Deep Dive - Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman)
One of the most meaningful quotes I've ever found about celebrity and recognition was by the photographer, Robert Frank. He said, "I'm Famous, Now What." Before Photoshop, Artificial Intelligence, and fake news, Paul Reubens came over to my little livingroom studio in West Hollywood( I was living in a building once owned by Marlene Dietrich. Mackenzie Phillips lived downstairs). We talked about fame and how one little thing could take over a person's life. You work, you practice, you live, and learn to make many things. The complexity of our efforts doesn't prepare us for what is next. I asked Paul if he would help me make a picture of himself with the Pee Wee character. I explained that he would have to stand still on the exact markings on the floor and be himself as he showed up to talk and drink some coffee, and then in the second exposure, he would be shaking hands with the creature he created. He was intrigued and patiently followed directions, but to my surprise, he added that quality of special moment and a dimension of the trickster in Pee Wee by seemingly withdrawing the handshake at the last second. After developing and proofing the film, I saw the actor in Paul doing something that I couldn't have ever directed. With the change of costume, he still kept the idea intact, separated the two lives, one real, the other a beautiful and poetic contrast to our human limits, and helped me make a picture that transcended what on the surface began with a small technical curiosity. Over the years, I've been fascinated by people and places and things. I've tried to make my photographs engage the phenomenal human narrative. Even in the photographic simplifications, I have learned more in wonder and work than my real life could ever have taught me. Looking back on that day, with Paul and Pee Wee, we made a picture that was about something real and at the same time something that can only exist in another world. It's a privilege to work in such a rich environment with people that share with you a space that you both feel is so special.
Photo and text by Dennis Keeley
https://www.denniskeeleyphoto.com/
Photo and text by Dennis Keeley
https://www.denniskeeleyphoto.com/
Tons of my favorite Photos I found in digging through the Internet
Biography
Paul Reubens was born Paul Rubenfeld on August 27, 1952 in Peekskill, New York, to Judy (Rosen), a teacher, and Milton Rubenfeld, a car salesman who had flown for the air forces of the U.S., U.K., and Israel, becoming one of the latter country's pioneering pilots. Paul grew up in Sarasota, Florida, where his parents owned a lamp store. During winters, The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus called Sarasota home, and young Paul counted such big-top families as the Wallendas and the Zacchinis among his neighbors. When he was 11-years-old, he joined the local Asolo Theater, and during the next six years, he appeared in a variety of plays. After graduating from Sarasota High School in 1970, he attended Boston University for one year before deciding to seek his fortune as Paul Reubens in Hollywood, where he enrolled as an acting major at the California Institute of the Arts and accepted a string of pay-the-rent jobs ranging from pizza chef to Fuller Brush salesman.
In the mid 1970s, his acting career grew slowly and steadily with small roles in theater productions, gigs at local comedy clubs and four guest appearances on The Gong Show (1976). During this time of education/employment, he joined an improvisational comedy troupe called The Groundlings. The popular gang of yuksters, whose roster has included Conan O'Brien, Lisa Kudrow, the late Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, and Julia Sweeney, wrung laughs from audiences with skits starring scads of imaginative, self-created characters. Among Reubens's contributions to this comedic community were a philandering husband named Moses Feldman, an Indian chief named Jay Longtoe, and the now fallen Pee-Wee Herman, who debuted in 1978.
Pee-Wee was a funny man-child of indeterminate age who created a sarcastic enthusiasm for the popular culture of the '50s and '60s. The geeky character's wardrobe consisted of a gray suit, a white short-sleeved shirt accessorized with a red clip-on bow tie, and white patent-leather loafers. He wore his jet-black hair military short with a defiant tuft in front, and he accentuated his lily-white complexion with pink cheeks and red lipstick. Reubens drew inspiration for Pee-Wee's geeky behavior from a youth he had attended summer camp with, and derived his creation's boyish voice from a character he played as a child actor. Pee-Wee appeared for only 10 minutes of The Groundlings show, but he nonetheless built up a considerable following and turned out to be a star of the '80s and early '90s. The Pee-Wee Herman Show (1981), ran for five sellout months at the Los Angeles's Roxy nightclub, and HBO taped the performance and aired it as a special.
Now a genuine comedy-circuit star, he became a frequent guest of David Letterman and a favorite at Caroline's in New York. In 1984, he sold out Carnegie Hall. He later auditioned for the cast of Saturday Night Live (1975), but when that didn't turn out as planned, he started writing a feature-length screenplay for Pee-Wee to star in, and asked friend Tim Burton to direct. Released to wildly divergent reviews, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), followed its star cross-country in a madcap search for his beloved, stolen bike. The $7 million picture ended up grossing $45 million. That following year, CBS which had been losing children's audiences to cable programming, was interested in finding something to shore up its Saturday Morning lineup. The network company signed him to act/produce and to direct its live-action children's program called Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986). They doled out an eye-popping budget of $325,000 per episode - the same price as a prime- time sitcom. Reubens received complete creative control, albeit with three minor exceptions. During its five-year-run on CBS, he never appeared in general as himself. He even granted printed interviews in full Pee-Wee regalia.
Articles on Paul Reubens and Pee Wee
*There is a lack of memorial articles and articles about his death because they mentioned his arrest. I think that is disgusting especially in the context of an article about his death. The press was horrible to him in this way and to still be doing that after his death is unforgivable.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure: 11 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Might Not Know
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2556322/pee-wees-big-adventure-behind-the-scenes-facts-you-might-not-know
Paul Reubens and the enduring queer legacy of Pee-wee Herman
https://ew.com/tv/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-queer-legacy/
This Israeli war hero was Pee-wee Herman’s father
https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/meet-israeli-war-hero-who-was-pee-wee-herman-father/
‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’ Brought Horror to the Playhouse
https://decider.com/2023/07/31/pee-wees-big-adventure-horror-movie/amp/
Paul Reubens, the Jewish Talent Behind Pee-Wee Herman, Was a Mensch
https://www.kveller.com/paul-reubens-the-jewish-talent-behind-pee-wee-herman-was-a-mensch/
Pee-Wee Herman's First Appearance Wasn't On A TV Show You'd Expect
https://www.looper.com/1353589/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-first-tv-appearance-wasnt-show-youd-expect/
Before There Was Pee-wee, There Was Pinky
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/style/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-pinky-lee.html
The San Francisco mystery Paul Reubens hid inside 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure'
https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/pee-wee-big-adventure-san-francisco-18270495.php
25 Big Facts About Pee-wee Herman
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/76874/25-big-facts-about-pee-wee-herman
Paul Reubens Remembered by Tim Burton, Cher, Mark Hamill, Paul Feig and More: ‘This Is a Huge Loss for Comedy’
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/paul-reubens-tributes-remembered-hollywood-1235683512/
Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh says ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ “changed the trajectory” of his career
https://www.nme.com/news/music/devos-mark-mothersbaugh-says-pee-wees-playhouse-changed-the-trajectory-of-his-career-3477235
‘It Was Like Pastel Bauhaus’: How Paul Reubens’s Collaborators Brought the Spirit of Downtown Art to ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pee-wee-herman-2346054/amp-page
How Twisted Sister got that cameo in 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure'
https://boingboing.net/2022/08/12/how-twisted-sister-got-that-cameo-in-pee-wees-big-adventure.html
Remembering Pee-wee Herman creator Paul Reubens
https://www.npr.org/2023/08/04/1191884107/remembering-pee-wee-herman-creator-paul-reubens
Paul Reubens is gone. Why Pee-wee Herman is destined to live on
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-31/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-tv-movies-appreciation
How Paul Reubens Brought Pee-Wee Herman Back One Last Time — As a Radio DJ
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-radio-dj-1235383212/
Pee-wee Herman’s “Dark” Reboot: Paul Reubens Is Ready to Stage a Comeback
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pee-wee-hermans-dark-reboot-paul-reubens-is-ready-stage-a-comeback-1273962/
The Forgotten Roles of Paul Reubens, From Batman to Blow
https://www.wired.com/2016/03/paul-reubens-lost-roles/
All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Pee-wee Herman, and the Man Who Dreamed Him Up
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/pee-wee-herman-paul-reubens
Reflecting on Pee-wee Herman’s Wild Journey From Carnegie Hall to Netflix on Paul Reubens’ 70th Birthday
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/pee-wee-herman-history-paul-reubens-birthday-1235352663-1235352663/
Paul Reubens by Paul Rudd
https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/paul-reubens
How Paul Reuben's Pee-wee's Big Adventure' Defined Texas for Non-Texans
https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/paul-reubens-pee-wees-big-adventure-alamo-texas/
The Enduring Queer Cheer of Pee-Wee Herman’s Christmas Special
http://granvarones.com/the-enduring-queer-cheer-of-pee-wee-hermans-christmas-special/
How a Pee-wee Herman doll came to the rescue during tough times
https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2020/08/27/how-a-pee-wee-herman-doll-came-to-the-rescue-during-tough-times/?outputType=amp
PEE-WEE HERMENEUTICS - The Reubens: dactyls and pterridactyls on wry.
https://www.artforum.com/print/198706/the-reubens-dactyls-and-pterridactyls-on-wry-34837
Beyond the Bow Tie: Paul Reubens’ Best Non-Pee-wee Performances
https://observer.com/2023/07/beyond-the-bow-tie-paul-reubens-best-non-pee-wee-performances/
Forget Frosty: Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse Is the Holiday Special That Keeps on Giving
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25616297/pee-wee-christmas-special-30th-anniversary/
ALL PAUL VAA VIDEO PLAYLISTS
Pee Wee Herman in costume on Letterman and more
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh4zYKaPKme7n-4jGrobfCOdoVZ7oiML3
Vintage Annals Archive YouTube Playlist
Paul Ruebens (aka Pee Wee Herman) early appearances 1977-1982
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh4zYKaPKme7A4Ivuax_xlrD-fUF7yKly
Vintage Annals Archive Paul Ruebens Interviews
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh4zYKaPKme7zxqhQ524p0a1XDecnz6DF
Saturday Night Live S11E03 - Paul Reubens
https://archive.org/details/saturday-night-live-s-11-e-03-paul-reubens-queen-ida-and-the-bon-temps-zydeco-band
Website
https://peewee.com
Podcast Episodes
Terry Gross Interview
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fresh-air/id214089682?i=1000623452608
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-reubens/id73331298?i=1000542845708
Remembering Paul Reubens - Conan O' Brien
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/remembering-paul-reubens/id1438054347?i=1000623498337
Radio Show
Pee-Wee Herman Radio Hour - KCRW Santa Monica, CA - November 26, 2021
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DMa0-GATEII&feature=share7
Paul Reubens was born Paul Rubenfeld on August 27, 1952 in Peekskill, New York, to Judy (Rosen), a teacher, and Milton Rubenfeld, a car salesman who had flown for the air forces of the U.S., U.K., and Israel, becoming one of the latter country's pioneering pilots. Paul grew up in Sarasota, Florida, where his parents owned a lamp store. During winters, The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus called Sarasota home, and young Paul counted such big-top families as the Wallendas and the Zacchinis among his neighbors. When he was 11-years-old, he joined the local Asolo Theater, and during the next six years, he appeared in a variety of plays. After graduating from Sarasota High School in 1970, he attended Boston University for one year before deciding to seek his fortune as Paul Reubens in Hollywood, where he enrolled as an acting major at the California Institute of the Arts and accepted a string of pay-the-rent jobs ranging from pizza chef to Fuller Brush salesman.
In the mid 1970s, his acting career grew slowly and steadily with small roles in theater productions, gigs at local comedy clubs and four guest appearances on The Gong Show (1976). During this time of education/employment, he joined an improvisational comedy troupe called The Groundlings. The popular gang of yuksters, whose roster has included Conan O'Brien, Lisa Kudrow, the late Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, and Julia Sweeney, wrung laughs from audiences with skits starring scads of imaginative, self-created characters. Among Reubens's contributions to this comedic community were a philandering husband named Moses Feldman, an Indian chief named Jay Longtoe, and the now fallen Pee-Wee Herman, who debuted in 1978.
Pee-Wee was a funny man-child of indeterminate age who created a sarcastic enthusiasm for the popular culture of the '50s and '60s. The geeky character's wardrobe consisted of a gray suit, a white short-sleeved shirt accessorized with a red clip-on bow tie, and white patent-leather loafers. He wore his jet-black hair military short with a defiant tuft in front, and he accentuated his lily-white complexion with pink cheeks and red lipstick. Reubens drew inspiration for Pee-Wee's geeky behavior from a youth he had attended summer camp with, and derived his creation's boyish voice from a character he played as a child actor. Pee-Wee appeared for only 10 minutes of The Groundlings show, but he nonetheless built up a considerable following and turned out to be a star of the '80s and early '90s. The Pee-Wee Herman Show (1981), ran for five sellout months at the Los Angeles's Roxy nightclub, and HBO taped the performance and aired it as a special.
Now a genuine comedy-circuit star, he became a frequent guest of David Letterman and a favorite at Caroline's in New York. In 1984, he sold out Carnegie Hall. He later auditioned for the cast of Saturday Night Live (1975), but when that didn't turn out as planned, he started writing a feature-length screenplay for Pee-Wee to star in, and asked friend Tim Burton to direct. Released to wildly divergent reviews, Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), followed its star cross-country in a madcap search for his beloved, stolen bike. The $7 million picture ended up grossing $45 million. That following year, CBS which had been losing children's audiences to cable programming, was interested in finding something to shore up its Saturday Morning lineup. The network company signed him to act/produce and to direct its live-action children's program called Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986). They doled out an eye-popping budget of $325,000 per episode - the same price as a prime- time sitcom. Reubens received complete creative control, albeit with three minor exceptions. During its five-year-run on CBS, he never appeared in general as himself. He even granted printed interviews in full Pee-Wee regalia.
Articles on Paul Reubens and Pee Wee
*There is a lack of memorial articles and articles about his death because they mentioned his arrest. I think that is disgusting especially in the context of an article about his death. The press was horrible to him in this way and to still be doing that after his death is unforgivable.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure: 11 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Might Not Know
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2556322/pee-wees-big-adventure-behind-the-scenes-facts-you-might-not-know
Paul Reubens and the enduring queer legacy of Pee-wee Herman
https://ew.com/tv/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-queer-legacy/
This Israeli war hero was Pee-wee Herman’s father
https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/meet-israeli-war-hero-who-was-pee-wee-herman-father/
‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’ Brought Horror to the Playhouse
https://decider.com/2023/07/31/pee-wees-big-adventure-horror-movie/amp/
Paul Reubens, the Jewish Talent Behind Pee-Wee Herman, Was a Mensch
https://www.kveller.com/paul-reubens-the-jewish-talent-behind-pee-wee-herman-was-a-mensch/
Pee-Wee Herman's First Appearance Wasn't On A TV Show You'd Expect
https://www.looper.com/1353589/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-first-tv-appearance-wasnt-show-youd-expect/
Before There Was Pee-wee, There Was Pinky
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/style/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-pinky-lee.html
The San Francisco mystery Paul Reubens hid inside 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure'
https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/pee-wee-big-adventure-san-francisco-18270495.php
25 Big Facts About Pee-wee Herman
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/76874/25-big-facts-about-pee-wee-herman
Paul Reubens Remembered by Tim Burton, Cher, Mark Hamill, Paul Feig and More: ‘This Is a Huge Loss for Comedy’
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/paul-reubens-tributes-remembered-hollywood-1235683512/
Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh says ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ “changed the trajectory” of his career
https://www.nme.com/news/music/devos-mark-mothersbaugh-says-pee-wees-playhouse-changed-the-trajectory-of-his-career-3477235
‘It Was Like Pastel Bauhaus’: How Paul Reubens’s Collaborators Brought the Spirit of Downtown Art to ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pee-wee-herman-2346054/amp-page
How Twisted Sister got that cameo in 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure'
https://boingboing.net/2022/08/12/how-twisted-sister-got-that-cameo-in-pee-wees-big-adventure.html
Remembering Pee-wee Herman creator Paul Reubens
https://www.npr.org/2023/08/04/1191884107/remembering-pee-wee-herman-creator-paul-reubens
Paul Reubens is gone. Why Pee-wee Herman is destined to live on
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-31/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-tv-movies-appreciation
How Paul Reubens Brought Pee-Wee Herman Back One Last Time — As a Radio DJ
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/paul-reubens-pee-wee-herman-radio-dj-1235383212/
Pee-wee Herman’s “Dark” Reboot: Paul Reubens Is Ready to Stage a Comeback
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pee-wee-hermans-dark-reboot-paul-reubens-is-ready-stage-a-comeback-1273962/
The Forgotten Roles of Paul Reubens, From Batman to Blow
https://www.wired.com/2016/03/paul-reubens-lost-roles/
All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Pee-wee Herman, and the Man Who Dreamed Him Up
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/pee-wee-herman-paul-reubens
Reflecting on Pee-wee Herman’s Wild Journey From Carnegie Hall to Netflix on Paul Reubens’ 70th Birthday
https://variety.com/2022/film/news/pee-wee-herman-history-paul-reubens-birthday-1235352663-1235352663/
Paul Reubens by Paul Rudd
https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/paul-reubens
How Paul Reuben's Pee-wee's Big Adventure' Defined Texas for Non-Texans
https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/paul-reubens-pee-wees-big-adventure-alamo-texas/
The Enduring Queer Cheer of Pee-Wee Herman’s Christmas Special
http://granvarones.com/the-enduring-queer-cheer-of-pee-wee-hermans-christmas-special/
How a Pee-wee Herman doll came to the rescue during tough times
https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2020/08/27/how-a-pee-wee-herman-doll-came-to-the-rescue-during-tough-times/?outputType=amp
PEE-WEE HERMENEUTICS - The Reubens: dactyls and pterridactyls on wry.
https://www.artforum.com/print/198706/the-reubens-dactyls-and-pterridactyls-on-wry-34837
Beyond the Bow Tie: Paul Reubens’ Best Non-Pee-wee Performances
https://observer.com/2023/07/beyond-the-bow-tie-paul-reubens-best-non-pee-wee-performances/
Forget Frosty: Christmas at Pee-wee's Playhouse Is the Holiday Special That Keeps on Giving
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25616297/pee-wee-christmas-special-30th-anniversary/
ALL PAUL VAA VIDEO PLAYLISTS
Pee Wee Herman in costume on Letterman and more
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh4zYKaPKme7n-4jGrobfCOdoVZ7oiML3
Vintage Annals Archive YouTube Playlist
Paul Ruebens (aka Pee Wee Herman) early appearances 1977-1982
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh4zYKaPKme7A4Ivuax_xlrD-fUF7yKly
Vintage Annals Archive Paul Ruebens Interviews
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh4zYKaPKme7zxqhQ524p0a1XDecnz6DF
Saturday Night Live S11E03 - Paul Reubens
https://archive.org/details/saturday-night-live-s-11-e-03-paul-reubens-queen-ida-and-the-bon-temps-zydeco-band
Website
https://peewee.com
Podcast Episodes
Terry Gross Interview
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fresh-air/id214089682?i=1000623452608
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-reubens/id73331298?i=1000542845708
Remembering Paul Reubens - Conan O' Brien
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/remembering-paul-reubens/id1438054347?i=1000623498337
Radio Show
Pee-Wee Herman Radio Hour - KCRW Santa Monica, CA - November 26, 2021
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DMa0-GATEII&feature=share7