I’m told that downtown entertainer and Mudhouse chess maven Carl Carter passed away a couple of months ago. It was cancer that did it. He was in Tennessee at the time. Nobody who saw Carl could forget him, performing on the Downtown Mall in a clown costume, wearing a pig nose, fairy wings, waving a rubber chicken and playing violin or a child’s keyboard. He was almost always in character, but would drop it long enough for a chess game or a good conversation. Claudia Pinto interviewed him for the Progress a few years ago, but that article is no longer in their archives. Like Dancing Man or Singing Lady, Carl will long be remembered.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
9 Responses to “Carl Carter Dies”
Comments are currently closed.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
-
Archive for Sideblog »
“but that article is no longer in their archives. Like Dancing Man or Singing …………..”
Other than the death of Carl, a remarkable man, is the death of the archives and the lack of policy of maintaining them, a seemingly common practice.
He was one in a million, that guy. For a long time I figured he was just nuts, but eventually I heard his explanation for what he was doing. The man took his craft as a travelling street entertainer pretty seriously and was as smart guy as you could ever hope to meet. I had been looking forward to the day when he would blow back into town. He will be missed.
RIP.
I saw him on a visit to town years ago. He got me with the rubber chicken every time.
“haaaaaaaaaw……..”
=o)
He wasn’t crazy, its an act. And a damn good one. I had a lot of respect for him and his work.
There is a guy in SF known as the “bushman” who sits on the sidewalk and hides behind a tree branch (that I can only assume he cuts off some tree on his way to “work” every morning) and jumps out from behind it and scares people as they pass by. THATS his act. He makes his living doing this. You HAVE to respect a guy who can pull that off.
BOO!
The bushman in action:
http://p.vtourist.com/1067471-People_to_Avoid-San_Francisco.jpg
What were the lyrics to Carl Carter’s “froggy” song? For a while I couldn’t get it out of my head.
I also remember a weird show at the Jeff involving his act, an experimental movie about Palestinian fishing rights, and the Tea Bazaar guys selling mysterious beverages, back when they just had a cart, not yet a shop.
“FROGGY ON THE WATER… MY FROGGY ON THE WATER.”
I think those were all the words.
Wasn’t it sort of a loose re-interpretation of an early-70’s Stevie Wonder song? Or am I making that part up?
“Froggy on the Water” is sung to the melody of Fats Domino’s “Walking to New Orleans”. I’d be interested in hearing if anyone knows more about the life and times of Carl Carter. I miss him.