May 08, 2004
(Updated) R.I.P. Jim Spagg
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
Just posted to the reader comments of an old Mayoral campaign item was the following:
It is with sadness that I announce that the infamous JIM SPAGG has died this morning. Jim Spagg was a pioneer in cable television when it comes to free speech. He truly believed in free speech and pushed lots of buttons during his time on local cable access. A tribute will be posted on his site in the near future.
Indeed, over at the Jim Spagg website, is a similar notice and the following tribute:
Jim Spagg was one of those unique artists that brought lots of attention to Public Access Television and Free Speech and Free Expression.� Despite that many hated him, I believe that there where twice as many that loved him for his fight in the right to express himself.� Even Portland's worst major in Portland's history did many things to stop Jim Spagg from appearing on Portland Public Television.� yes, he danced around nude "Nudity Is Not Dirty!" and showed nude women and talked about his "School Of Humanity" in an open and non censured style.� But that was Jim, and his show was much more entertaining than Vera Katz ever was and he brought it to you straight.
For those inclined to do further reading, there is this Humanity School of Understanding site, this Humanity School of Understanding site, this Happy Doodles! site, this Welcome to Gloggy site, this Google cache of (why not?) the previous official site, and a page of editorials from the official site.
To be honest, the only time we've ever encountered Jim Spagg (to our knowledge and recollection, anyway) was at last month's League of Women Voters of Portland forum for Mayoral candidates. In his closing statement, Spagg said, of course: "I'd like to wish everyone here Happy Doodles."
"If there's anyone here you're not interested in," he concluded, "give me a vote to show you're my friend."
Comments (6)
Jack Bog on 08 May 2004
The Spagg cable access TV show was a real eye-popper back in the '80s. He'd have the camera zoom in on his exposed private parts while he read English poetry and jiggled them around. I believe his motto was "People are too busy, and too serious." Then there was the televised vendetta against his next door neighbor, along with his original song "Indian welder, f*ckin' neighbor..."
It was... original.
Apparently he had gotten himself locked up for doing the same thing in Atlanta before he came here. Eventually he got yanked in Portland (so to speak), but it seems he never gave up his schtick.
I guess Extremo gets his votes now.
I wish I knew what will become of Spagg in the afterworld. I could plan accordingly.
Jack Bog on 09 May 2004
One other thing: There was an uncanny similarity in likeness between Spagg and Jimmy Buffett (facial features, that is -- I never saw Buffett's schlong).
no one in particular on 09 May 2004
Here's an Oregonian article which still doesn't say how he died, but an "associate" says he had leukemia.
Mike on 10 May 2004
So why no Goldschmidt thread? I mean, Spagg's important, sure....but not one thread about the guy who's been running Oregon for 30 years being found out as a child rapist?
Are you working on something or just ignoring it?
The One True b!X on 10 May 2004
It's over here, as it has been.
Q Madp on 15 May 2004
Isn't it sad that while they where all hounding after Jim Spagg for expressing himself, they allowed people like Goldschmidt to rape children. Artists are not the dangerous ones. It's people like Neil.
www.OregonRapist.com