what I'm saying? Do you follow me?" He also added, "Blibbity bloo, coo coo cahchoo and blabbity boo boo." Then he jumped up and finished with, "Try following that act."
Fred Austin, an audience member at a Manson comedy show, said, "His act wasn't that funny. He rambled on about a race war and that he was Jesus. I didn't find any humor in any of it. And I was really high at the time. He just babbled on and on incoherently. Then he pulled out a sword and chased a heckler out of the club."
Ted Bundy, another serial killer/comedian, debuted in small comedy venues in the seventies. In a prison interview in Starke, Florida, he revealed his unknown humorous side. "I've always enjoyed comedy. I started to frequent the dive, comedy clubs in town. I would laugh for hours at the hilarious comedians. Especially the female ones." He paused and then added, "Then I would wait for them outside and kill them. What a riot! Oh, good times."
Eventually Bundy mustered enough courage to get on stage. "My jokes didn't go over as well as I expected," he said. "It just wasn't the right time for necrophilia humor. I was resentful and angry. But I did add some nice severed heads to my collection. So I guess in a sense, I got the last laugh."
Jeffery Dahmer, known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, was supported in his comic aspirations by family and friends. Childhood friend Milo Matteson stated, "He would put on these little puppet shows for the neighborhood. He used dead cats and dogs as the puppets. It was fucking hilarious. Later we found out he would eat the animals after the show." Milo added, "Now that I think about it--it was kind of gross. We should have realized there was something wrong with him. But, you know, we were just kids having fun."
Dahmer was eventually banned from the Milwaukee comic clubs for eating the competition. Jeffery Lionel Dahmer was beaten to death by another prisoner in the Columbia Correctional Institution in 1994. He allegedly asked his fellow inmate to dinner.
References[edit | edit source]
- "Life and Times of a Comedic Serial Killer" (1991) p. 24. ISBN 978-08-5643
- "Lesser Known Comics of the Murderous Variety" (1978) p. 307 ISBN 303-4563-1012
- "Serial Killers: A Light-hearted Glimpse" (2004) p.36, p. 78, p. 103 ISBN 56-14-13498
- "Hilarious Antics of Your Favorite Killers" (1984) p. 56 ISBN 978-456-309756