Rarely one to give in to the passing whims of popular culture, I immediately ran out and bought the album as soon as it became available.

Sadly this extraordinary talent drifted from the scene not long after his famous wedding on the Carson show, and a few years later he was reduced to playing a dive about three miles up the road from here that catered to drunken community college kids and townies.

I began to despise Dick Shawn when, as guest host on the Tonight Show, he brutally humiliated Tiny Tim with the crudest form of queer-baiting.

I hope somebody uploads TT and Miss Vicki doing "So Happy Together" on the Sullivan show. She was not blessed with the greates musical talent, but that seemed hardly necessary for this kind of act.

KNEEEE-deep . . .
Robert N G | Homepage | 10.30.06 - 7:51 am | #

Tiny Tim pretty much knew every song published between 1900 and 1950. He had a terrific memory for pop music.

As someone who watched the Joe Franklin Show probably more than I should have...I would know...

www.forgotten-ny.com
Kevin Walsh | Homepage | 10.30.06 - 9:10 am | #

While not qualified to comment on the artistic content of the performance, has anyone traced the modern Goth movement to this?
Huw Raphael | Homepage | 10.30.06 - 10:41 am | #

I did an interview with Mr. Khaury in the '80s. I wish I had saved it.
He was a big baseball fan, especially the Brooklyn Dodgers, and despite his outward flamboyance, was a pretty conservative individual.
Didymus | Homepage | 10.30.06 - 11:00 am | #

I clearly remember Tiny Tim's few appearances on Howard Stern, not long before he died. According to him, he was a devout Christian (albeit not one who could articulate his faith too well...Howard and the gang ripped into him for calling it the "Lentil Season") and he also was a bit of a germ-phobe, saying he only dryed himself off post-shower with a brand new roll of paper towels...and they HAD to be Bounty.
Joanie fan | 10.30.06 - 11:50 am | #

Tiny Tim did not see himself as a comedian and he did not approach his music as a joke. I am again struck by his lack of selfconsciousness in the face of such blatant mockery. If there is anything more touching than his desire to pursue his own bizarre little vision entertainment is Ms. Vickie's faithfulness to him.
Tex | 11.01.06 - 2:02 pm | #

Tiny Tim was a Catholic who died in the church. He really did have an encyclopedic knowledge of Tin Pan Alley from the late 1800s onward, and would generously play songs for free for hours on end to anyone who would care to listen, giving the complete history of the songs as well. He was very misunderstood because of his appearance, but that too was a big part of who he was.
WRY | 11.03.06 - 10:10 am | #

Tiny Tim was a genuinely odd individual. Oh, to be sure, his on-stage persona was a put-on, but his REAL personality was equally bizarre!

That said, he was often a delight to watch. Perhaps the high point of his musical career was when he appeared at the Isle of Wight festival in 1970. In front of about 500,000 people (who'd come to hear Jimi Hendrix, ELP, the Doors, and Jethro Tull), Tiny Tim sang "There'll Always Be an England" through a megaphone... and the crowd loved it!
astorian | 11.03.06 - 12:18 pm | #