Who was this famous prankster?
December 11, 2013 11:33 PM Subscribe
I am looking for the name of a famous prankster, who was active perhaps in the 70s and 80s. Here is what I remember. He would dress up in a New York Yankees uniform and try to sneak into the annual team photo. I believe he was successful twice.
He would also pose as different people to appear on TV. Once he convinced a morning show that he was businessman whose business would send armed guards to the homes of overweight clients to guard their refrigerators. After scamming the same morning show twice he publicly revealed the con and was invited to come on the show as himself. He sent an impostor, who appeared on the air.
The above facts are half-remembered from long ago, and Google isn't doing it for me. I thought it might be Barry Bremen I was thinking of, but cannot find either of the above exploits in the articles about him.
He would also pose as different people to appear on TV. Once he convinced a morning show that he was businessman whose business would send armed guards to the homes of overweight clients to guard their refrigerators. After scamming the same morning show twice he publicly revealed the con and was invited to come on the show as himself. He sent an impostor, who appeared on the air.
The above facts are half-remembered from long ago, and Google isn't doing it for me. I thought it might be Barry Bremen I was thinking of, but cannot find either of the above exploits in the articles about him.
Best answer: I wonder if you're thinking of Alan Abel. He didn't sneak into the Yankees team photo, as far as I can tell, but he did get a fake official onto the Superbowl field in 1983.
He's probably best known for impersonating ridiculous people who the media took seriously. One of his early pranks was posing as the president of the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals, who argued that all animals should be clothed for the sake of decency. Their slogan was "a nude horse is a rude horse".
His website has a list of his hoaxes that range from 1958 to the present day.
posted by Georgina at 1:18 AM on December 12, 2013
He's probably best known for impersonating ridiculous people who the media took seriously. One of his early pranks was posing as the president of the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals, who argued that all animals should be clothed for the sake of decency. Their slogan was "a nude horse is a rude horse".
His website has a list of his hoaxes that range from 1958 to the present day.
posted by Georgina at 1:18 AM on December 12, 2013
Best answer: More recently Rémi Gaillard has done some of that.
Re-search "Pranks" Vol 1 is a very good resource on Joey Skaggs and Alan Abel.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:27 AM on December 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Re-search "Pranks" Vol 1 is a very good resource on Joey Skaggs and Alan Abel.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:27 AM on December 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
According to this article, Barry Bremen did sneak into an MLB All-Stars team photo in Reggie Jackson's uniform.
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:46 AM on December 13, 2013
posted by Oriole Adams at 1:46 AM on December 13, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks, I think in my mind I conflated Abel, Skaggs, and Bremen. Heroes, all of them! Still can't find the bit about sending an impostor as himself, but I'll bet that was Abel as well.
posted by LarryC at 12:09 AM on December 16, 2013
posted by LarryC at 12:09 AM on December 16, 2013
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posted by dreaming in stereo at 11:41 PM on December 11, 2013