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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2010 > March > 03 > Entry
Little Billy’s Letters
A truly hilarious book is coming out next week. Little Billy’s Letters: An Incorrigible Inner Child’s Correspondence with the Famous, Infamous, and Just Plain Bewildered (William Morrow) by Bill Geerhart is am amazing book. The author is a practical joker. He sends letters to the famous (and infamous) pretending to be a little boy. And he gets responses, some are amazing, others are truly creepy.
Here are some examples:
He wrote to Charles Manson in prison. His letter began: “Dear Mr. Manson, I am thinking about dropping out of school. What do you think of this idea?”.
Manson’s reply: ” Find out why the LA Times hasn’t sent my newspaper-Charles Manson-P.S. O-yes Hi Billy Easy easy eassy”
He wrote Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler Magazine: “Dear Mr. Flynt, my parents said I could subscribe to your magazine when I turn 18. That is a long time from now. My friend Eddie asked me to ask you if there is a Hustler for kids that wouldn’t make my parents mad. Please let me know. Thank you! Billy”
Flynt’s response: “Dear Billy, Your parents are right. You can subscribe to Hustler when you turn 18. Hang in there-you’ll be 18 before you know it. Until then, you should read the Sears & Roebuck catalog. Sincerely, Larry Flynt”
Little Billy writes in a childish, believable scrawl. He wrote to Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Alan Greenspan, Oral Roberts, Donald Rumsfeld, and Sarah Palin. They all answered and some of their responses are very funny.
I laughed at some of Little Billy’s pranks. Maybe you will too…..
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: laughable
Comments
By Blowfly
March 4, 2010 4:10 PM | Link to this
My first year in college there was a grad student that lived across the hall who did something similar. My first clue that something was wrong with this guy was that he was a grad student still living in the dorms. His name was Robert Brown and he would write Bobby Brown letters with his left hand in crayon on colored paper to celebrities. The letters were totally inappropriate, but since it appeared they came from a kid and not from an actual pervert he got responses - which he would tape to wall outside his room. They were great, really funny. Of course, I can’t remember any of them, but I remember each time he got a response everyone would crowd around to read them. This book looks great. Thanks.
By vick
March 4, 2010 1:24 PM | Link to this
You’re right, there’s quite a tradition of this type of pranksterism. And it translates fairly well into radio pranksterism. Do you remember the Canadian DJ’s who somehow got Sarah Palin on the phone live under false pretenses? It happened when she was running for VP and these guys had her on the phone and asked her what she thought of a porno film and she never got it that these guys were hoaxing her. She just went right along chatting with them. Back in the mid-80’s the DJ Rick Dees had a radio show in LA where he called up celebrities and pretended to be someone else. Some priceless and often rude material has been generated by these radio pranksters.
By null
March 4, 2010 1:16 PM | Link to this
Vick, are you familiar with the Ted L Nancy Letters from a Nut (rumored to actually be by Jerry Seinfeld) or Paul Rosa Idiot Letters series of books. They’re from the early to mid-90’s and are very funny. Both were letters written to some major compnaies and businesses across the country. Of course, Juliet Lowell in the 50’s compiled actual letters to Congressmen and Hollywood.
By edo
March 4, 2010 8:52 AM | Link to this
Remember Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci)wrote for SNL…He wrote to celebrities and politicians as Lazlo Toth and had them published… The Lazlo Letters), Citizen Lazlo!, and From Bush to Bush: The Lazlo Toth Letters… funny guy…
By vick
March 3, 2010 2:15 PM | Link to this
Sounds good to me. I like getting mail.
By What'sThatMean?
March 3, 2010 1:55 PM | Link to this
You better be careful, Mr. Mickunas, someone might decide to do that do you!