Shut Up, Little Man!
Encyclopedia
Shut Up, Little Man! is the title of audio vérité
recordings of two argumentative and violent alcoholics, Peter J. Haskett and Raymond Huffman in San Francisco. Bananafish
magazine arranged for a commercial release of the tapes in 1992.
The recordings were made by "Eddie Lee Sausage" and "Mitchell D.", who lived in a bright pink apartment building dubbed the "Pepto Bismol Palace" in San Francisco's Lower Haight district. Eddie Lee and Mitchell moved into the apartment in 1987, and discovered that their neighbors, Haskett and Huffman, argued nearly constantly, with Peter often shouting "shut up, little man!" at Ray. Eddie and Mitchell began tape recording the arguments, and distributing copies among their friends. Eddie Lee and Mitchell sometimes goaded Ray and Peter with prank telephone calls.
In 1992, Huffman died of a heart attack brought-on by colon cancer, pancreatitis, and alcoholism. Haskett died in 1996 of liver problems due to alcoholism.
was released in early 1993. A number of other volumes were issued later. The recordings quickly gained a cult following
, and were adapted into comic book
s, zine
s, a theatrical production and the 2002 independent film Shut Yer Dirty Little Mouth, starring Gill Gayle and Glenn Shadix
as Ray and Peter, respectively.
The recordings found fame far beyond San Francisco. Lee reports that:
, Mike Mitchell
and Bob Mothersbaugh
. The documentary was selected for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival
as part of the World Documentary section, where it had its world premiere.
Cinéma vérité
Cinéma vérité is a style of documentary filmmaking, combining naturalistic techniques with stylized cinematic devices of editing and camerawork, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to provoke subjects. It is also known for taking a provocative stance toward its topics.There are subtle yet...
recordings of two argumentative and violent alcoholics, Peter J. Haskett and Raymond Huffman in San Francisco. Bananafish
Bananafish Magazine
Bananafish is a magazine begun in 1987 in San Francisco, California, published under the name Seymour Glass, focusing on various aspects of underground culture, particularly musical genres such as noise music...
magazine arranged for a commercial release of the tapes in 1992.
The recordings were made by "Eddie Lee Sausage" and "Mitchell D.", who lived in a bright pink apartment building dubbed the "Pepto Bismol Palace" in San Francisco's Lower Haight district. Eddie Lee and Mitchell moved into the apartment in 1987, and discovered that their neighbors, Haskett and Huffman, argued nearly constantly, with Peter often shouting "shut up, little man!" at Ray. Eddie and Mitchell began tape recording the arguments, and distributing copies among their friends. Eddie Lee and Mitchell sometimes goaded Ray and Peter with prank telephone calls.
In 1992, Huffman died of a heart attack brought-on by colon cancer, pancreatitis, and alcoholism. Haskett died in 1996 of liver problems due to alcoholism.
Reception
The first Shut Up, Little Man! compact discCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
was released in early 1993. A number of other volumes were issued later. The recordings quickly gained a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
, and were adapted into comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s, zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
s, a theatrical production and the 2002 independent film Shut Yer Dirty Little Mouth, starring Gill Gayle and Glenn Shadix
Glenn Shadix
William Glenn Shadix Scott , born William Glenn Shadix, was an American actor, known for his role as Otho Fenlock in Tim Burton's horror/comedy film Beetlejuice and the voice of the Mayor of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.-Early life and education:Shadix was born in Bessemer,...
as Ray and Peter, respectively.
The recordings found fame far beyond San Francisco. Lee reports that:
Documentary film
In 2010 a feature documentary was made about the Shut Up Little Man phenomenon called Shut Up Little Man! - An Audio Misadventure. The film was made by Australian documentary filmmakers Matthew Bate (director), Bryan Mason (DOP / editor / co-producer) and Sophie Hyde (producer) of Closer productions. The film features interviews with Eddie Lee Sausage, Mitchell D, Dan Clowes, Henry Rosenthal, Ivan BrunettiIvan Brunetti
Ivan Brunetti is an American cartoonist and comics scholar based in Chicago, Illinois.Noted for combining blackly humorous taboo-laden subject matter with simplified and exaggerated cartoon drawing styles, Brunetti's best known comic work is collected in his largely autobiographical series Schizo,...
, Mike Mitchell
Mike Mitchell (director)
Mike Mitchell is an American film director, producer, actor and former animator. He is well known for directing the films Surviving Christmas, Sky High and Shrek Forever After.-Life and career:...
and Bob Mothersbaugh
Bob Mothersbaugh
Robert Leroy "Bob" Mothersbaugh, Jr.,, or "Bob 1", is the lead guitar player and occasional vocalist for Devo and younger brother of lead vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh...
. The documentary was selected for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival
2011 Sundance Film Festival
The 27th annual Sundance Film Festival took place from January 20, 2011 until January 30, 2011 in Park City, Utah, with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ogden, Utah, and Sundance, Utah....
as part of the World Documentary section, where it had its world premiere.
Popular culture
- This American LifeThis American LifeThis American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
featured a lengthy segment in episode 7 from its first season, exploring the topic in the context of quitting.
- The band DevoDevoDevo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
had a side project, the Wipeouters, and on their only album there is a track titled "Shut Up, Little Man" using many samples of Ray and Peter.
- An episode of SpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"...
, "Banned in Bikini Bottom", uses the phrases "You are a nuisance to my community", "…said this ninety times", and "cops, I need you!"
External links
- Shut Up, Little Man! Official Webpage
- Shut Up Little Man: An Audio Misadventure Documentary Official Site
- Shut Yer Dirty Little Mouth (2002) (IMDB)