Balladeer’s Blog marks April Fool’s Day with this look at some classic Fool Killer folklore from the 1800s onward.
AN ORIGIN FOR THE FOOL KILLER – In the 1830s a Devil mated with assorted women of East Tennessee’s “Hill Portughee (Portuguese)” and one of them bore him a son. The son grew up to drive that Devil out of the Tennessee hills after tricking his infernal father into forging an iron staff that he used as a weapon against him.
That son then became the Fool Killer, using his iron staff/ walking stick/ club to prey on outsiders “foolish” enough to come looking for the hidden gold of the Melungeons in the eldritch Tennessee woodlands. He also battled federal agents trying to stop the Melungeons from printing their own gold coins.
OPPOSING THE KU KLUX KLAN – In the Spring and Summer of 1870 the Fool Killer battled the KKK, whose violence in a few North Carolina counties had grown so extreme that the governor declared Martial Law. The folk figure opposed Klan influence in North Carolina politics as well as their brutal acts of maiming and killing people who opposed them. Continue reading
ZERO TO SIXTY (1978) – Want to see Darren McGavin of all people bare his butt for the camera in two separate scenes? Want to see Darren McGavin getting his bare butt spanked by the Hudson Brothers in one of those scenes? Want to see Darren McGavin in sex scenes with Joan Collins at her smoking hot best? 
THE ADVENTURES OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (1955-1956) – British television series based on Baroness Emma Orczy’s 1903 play and 1905 novel (and series) about Sir Percy Blakeney (Marius Goring), who puts on a foppish and dim-witted air to disguise the fact that he is secretly the Scarlet Pimpernel. 
JESUS: A PASSION PLAY FOR AMERICANS (1969) – For Easter Week here’s a look at an experimental take on the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, all accompanied by music. 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – The CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS played the UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS (TX) CELTS. The defenses ruled at first and come Halftime the score was knotted up at a mere 22-22. After the break, CNU managed enough separation to upset the Celts by a score of 63-59. Toa Hollenbeck led the Captains with his 25 points. 
FINAL FOUR: SECOND BERTH – Up next, the TRINITY (CT) COLLEGE BANTAMS did battle with the TUFTS UNIVERSITY JUMBOS. The Bantams held a tight 29-27 edge at the Half. From there competition remained intense but Trinity College downed the Jumbos 69-66. Sixteen points from Henry Vetter led the way for the Bantams. 
### After the Argonauts had feasted, they proceeded to the Argo and tried pulling it to the sea for launching. It was snagged on dry seaweed and refused to go further, so the Argonauts began losing their resolve. Remember, this is an Orpheus-centric version of the Quest for the Golden Fleece, so this wimpy loss of resolve was just an excuse for another Orphic lesson. 
EERIE #62 (Jan 1975) 
DR. SAN GUINARY – From 1971 to 1981, director John F. Jones at KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska hosted the channel’s version of Creature Feature as mad scientist Dr. San Guinary. The program originally aired late Saturday nights after the 10:00pm local news, then was moved to Midnight when KMTV started airing SNL in 1975.
The doctor, whose voice always had a certain Wolfman Jack sound to it, also did comedy inserts and sketches, of course. The circulating DVDs of Horror Host footage from decades ago featured plenty of Dr. San Guinary’s comedy bits, including his Mystery Door segments (above right). 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in the NAIA were the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS and the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS (should be Hugheses). By Halftime Freed-Hardeman University was on top 33-30, and after the break they squeezed out a tiny bit more separation from Langston U. FHU triumphed 76-71 led by 20 points from Orlando Thomas.
ELITE EIGHT: FIRST BERTH – The UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MAROONS clashed with the GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE GUSTIES. Gustavus Adolphus had the Maroons a bit wary with their 40-39 edge at the Half. From there, the University of Chicago snuck by the Gusties for a 93-92 victory. Twenty-one points from Shane Regan led the Maroons. 
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A TOURIST IN HAVANA (1908) – A documentary short depicting the sights to be seen by tourists in 1908 Havana. The director was Enrique Diaz Quesada, who founded the first film studio in Cuba alongside his brother Juan. This short debuted on September 15th at Havana’s Payret Theater. 
INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT GENERAL JOSE MIGUEL GOMEZ (1909) – Another newsreel, this one filming the inauguration of Magoon’s elected successor.
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