In Praise of Betty Butterfield

[NOTE: To all lost lambs looking for the Betty Butterfield site: Chuck Knipp (Betty's creator) tells me he doesn't own the www . bettybutterfield . com domain, and it looks like the person who was maintaining it is not doing it any more, for whatever reason (too expensive perhaps). Chuck's given me the go ahead to do a new Betty Butterfield fan site and post the movies. I've got some movies up now and will be adding more as time goes on. My new Betty Butterfield site is called:  mmmhellooo?.]

The abrupt, convulsive cackles (the Spanish have a great word for them: carcajadas) that lately have been filtering out my window and drifting down to my neighbors’ ears must be rather disconcerting; surely they must think an escapee from an asylum has taken up residence in the house. But it’s only me listening to Betty Butterfield.

What can I say about Betty Butterfield? I could compare Betty’s creator, Chuck Knipp, to Goya or Swift, but some might get confused and take that as a reference to the manufacturers of canned beans and baloney. Even the great Beckett comes to mind (specifically the disembodied “Mouth” that rambles on about her life for seventeen minutes in Not I), but it would have to be Beckett force-fed a bunch of Wellbutrin or maybe a few hits of Ecstasy.

I could make like Rex Reed and string a bunch of inane superlatives together (sheer genius! I laughed so hard my caftan fell off!), but these would not be adequate to convey to you the joy, the hilarity these little several-minute QuickTime movies provoke in me. It’s like eating a box of chocolates without gaining any weight. It’s the Tab (“Only one calorie!”) of self-indulgent pleasures.

Instead of trying vainly to make some generic statements about the superbness of Betty Butterfield, I think it might be more interesting to try to describe why I take the comedy so personally – i.e., why it “hits home.” (And that approach would also have the virtue of turning the conversation to Me, Me, Me.)

The most obvious thing is that I grew up in Texas (San Antonio) and my family lived in a trailer park while my mom was in nursing school. We also lived in a housing project at one point: a bunch of white cubes stacked willy-nilly like a smashed igloo, with a drive-in theater right across the street. (Yes, I know it will stretch the credulity of some of my friends to learn that I grew up in that kind of environment. Or perhaps not.) I could go on, but I think that’s sufficient to establish the impeccableness of my white trash credentials, thank you, and I can tell you that the accent, intonations and character of Betty Butterfield are authentic and dead-on. If you had ever met people like Betty (and perhaps you have?), the over-the-topness would almost seem like an understatement.

Now, I also flatter myself that I am something of a drag connoisseur / groupie. I “ran with” a pack of wild drag queens when I first came out in San Antonio in the late 70s. I continued pursuing my degree in Dragology in Manhattan during the 80s, where I worshipped (and in some cases got to meet) Tabboo!, Miss Hapi Phace, The Lady Bunny, Dean Johnson (of Dean and the Weenies and The Velvet Mafia), RuPaul, Ethyl Eichelberger, Olympia, Glamamore, and others. So, as I mentioned recently to my newest pal of that distinguished dynasty, Maude Chapeau (partner of Dottie DuBois, collectively known as “Les Dames du Soleil” of Palm Springs): I know my way around a drag queen. And Mr. Knipp, in my opinion, is elevating the art.

And finally, by way of cementing my credentials, I myself, on one cold All Hallow’s Eve, transformed myself into a fierce Cleopatra Jones (with some professional makeover help from an experienced drag queen, don’t try it at home, and doesn’t every white gay boy secretly want to be a black woman – if only for one night?) Not only that, but I managed to persuade my Italian-American / gay Republican / stockbroker / drag virgin / pal to accompany me in the guise of Christy Love (“You're under arrest, Sugah!”). A coup by any standards. Someday I’ll show you the pictures.

Excuse me for wandering off there Betty-style. Anyway, if there is any point to all this “rigmarole” (as Betty would say), it is the following:

In laughing at the comic posturings and inane ramblings of this maudlin, pill-popping, liquor-swilling, scatterbrained, self-pitying, ignorant woman, one soon realizes that one is laughing at different versions of these traits in oneself and others: at the repetitive, self-pitying bogs we continually get ourselves stuck in. How can one ever again start sinking into one’s own private habitual “pityfest” without immediately seeing Betty’s white whimpering face and enormous Pagliacci lips looming out of the darkness? Ask any of the sages: this is the kind of laughter and self-awareness that is therapeutic for the mind and healing to the spirit.

But there is also much to admire in Betty: for example, she sees things quite acutely and honestly at times, particularly when it comes to the hypocrisies and absurdities of the people she comes in contact with: the “Vietvenese” doctor who diagnoses every patient’s symptoms as tuberculosis (Betty: “That’s not me – I don’t belong in a sanitarium!”); the Unitarian “preacher” whom she presses to admit that Unitarians believe in “nothing” (Betty: “Lord! Well it’s good to finally meet someone honest”); the Jehovah’s Witnesses who admit to her that if their children don’t agree with their religion they cut them off forever (Betty: “Y’all sound like the most hateful people I’ve ever seen!”).

I’m tempted to speculate that during his tenure as a psychiatric RN, Mr. Knipp had occasion to observe many Betty Butterfields up close, which helped him to cultivate his particularly fine, mirthful and loving form of mimicry. Why would anyone be loving toward a Betty Butterfield? Two reasons: one, because one can see oneself (and probably, one’s mother!) in her, and, two, because the mad spectacle simply makes one happy.

I once tried to explain the meaning of camp humor (apropos of Carole Channing) to a highly literate and intelligent straight man who felt it was some sort of cosmic joke, the punchline of which he simply did not get. I didn’t really know what to say then, but now let me repeat what I’ve written elsewhere:

Camp is like a private garden where one may enter, without any vestige of leaden seriousness, and breathe the rejuvenating air of hilarity. Others may see us as merely laughing, but what we are really doing is surviving.

Last Word: Has anyone else noticed a certain physical resemblance to Elvis in some of the Betty clips?

Comments

[Chris Canary]

Oh Lord, I love Betty. She has everything in life I want...
Sinful Red Lipstick
an unending supply of valium
Jackie O's glasses..
Hhmmmmhellloooooo?

[JCP]

Growing up in Southeastern Kentucky, Betty's characteristics are quite familiar to me. Most of the women in my family answer the phone just like that "mmhelllo?". So many aspects of the character are more realistic than many people probably will ever realize. Love her!

[Bohn Butler]

Growing up in the Southern Baptist Church and attending East Texas Baptist Untiversity (yikes!), I have met my share of Betty Butterfields. I love the humor and her ability to speak from truth! Some of my friends think I'm "fruitier than a nutbasket" when I show them a Betty clip. Maybe I am. Actually I HOPE that I am!

[Garrett]

Did ya figure out what happened to the site? Now I can't get to Betty on ignunce.net either. Long live Betty B!

[Lee]

Chuck Knipp (Betty's creator) doesn't own the www . bettybutterfield . com domain, and it looks like the person who was maintaining it is not doing it any more, for whatever reason (too expensive perhaps). Chuck's given me the go ahead to do a new Betty Butterfield fan site and post the movies; it should be ready in the next few weeks. I'll drop you a line when it's up and running.

[Babs Johnson]

Just another example of the genius of Chuck Knipp. The only bad part about listening to Shirley Q., Betty Butterfield, and the other characters is that your sides hurt for so long afterward from all the laughing! I too was raised Southern Baptist, and "Looking for a City" was part of my repertoire! You go Ms. Betty

[Tony]

It's just a touch of going back home to Tenn. without having to deal with any of my family being around to ruin it.
Please keep me posted on where the site keeps getting
bumped to the next time,my friends and i are always
trying to keep up with it.
Whew,but it aint easy.
thanks...

[Fred]

I swear Betty is the reincarnation of my deceased friend M.M. ( notice Betty's initials)B.B.. I was a young nurse in a rural Arkansas hospital when M. took me under her wing, between smoke breaks and taught me all she knew, ( not a lot of book knowledge but a lot of common sense. I went on to become an anesthetist much to M.'s credit. I wonder what is in Betty's purse? ..... Of course menthol cigaretts, a bible, no tampons for Betty, but old fashioned Kotex, and probably some microwave dressing (stuffing) for those not in the south, a hotel bible for suicidal ideations. Can you think of anything else she might have. OMG......Lipstick refills. I love you Betty!!! Fred

[Tim Liszt]

I love Betty too! As a gay man with a Christian background (Campus Life, Baptist Church, Westmont College, and finally survival beyond), I appreciate how Chuck Knipp captures so much of the absurdity of modern Christian dogma and self-righteousness. Breaking free of such anti-homosexual thought and doctrine was no easy task, I must say.

I love the laughter through it all. And now I am free at last, thank God almight, free at last!

[paul and krista]

betty is so damn funny!!! she is what any man could need in a women. keep on smearin' the lipstick.

[Saxonny]

Looooooooooooord lord is this not the funniest thing on the in-ter-net? Next thing you know I'm talkin' like this to customers, ohhh my gooooooohd!

[Tim]

This is pure genius. I haven't stopped laughing ever since a friend of mine introduced me to the world of Betty Butterfield a couple of weeks ago. Being from Kentucky and raised a Baptist, I have known so many just like her. I appreciate her down home honesty and ability to see the truth in everything, and the hilarious way in which she tells it!! I now have to be extremely careful in daily conversations, not to mimick her in my professional world. It's a scream!!

Long live Betty Butterfield!

[Mark]

BRILLIANT! I love what lives in the minds of others. Enough laughter to keep you weeing your pants all day. But please don't share this special place with your boss or others that can't appreciate the true wickedness of it all. I hope to see the rest of the movies on this site soon. I have seen them all and can't wait to see them again. How much fire insurance do you carry on your trailer?

[Terri]

I love her! I miss seeing the newer films that were at another web site before it took them off. I wish all of Betty's films were available online here or somewhere. They're hysterically funny.

[daBrat]

We all know Betty Butterfield, rather personally. She's maybe our own Mother, Aunt, Sister, Town Eccentric, Neighbor down the block, or someone we've experienced in passing once, that's left a heartfelt impression forever seared into memory. She says things out loud that maybe we've thought, but are to "politically correct" to admit. She's at once sad and joyous, and a character that I follow more then any other hoping that one day, Betty will find peace and solitude in the real world. Blessings to Betty Butterfield.

[Mike]

WHAT HAPPENED TO MARGE FROM NORTH DAKOTA?? She is my FAVORITE..And I can't find her.... I have relatives in Harvey, ND and they are exactly like MARGE... I DO LOVE BETTY TOO...

[Kate Huey]

PLEASE OH PLEASE, put up the video of Betty's visit to a UCC (United Church of Christ)church! We love it so!
Pastor Kate Huey
Pilgrim UNITED CHURCH of Christ
Cleveland Ohio
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[Christopher Orlando]

This just shows the genuine talent of Chuck Knipp. To possess the ability to take something truly remarkable (Shirley Q. Liquor) and move to a whole new calculated humor with equal success is rare and a gift. Betty Butterfield seems a downhome country gal, tellin' it like it is in candid secrets when need be and pounding the pavement in search of a church to do her spiritual justice, while balancing a juggle of medication to cope with day to day living as a woman in the millenium. Betty Butterfield will indeed have you "holy rollin'".

[MichaelG]

Growing up Baptist in the Missouri bootheel (look at the map of the Show-Me State), I can testify (oh yeah!)that Betty Butterfield would be the lady organizing the church "dinner on the grounds" and 5th Sunday singings! I can only imagine this woman showing up at a church business meeting on a Wednesday night! "oh Lord!"

[reonda]

betty butterfield and shirley q. liquor are some of the best entertainment i've seen in years! i watch the "condeleezma rice" skit everyday! and i laugh so hard every time! where can i see/hear more shirley q. ???

[susan]

i love betty, better than peter loved the lord!

[Daniel]

Dear Betty, I think you should become the high preistest of your own church, do you know how many people would attend such a church? You would make more the JIM & TammyFaye Baker....I THINK THERE'S ACALLIN ON YOUR LIFE GURL !!

[Patrick]

Betty keeps me sane!!!! Where can I get Cd's..........anyone know?

[aka frank]

ohmygod, they've resurrected my aunt!

vocal patterns and speech inflections are spot on. how does he do it???

genius.

[biLLy]

My "BEST 2-FRIENDS" all rolled into one! There is no one like Chuck Knipp!! For ALL the thousands of hundreds that hopefully everyday are being turned on to his "one-of-a-kind" comedy; PLEASE stop & remember Chuck is VERY human and the loss(es) he suffered during hurricane Katrina.

A personal THANK YOU for making three birthdays very special for me - 2 for my Dad & one for my sister with your "Ignunce Is Calling" birthday greetings.

BEST WISHES & HOPE for a "SUNNY" 2006!!!

BiLL HATCHER
Ft. Lauderdale, FL