Todd Ray, known professionally as T-Ray, is an American record producer and mixing engineer, known for producing Cypress Hill 1993 single "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" and having founded the Venice Beach Freakshow in 2006, as well as creating and executive producing the TV Series Freakshow for AMC . Its not as simple as a lot of people want to make it, said Will Hawkins, a founder of the nonprofit group Chamber of Hope, which hasnt received donations from Snap. Ray founded the Venice Beach Freakshow in 2006. The thing is, this cuts across all cultures. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Freakshow - Episodes - IMDb Unable to afford even the floppy disks to save the beats, he would just record them on cassette. Morgue Popularity . I felt like I had come 360 degrees!" We all want to know. If you are in California, you Must SEE The VENICE BEACH FREAKSHOW!!! morgue and miss sunshine were impressive. Snap changed social media and Venice, Calif. for good. Asia and Morgue team up for a stunt that involves Asia using a whip to hit a target attached to a sword inside Morgue's belly. The show even inspired an unscripted television series on AMC. Offer subject to change without notice. It was the worst winter of the 11 years weve been in business, he said. Ms. Solomon, 70, runs a Venice Beach walking tour business with her husband, Jeff. He grew up in a conservative Christian household in Montana and began teaching himself magic after being gifted a book about magic by his grandmother. He brings Zoe, a girl he met at a tattoo event, to his house and tries to impress her with his family's collection of oddities. Along the way, Google, BuzzFeed, Vice and other tech and media companies planted flags in Venice. A Snap spokesman responded to these and other criticisms by pointing to a list of Snaps philanthropic efforts with underserved communities in Venice, work the company has been modest about promoting in the public sphere. Upvote Downvote. An increasingly eccentric apartment building, topped with winged beasties. Todd is surprised that Phoenix is turning into such a "ladies man" but Danielle has concerns. Snapchat's Disappearing Act Leaves Venice Beach Searching for Its The entire gang, including Todd, Morgue, Asia and even Creature pack up and head to the rustic site in the California hills. Then the security guards showed up. He was listening to Jake Mathews, one of the new owners, explain how passionately the new Waterfront doesnt want to displace its old regulars, people like him. As he, Asia and Morgue discuss the expansion, Todd reveals plans to separate Asia and Morgue and have one perform in Vegas while the other stays in Venice Beach. As a homeowner, sure, Ive gained, but I feel Ive also lost. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. In typical Venice Beach fashion, the freak show isnt leaving without one last spectacle. Snap took over an eatery that had been called Seans Cafe and as with Nikkis bar turned it into a commissary for employees. It keeps a good relationship with the jam band that plays out front on the walk. At first, the laid-back locals were intrigued. The Venice Beach Freak Show went out with a six-hour final performance on Sunday. The city is now the third largest tech hub on the West Coast after San Francisco and Seattle, with, according to a report by the real estate firm CBRE, nearly 140,000 people working in tech. Puffing away, he told Ray, Remember son, you can do anything in life.. In 1999, T-Ray did production for Santana (which led to a Grammy Award in 2000 for Album of the Year) and a Latin group named Ozomatli who he won two other Grammys with, including a Latin Grammy- it was during this time that his life came full circle: "It was sort of like destiny in a way, for me to move from the woods to New York City," explains Todd Ray. I walked up to him, and said, Hey, Bobby, Im the one who started the protests, Mr. Rago recalled. It was a slap in the face to the community, especially after what its been through in the past few years, he said. Later, on her own accord, Asia convinces Miss Electra to come see her perform at the Freakshow. Early episodes showed Rays daughter Asia training to swallow swords and electrify herself with Tesla coils while her father worked to recruit new performers including a bearded lady and a so-called lobster boy, named for his clawlike hands, the result of a congenital disorder. Regardless of any relocation, Ray thinks the spirit of the Freakshow will remain in Venice Beach where it started. Update: As of summer 2017, the Freakshow is closed. I don't blame them for wanting to work on the beach, but at some point its like saying, I want to live in this exotic area of the world and you go there and cut all the trees down and you kill all the wildlife., Performers at the Venice Beach Freakshow; Credit: Nanette Gonzales for L.A. Weekly. But is the show being forced out to make way for Snapchat, the ever- expanding Venice-based social media giant? Snapchat sub-leases a space on the third floor of the same building as the Venice Beach Freakshow, but the company does not own the building, nor do we have any leasing rights to the ground floor retail, the statement reads. StarringTodd Ray Danielle Ray Asia Ray Season 1 S01:E01 - Two-Headed Bearded Dragon Birthday Todd tries to convince a bearded lady and a living giant to join the show. But so much of it is beginning to morph into something else, and we dont know what thats going to look like in the end.. I would like just to share one of beautiful moments I saw in Las Vegas, this guy is an amazing artist, gave me goosebumps :) #cirquedusoleil #onedrop. Venice Beach a hub for graffiti artists, body builders and street performers became a popular tourist destination long before the Venice Beach Freakshow took up residence. They have a daughter, Asia, and a son, Phoenix. Or, for that matter, look at the guys who invented Snapchat. Today, it houses a Starbucks. You can also meet Rocky the five-legged dog and Freddie the five . Theyre buying up the boardwalk because they liked the vibe, he said. And the new owner of the building is ironically named Snapshot Partners. Its not an age thing because were all curious. Location: The Jewel Box Theatre, The Erotic Heritage Museum Recently Seen By 2015, after several rounds of venture funding, Snaps core group of employees had ballooned into the hundreds, and it needed more room. Freakshow is an American unscripted reality documentary television series from AMC that chronicles the operations of former music producer Todd Ray 's Venice Beach Freakshow. It ran for two seasons. By 1996, Todd had begun to produce rock & roll. Meanwhile, Ray has to pack up a lot of weird stuff, including a jar that holds the corpse of a two-headed baby. He has also worked with the Beastie Boys, Biz Markie, MC Serch, Double X Posse, Kool G Rap, Bo$$, Funkdoobiest, MC Thick, The Whooliganz, Artifacts, Mick Jagger, Helmet, Korn, Audioslave, (hd)pe, Snot, Ugly Americans, G. Love & Special Sauce, Dilated Peoples and Non Phixion among others. On a recent Friday, Mr. Rago sat at a beachfront table there, sipping the ends of a lager with a reluctant expression on his face. His father's life was plagued by violence and alcoholism and ended with a mysterious murder. '', Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 23 talking about this. As seen in the Guinness Book of World Records, they have the largest collection of living two-headed animals in history, including two-headed turtles, snakes and lizard. SUBSCRIBE! Known as "King of the Todd, Danielle, and Phoenix are still visiting Gibsonton, the legendary sideshow town. Todd holds a suspension event; Phoenix starts dating. He helped form the Venice Dogz, one of several community groups that aimed their ire at Snap for the changes happening in Venice. "You can buy the property, but you can't buy Venice Beach and its spirit,'' Ray told the Argonaut newspaper. They had a Wonderful Vegas Wedding and are so Happy Together!!! The last show at its Venice Beach location is on Sunday, and Ray says hes being pushed out by Snapchat. . Phone calls to Simone Scharff at her office were not immediately returned. Todd needs to find new performers for the show; a man with stretchy skin makes an appearance. Homeless encampments have sprouted on the sidewalk. Celebrities have been known to stop by to see the show and pet the two headed creatures. Three summers have passed, Mr. Ray said earlier this month. L.A. Country records show the property is owned by a trust attributed to Leslie Ekker and Simone Scharff under the name General Real Estate Management Company. At the same time, it added a sense of security to the neighborhood, in a weird way.. The Amazing Boobzilla comes to perform at the Freakshow. On Ocean Front Walk, just south of Brooks Ave. A black and white mural stands out from its psychedelic surroundings. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. It quickly became known for its unique performers, as well as its large collection of oddity specimens. Ali worries about her job security after a man who's even littler than she is performs on a skateboard; Morgue is less than impressed with any of the performers' stage presences; and Todd is intrigued by a snake lady, but Asia is troubled by the sexual nature of the act. Jesse the Half Man and Jim the Armless Wonder show off their abilities; Todd must make a difficult decision. For Venice at large, a tipping point came with the loss of the Venice Beach Freakshow. There will be appearances by fire eaters, the smallest man in America, the wolf boy and even a marriage ceremony for Jessa the Bearded Lady on the freak shows steps. it is only interested in the top two floors. rockstockbarrel January 15, 2015. Creature is looking for a place to live but finds that his appearance is off-putting to potential roommates. Whats next? worlds largest collection of two-headed animals. Street performers have had a big role in shaping Venices creative ethos. Protesters were animated, to put it mildly. They have spent the past few years telling tourists, this used to be that used to be , about Snaps once-restless physical expansion, she said. Thanks, Gentrification | L.A. Weekly", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Todd_Ray&oldid=1105504566, "The Show Ain't Over Till the Fat Man Swings", co-produced w/ J. Diamond Washington & Stewart Harris, Back To The Grill (12") Back To The Grill (Remix) Def Jam Recordings 1992, Losin' Myself (12") Losin' Myself (T-Ray's Atlantic 1992, Our House (12", Promo) Turnstyle Records 1992, Sexual (CD, Maxi) Sexual (Safe Sex Mix), Big Beat 1992, From The Brick Jungle (12") Bitch Control (Da Fell Big Beat 1993, I Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Hits From The Bong Ruffhouse Records 1993, Judgment Night (Music From The Motion Picture) (12") Just Another Victim (T Epic 1993, Just Another Victim (CD, Promo) Epic 1993, Swim (CD, Single, Ltd) Swim (T. Ray H2O Mix) Columbia 1993, The Program (12") The Program (Soul Assa Mercury 1993, We Ain't Goin' Out Like That (12") Hits From The Bong (T- Ruffhouse Records 1993, Who's The Man? Apartment building was once posh playground to the Hollywood elite. A Grammy-winning producer he earned the award in 2000 for his work on the Santana album Supernatural he says he spent decades in the music industry working with everyone from Mick Jagger and Jack Johnson to Nas and Beastie Boys. In order to up their game, Asia begins to work on a stunt involving a ladder of machetes and Morgue crafts a device to enhance his water regurgitation act. The same tape I made in that shack, the same tape that I played for Craig when I met him at Big Beat. Ray got a call back on his application as an intern at Big Beat Records. Jade Burkly March 27, 2015. Todd's friend Billy Owen shares his unique story. ", City News Service; Photo courtesy of Paul Zollo (Patch Poster). Extreme stunt artist who captured the spotlight through his role on AMC's Venice Beach Freakshow. Update: As of summer 2017, the Freakshow is closed. If everyone would just hold that idea in their heart, then in fact the Freakshow will still be alive. Todd arranges a Strongman Competition at the Freakshow involving guests with unusual strengths. As seen in the Guinness Book of World Records, they have the largest collection of living two-headed animals in history, including two-headed turtles, snakes and lizard. Venice, CA - Venice Beach Freakshow (Gone) The company zeroed in on Market Street, between the beach and Pacific Avenue. But the closing of the freak show might also be the most potent metaphor for the neighborhoods transformation as a former home to free-spirited freaks, weirdos and poet outcasts like Jim Morrison and Charles Bukowski to a sleek new playground for the wealthy tech elite. Iconic Venice Beach Freakshow Closing Sunday After Losing Lease 'Freakshow' Star Marcus 'Creature' Boykin Can't Find A Roommate - HuffPost Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 2023 Atlas Obscura. Its not a man, woman thing. The Venice Beach Freakshow is only the latest casualty of the gentrification sweeping Venice as a result of companies like Snapchat, which hasbought or leased a handful of properties including one that left a homeless shelter for teens with a homeless problem of its own since opening its headquarters there in 2013. On Facebook, Ray promises that the final show, which hes calling a Farewell Party and Protest, will include performers, stunts, music and the wedding of Jessa the Bearded Lady. Competition between the performers heats up. Locals would run up and demand free food. Todd Ray has recently expanded his Venice Beach Freakshow and holds open auditions to find new talent. On Market Street, all that remains of Snaps former presence are closed-up buildings and glazed-over windows that once shrouded whatever happened inside (plenty of locals say they hated that, too). But a spokesman for Snap Inc. said the firm has no interest in the ground floor. But none made a bigger imprint here than Snap, which championed an independent narrative by persistently fighting off acquisition attempts. Stars Todd Ray Wee Matt Asia Ray See production, box office & company info Watch on AMC+ S1-2 with Prime Video Channels More watch options Add to Watchlist 2 User reviews You can buy the property, but you cant buy Venice Beach and its spirit, he told The Argonaut. Morgue attempts a bed of box cutters stunt; George searches for love. One headline in the August 2017 issue of The Beachhead asked, in all seriousness, Would violence push Snap out of Venice? Badgering Snap employees on the oceanfront walk became a pastime for the die-hards. As a teenager, in 1982, Todd fell in love with the early hip hop singles coming out of New York and began DJing and performing locally with friends. [3][4] It was announced in April 2013 that the series had been renewed for a second season, which premiered on May 6, 2014. Wedding bells are ringing when Digger, the Sadu Hobo, invites the Freakshow group to his campsite nuptials under the stars. The two were worth billions before either hit the age of 30. At home, Todd shows Danielle some of his new oddities, including a pig that was born with his brain outside of its head. This counterculture mecca on the Pacific Ocean has always attracted freethinkers and visionaries. The series premiered on February 14, 2013, preceded by the mid-season premiere of Comic Book Men and followed by the series premiere of Immortalized. Regardless of the politics behind the move, the Freakshow will be no more after Sunday. T-Ray was the producer of Big Beat Records' first hip-hop 12-inch, 'Supa Cat' (1991- Todd is credited on the album as 'The Mad Racket'). His performers depend on it. Digger lets their visitors know that in order to stay on the property, "chores need to get done". Todd Ray, who founded Venice Beach Freakshow in 2006, says he learned roughly six months ago that the building on Ocean Front Walk had been sold and that the new owner would not be renewing Rays five-year lease on the first floor. CreditAdam Amengual for The New York Times. He and his friends began performing locally. He and Jyoti Amge, certified by Guinness as the world's shortest woman, both appeared on American Horror Story: Freakshow. Something about this brand felt different, said Bobby Olson, 39, a lawyer and nine-year resident of Venice. A family drama that centers on former music producer Todd Ray as he pursues his dream to own and operate his own Freakshow on the famed boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA.A family drama that centers on former music producer Todd Ray as he pursues his dream to own and operate his own Freakshow on the famed boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA.A family drama that centers on former music producer Todd Ray as he pursues his dream to own and operate his own Freakshow on the famed boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA. I think a lot of companies saw how Snapchat was treated by the protesters, and they dont want to see the same thing.. both appeared on American Horror Story: Freakshow. With the ink still drying on their deal, T-Ray and his group, moved straight from South Carolina to Rosedale, Queens, where they finished an album for Tin Pan Apple Records and appeared on the Fresh Fest Tour. The morning after, Kallman called Todd (about Kenny Dope's promo for Red Alert) and told him "if you know how to make this [recorded loop] into a record, you've got a job". With Todd's urging, Ali visits a doctor who says hip replacement surgery is her only option. He never charged more than $5 for admission. In order to wow the heads of the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, Todd decides to bring the Freakshow members with him to Sin City. Phoenix wants to prove that he's a vital member of the Freakshow and decides to learn how to "talk" (a term used to describe the act of luring audience members into a sideshow). Know Before You Go. VENICE, CA After more than a decade of thrilling visitors with acts such as the Bearded Lady, the Wolf Boy and an array of two-headed animals, the Venice Beach Freakshow will close its. A family drama that centers on former music producer Todd Ray as he pursues his dream to own and operate his own Freakshow on the famed boardwalk in Venice Beach, CA. A beautiful old horse stable hosts one of the largest collections of domestic animal skeletons and taxidermy. [Elemental Magazine, Issue #62]. Jessa, 'the bearded lady,' holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest beard on . As an expert on freakshow lore, Grady offers to give everyone a tour of the legendary sideshow town. But PolygGram's rival, Def Jam, quickly became a household name and by the summer of 1987, the group broke up. Before Asia is able to contact Miss Electra herself, Todd meets with her and discusses passing on the stunt to Asia. People are coming here still for the freak show and I have to break hearts and say, Sorry, the freak show is closed, said Catherine Schultis, a self-described homeless person who, along with her partner Rick Campbell, sells solar poetry burned into fragments of wood on the oceanfront walk. So the business is going out in style, staging a Farewell Party and Protest, featuring performances, stunts, music -- and even the wedding of Jessa the Bearded Lady. Update April 2017: The Venice Beach Freakshow will be closing its doors May 1, as the building was purchased by Snapchat. Supporters of the Freakshow note that everyone in the Ocean Front Walk building that houses the attraction is being evicted -- except Snapchat. He runs a YouTube channel where he vlogs about philosophy, religion and his life as a performer. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. In an oceanfront community still defined by hippie eccentricity, that didnt go over well. They talk with Grady "Lobster Boy" Stiles about his father's unique fame and their troubled relationship. He is one of several defenders of old-school Venice who figured they had no choice but to get organized, get angry and try to get Snap out. Now that the kids are growing up and barely home, Danielle wants to stay busy and suggests hosting a dinner party with the neighbors. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. For her debut Freakshow performance, Boobzilla would like to a lift Amazing Ali with her breasts. Snapchat started buying buildings in the area. Unfortunately, Ali has been experiencing hip pain and doesn't think she'll be able to do the stunt. Ray is married to Danielle. Between 2000 and 2016, the Oakwood tract lost as many as 1,400 low-income residents, according to the Institute for Metropolitan Opportunity at the University of Minnesota Law School. In the process, Snap was blamed for displacing a youth homeless services center and a beloved but crumbling dive called Nikkis, which closed that June. And while rumors swirled that the building was being emptied to make way for Snapchat, a spokesperson for the Venice-headquartered tech firm Sunday firmly denied that. Starring Todd Ray, Danielle Ray, Asia Ray Subtitles None available This video is currently unavailable to watch in your location Watch Freakshow Online | Season 1 (2013) | TV Guide His 1993 remix of House of Pain/Helmet collaboration (Judgement Night soundtrack) led to his producing of the entire Helmet album, which led to more rock gigs, including 311, Kon, Snot, Hed PE, John Spencer Blues Explosion and White Zombie.