Rubens plight eerily evoked the ill-fated career of silent film actor Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle for me while I was reading this.
The supposed crime is vastly different but if you aren’t familiar with Arbuckle you might find his story interesting although tragic in its own senseless way.
As usual I learn something new in addition to what I already do know when reading your articles.
There are a lot of different levels to this piece. First, you did a great job of researching and documenting. Along with the press you can throw in the police departments involved who were so hungry for a narrative they were sloppy. Not much has changed there I’m afraid.
Pee Wee was a regular fixture of the LA scene during the 80s. I think he was part of DL Roth’s crew. The music and movie scenes sort of co mingled. I used to see him around different parties. Unfortunately, as you describe, he never recovered from the perceptions.
You could have done a complete piece on Billy Squier. His story is pretty sad as well. As you said, he had the huge hit and was riding high. He went out on a huge tour. The group opening for him was a up and coming group called Def Lepard. This was just prior to the release of Pyromania. They were rocketing in popularity and by the time the tour was a few dates old they had surpassed Billy. The fans were pissed because DL was the opener and took it out on Billy. After that his record company and management couldn’t decide what they wanted him to be. They put out some photos of him that made him look gay, and that was the beginning of the end. It was too bad because he had the chops. He was much better than where he got projected.
I enjoyed this as always. I never know where your “way back “ machine is going to take me.
Thank you very much, Daniel! This was fun to write, despite the waft of tragedy that hung throughout the piece.
I think you’re right about him being tight with Diamond Dave. I remember posting a picture of them once at a party somewhere in LA.
You’re also right about Billy Squier. I wrestled with adding more of his life and struggles, but the piece kept growing and I was worried about length. Here’s a useless bit of trivia: Emotions in Motion was the first 45 I ever bought. I freakin’ loved him as a kid. And I agree completely that his career was cut way too short.
I didn’t know the story about him and Def Leppard. I can always count on you to teach me something cool. I used to love Pyromania, by the way, and you can rest assured that the band will one day receive the Jukebox treatment.
I didn’t remember 45s were still a thing then. I’m with you on Pyromania. I liked them a lot but started getting bored about the “Lay a little sugar on me” time. Did a theatre in the round show for them once on a New Years Eve that was one of the most boring shows I ever did.
That’s when I lost interest too. Every damn song sounded the same! I knew it was over once and for all when I heard ‘Love Bites’. That they were boring live doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Another great piece, I didn’t know what you wrote. I never held the reported version against Rueben but what you laid out is so disturbing. Retractions are virtually nonexistent both written and spoken; somehow admitting a mistake is tantamount to being a complete failure hence the lack of admissions.
A well-written piece; it made me think of another Reubens music link, Steady As She Goes by The Raconteurs. His cartoon villain character mirrors his public image, being punished for not heeding the opening lyrics:
"Find yourself a girl and settle down / Live a simple life in a quiet town"
I remember the thing in Florida but didn't know about the issue a regarding his "collection" or that he'd recently passed away. I also didn't know that he stopped working because he didn't feel up to it moreso than because he couldn't. I caught one of his specials on TV years ago and didn't know that he was a standup; he was a pretty brilliant comic.
Imo his legal problems were news because he did a show kids loved. Has he been just a run of the mill comic like Andrew Dice Clay or Kinison, probably none of what he got in trouble for would have registered much less affected his career. Great piece!
I didn’t get into his background because I was worried about the piece running too long, but in terms of his comic chops, Reubens was part of the Groundlings, the famous improv troupe in L.A. that spawned the likes of Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow, Pat Morita (!), and more. Reubens created the Pee-Wee Herman character while he was with the troupe. It was an instant hit with audiences. The rest, as they say, is history.
Huh had no idea that he (nor Pat Morita, but somehow that makes sense lol!) were part of Groundlings. It's a shame he didn't want to work much, I remember seeing him in something recently and he was really good. Would have been nice to see him do a second lap as a character actor.
I had no clue Pee Wee wasn’t even in the theater at the time. It came out Pee Wee was gay after he passed so I always thought, “why was he there and why was he exposed?” Now I know. He wasn’t.
I hope you'll excuse me for butting in here, but I got the sense he didn’t press charges because that would’ve brought even more attention upon him and the case, which is the last thing he wanted. He was very eager for the ordeal to be over.
A great essay. So sad.
Thank you very much, Paul! I actually choked up a few times while writing it.
Rubens plight eerily evoked the ill-fated career of silent film actor Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle for me while I was reading this.
The supposed crime is vastly different but if you aren’t familiar with Arbuckle you might find his story interesting although tragic in its own senseless way.
As usual I learn something new in addition to what I already do know when reading your articles.
I do know the Arbuckle case! I hadn’t thought of him, but you’re absolutely right. Thanks for making the connection.
Thank you as well for the very kind words, Kat. It truly is appreciated.
"Heard any good jokes lately?!"
-Paul Reubens - MTV Music Awards 1991
LOL! I wanted to work this in, but I figured the piece was long enough. Thanks so much for sharing it!
HAHA I thought you were going to! But then you went into Billy Squier . ;p
Woops 😄
There are a lot of different levels to this piece. First, you did a great job of researching and documenting. Along with the press you can throw in the police departments involved who were so hungry for a narrative they were sloppy. Not much has changed there I’m afraid.
Pee Wee was a regular fixture of the LA scene during the 80s. I think he was part of DL Roth’s crew. The music and movie scenes sort of co mingled. I used to see him around different parties. Unfortunately, as you describe, he never recovered from the perceptions.
You could have done a complete piece on Billy Squier. His story is pretty sad as well. As you said, he had the huge hit and was riding high. He went out on a huge tour. The group opening for him was a up and coming group called Def Lepard. This was just prior to the release of Pyromania. They were rocketing in popularity and by the time the tour was a few dates old they had surpassed Billy. The fans were pissed because DL was the opener and took it out on Billy. After that his record company and management couldn’t decide what they wanted him to be. They put out some photos of him that made him look gay, and that was the beginning of the end. It was too bad because he had the chops. He was much better than where he got projected.
I enjoyed this as always. I never know where your “way back “ machine is going to take me.
Thank you very much, Daniel! This was fun to write, despite the waft of tragedy that hung throughout the piece.
I think you’re right about him being tight with Diamond Dave. I remember posting a picture of them once at a party somewhere in LA.
You’re also right about Billy Squier. I wrestled with adding more of his life and struggles, but the piece kept growing and I was worried about length. Here’s a useless bit of trivia: Emotions in Motion was the first 45 I ever bought. I freakin’ loved him as a kid. And I agree completely that his career was cut way too short.
I didn’t know the story about him and Def Leppard. I can always count on you to teach me something cool. I used to love Pyromania, by the way, and you can rest assured that the band will one day receive the Jukebox treatment.
I didn’t remember 45s were still a thing then. I’m with you on Pyromania. I liked them a lot but started getting bored about the “Lay a little sugar on me” time. Did a theatre in the round show for them once on a New Years Eve that was one of the most boring shows I ever did.
That’s when I lost interest too. Every damn song sounded the same! I knew it was over once and for all when I heard ‘Love Bites’. That they were boring live doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Here's something not exactly on your Jukebox but I've been enjoying their new album..
https://youtu.be/vbuFWWmfoOc?si=vKoa-TgcjnPU-dRW
Hey, this fucking rocks!
Another great piece, I didn’t know what you wrote. I never held the reported version against Rueben but what you laid out is so disturbing. Retractions are virtually nonexistent both written and spoken; somehow admitting a mistake is tantamount to being a complete failure hence the lack of admissions.
Thanks again, Sonny!
Thank you as well, IP!
This was so unfair especially considering the unpunished wicked we have now. Well done.
Thank you very much, Christopher.
I love your writing!
Thanks, Billy! You've made my day!
Brilliant article, Sonny, had me tearing up. Loved his work.
Thank you very much, Sheila. I got emotional at times while writing it. I loved him too. There will never be another like him.
A well-written piece; it made me think of another Reubens music link, Steady As She Goes by The Raconteurs. His cartoon villain character mirrors his public image, being punished for not heeding the opening lyrics:
"Find yourself a girl and settle down / Live a simple life in a quiet town"
I remember the thing in Florida but didn't know about the issue a regarding his "collection" or that he'd recently passed away. I also didn't know that he stopped working because he didn't feel up to it moreso than because he couldn't. I caught one of his specials on TV years ago and didn't know that he was a standup; he was a pretty brilliant comic.
Imo his legal problems were news because he did a show kids loved. Has he been just a run of the mill comic like Andrew Dice Clay or Kinison, probably none of what he got in trouble for would have registered much less affected his career. Great piece!
Thanks, AJ!
I didn’t get into his background because I was worried about the piece running too long, but in terms of his comic chops, Reubens was part of the Groundlings, the famous improv troupe in L.A. that spawned the likes of Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow, Pat Morita (!), and more. Reubens created the Pee-Wee Herman character while he was with the troupe. It was an instant hit with audiences. The rest, as they say, is history.
Huh had no idea that he (nor Pat Morita, but somehow that makes sense lol!) were part of Groundlings. It's a shame he didn't want to work much, I remember seeing him in something recently and he was really good. Would have been nice to see him do a second lap as a character actor.
I had no clue Pee Wee wasn’t even in the theater at the time. It came out Pee Wee was gay after he passed so I always thought, “why was he there and why was he exposed?” Now I know. He wasn’t.
That part was a surprise to me too. And it's wild that he never pressed any charges or anything related to that
I hope you'll excuse me for butting in here, but I got the sense he didn’t press charges because that would’ve brought even more attention upon him and the case, which is the last thing he wanted. He was very eager for the ordeal to be over.
Yeah that's my assumption too